Anime is an abbreviation of the word "animation". Outside Japan, the term most popularly refers to animation originating from Japan; and to the Occidental way of thinking, not all animations are considered anime. Anime is therefore usually considered to be a subset of animation.
Anime is traditionally hand drawn, but like in most animation computer assisted animation techniques have become quite common in recent years. The story-lines of anime represent most major genres of fiction and most motion-picture media (television broadcast, DVD and VHS distribution, and full length motion pictures).*