chibi

noun

chi·​bi ˈchē-(ˌ)bē 

plural chibi or chibis

1

: a style of illustration popularized in anime and manga and featuring simply drawn figures with disproportionately large heads and eyes on small bodies

The short, rounded torso shape and the simplified neck and shoulders are the traditional characteristics of chibi …

—Piuuvy

—often used in combination

Originally released as a webcomic, this series opener features luminescent and evocative artwork reminiscent of chibi-style manga.

—Kirkus Reviews

2

: a chibi-style character

This is an opportunity to learn how to draw chibi. … These characters are used a lot in anime and manga.

—The Franklin Lakes-Oakland (New Jersey) Suburban News

Essentially, chibis are kind of like stylized caricatures of regular anime characters; certain facial and anatomical features are exaggerated while maintaining the overall identifying appearance of the character.

—Phoebe Im

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Japanese, "small child, undersized person"

First Known Use

circa 2000, in the meaning defined at sense 2