"The term anime is derived from French "dessin animé" for cartoon drawing, and "l'animation"; it was then adapted to Japanese, short for "animeshon", the Japanese pronunciation of the word "animation". This is because, before the Americans, the French were more familiar with Japanese cartoons and manga and for a time were Japan's primary consumer. Of course, once this art-form carried over the Atlantic, the rest was history. " (TvTropes)