I'm willing to learn. What makes anime, anime?

Edited for punctuation.

Japanese authors, directors, and artists.

I thought it was extremely pale skinned cartoon characters with large, round eyes, and large round breasts that made them qualify as 'anime.'

Oh, and with often incomprehensible plotlines.

Admittedly, I've probably not been exposed to "the good stuff."

Go rent "Princess Mononoke" and "Akira". Pretty much THE two anime movies.
Also, the term anime comes from japanimation. Its, as the name states, japanese animation. Its pretty much the best you can get.

I've seen Project A-KO, and I think I even tried to watch Akira at least once.

Back when the SciFi Channel was relatively new they used to show anime on Saturday Mornings.

I also have a couple videotapes from the series with that dude that turns into a chick if he gets wet? And his dad's a Giant Panda sometimes?

I've got around 250 DVDs of which I suppose Shawshank, Green Mile, Pulp Fiction, American Beauty, Usual Suspects and curiously, Unbreakable would be my favourites.

Oh, and Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch make me laugh like a drain!! Some of the maddest characters on the big/small screen.

Also, the term anime comes from japanimation.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Anime is a japanese word. I think it has its roots in the english word "animation," because the Japanese like to assimilate words into their language a lot, but "japanimation" is some cutesy pun that an American came up with, I assure you. The Japanese call their country "Nippon," so there's no way "anime" derives from "japanimation."

And for the record, I don't consider Akira to be that great. Ahead of its time, very complex art, yadda yadda yadda--but definitely not the best thing to watch as your introduction to anime, either way.

I also have a couple videotapes from the series with that dude that turns into a chick if he gets wet? And his dad's a Giant Panda sometimes?

I know the series you're talking about, but I've been wracking my brain to come up with the title and I can't. Anyway, I think you'd really like "Trigun," wolf.

Ranma 1/2 - a favourite amongst the tranny crowd that used to hang here.

"Here! Educate yourself!" If you weren't sure what anime is or have a select/narrow view on what it is, this'll clear that right up. This site is surprisingly thorough and objective.

Sorry I misspoke Clod, I meant to say that the terms anime and japanimation are somewhat interchangable. And yeah Akira probably isn't the best intro into anime by any means, but it still kicks some serious ass.

If you like the giant robot thing, also an ass kicking genre, check out Robotech. I don't care what anyone says, it beats Gundam like a redheaded stepchild