The term, NANI? shows up time and time again in the anime industry, in memes, and especially within the many anime shows that fans watch.
Translated, Nani means “what?” in English. The same way a person who speaks English would say WHAT? to show how shocked or surprised they are by something, is the same way NANI? is used in a Japanese context.
Of course, in anime shows the phrase is exaggerated on purpose to make the character’s reaction that much more shocking and funny at the same time. But that doesn’t take away from the meaning of NANI and what it represents.
