Some years ago, there was a trend or perhaps an anime breakthrough where the once niche and small medium became big enough that it was no longer considered a strange thing to enjoy. Part of it had to do with just how much anime media was being pumped out, but the subject itself is a rich topic of discussion. That brings us to today, where the influx of anime fans naturally yielded more Hentai enjoyers, which of course meant the adult industry had a new niche to capitalise on. It’s been some years now, and the once very specific degeneracy has expanded more than ever. Let’s give this phenomenon a look, shall we?
What Does Hentai Mean?
If we are going to be very specific, Hentai refers to animated porn movies made by Japanese studios. These animations are often of middling quality, to the point that it’s a bit of a meme. The term can be used more broadly for the drawing medium or porn comics. The definition should stop there, as the key point is that the product needs to be of Japanese origin, but your typical layman won’t try to learn these new terms, so Hentai, as a term now, can encompass all porn media that does not depict real people.
The Fronts Are Fractured
Since the term is so flexible and fitting enough, the big porn networks have had the rare chance to really expand on the themes and try to capture the glory of the rampant and often free Hentai media. R34 is a good example of free drawn porn, and there are countless smut doujins that have been in circulation for years, with more on the way. The Furry community has a few sites that host adult content, and there is a whole underbelly of smut animations made by passionate users. The current fronts look roughly like this:
- The Old School: This includes all classic Henetai media, from the dirty pages to online comics and animated videos. These pieces of joy have been around well before porn sites started picking up on the trend. You can find fan-made content from Japan, aspiring and professional Mangaka works, Korean and Chinese comics, and various animation studios. Most of this porn needs to be paid for and isn’t translated, but it always makes its way across eventually.
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The Fan Works: By this, we mean media made by Western creators. As far as we know, only fans have been driving non-real porn in the West. You will find 3D animations and art, R34 and furry content, fan content of popular characters, and more. This content is typically free or can be found on sites like Patreon.
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The New Professionals: Some of the biggest money-makers in porn have the capital to support animation studios. You’ll see a few channels supporting animated series, with various qualities and success.
- The Porn Games: Free, paid, anime, and 3D, it’s all mixed in here. Even the most realistic porn games need to use 3D models that retain some anime-like looks, as otherwise they hit the uncanny valley.
Where Does Hentai Stand In Adult Entertainment?
If we consider the big porn studios, then the obvious answer is that Hentai has only made a slight dent in the industry. There are some interactive porn games, 3D animations, 2D films, and maybe occasional comics here and there. The industry is still focused on real women and real sex. Japan’s grip on all things Hentai is too strong to be shaken off, especially since the porn studios still don’t know how to make compelling anime porn. Hentai is still dwelling a few levels underground, but the online spaces have already taken it in. But while the medium itself won’t cross the final steps so soon, many of the themes and staples of the niche have already slipped through, and you probably had no clue!
The Ghost Of Hentai
There are many compelling factors in Hentai, and it’s heavily reflected in the fact that the medium is not limited by real physics and possibilities. A giant tentacle monster can absolutely stretch out that twink’s stomach and make him lay eggs afterwards. While this scenario can at most be mimicked with a peculiar dildo, some settings and tropes can be pulled off. If you’re familiar with the free-use and time stop niches in porn, then you know what we’re talking about. These two niches are common in Hentai and derive from a whole branch of smut fantasies in porn manga. On a lesser scale, the cosplay niche has started adapting anime likeness, which vaguely evokes the images of fan Hentai featuring favorite characters.
But if we had to choose, we bet that you never considered how bukkake has its roots in Hentai! Showers of cum are a staple in the niche, and it’s one of those Japanese trends that have found a solid footing in the gonzo niche over the years. Even some retro porn from the 2000s was already doing bukkake showers! In a similar fashion, if you look closely enough, you will notice how modern porn has small aspects of the Hentai universe. Part of this has to do with the new directors who likely grew up watching anime, and part of it has to do with the fact that anime and manga are the most performative media you can find.
Have you noticed that girls started rolling their eyes back in pleasure? That’s the ahegao face!
What Does This Tell Us?
Modern porn has always been the chasing dog trying to catch the latest craze and trend to capitalise on the user engagement. Many of the films are made to be watched once and never again, although some will stand the test of time. As Hentai gains ground and studios figure out how to make products cheaply and effectively, we will likely see more animated porn channels. For now, we see snippets of the glory here and there, and it’s not too bad! This new fusion of real porn and Hentai is sure to create a colorful adult landscape!
