What is canon in anime?

In anime, a "canon" typically refers to the official storyline or events that are recognized as being part of the original source material, such as a manga, light novel, or video game. Canon events are considered to be the true and legitimate events within the story, while non-canon events are usually considered to be outside of the established story universe.

Canon is important in anime because it helps to maintain consistency and coherence within a series, ensuring that the overall story follows a specific narrative and set of rules. It also helps to establish the relationships between characters, the development of the plot, and the overall world-building of the series.

Fans often debate and discuss canon events in anime, theorizing about how certain events will affect the story in the future or how they relate to other parts of the series. Canon is also important for adaptations of anime into other media, such as movies, which often need to stay true to the original source material in order to be considered faithful adaptations.