while all the things in the opening post can be said about both "cartoons" and "anime", no mention is made of the differences: while cartoons are traditionally marketed to "children", "anime" can touch upon many mature topics (and I do not at all mean sex only). Secondly, when I refer to an "anime" show, I mean a certain plot line across many episodes, not just within one, after which all returns to status quo, with dramatic developments, not just funnies. Thirdly, most of the "anime" I've watched has had a strong "ethical" component, and any of the cartoons I've seen had not even 5% of that. As such, I continue to use the term "anime" with respect towards animated content done in the traditional Japanese style and posession aforementioned qualities that invite discussion and appreciation from the intelligent audience, and "cartoons" are the simple entertainment for the young of mind (this being a general statement, exceptions certainly exist - "The Simpsons" are a "cartoon" in my eyes, but at no point are they appropriate for young audiences)..