The Anime is still known as a cartoon. Probably the main difference between the two is that the cartoon is made by almost everyone while the Anime is usually produced in Japan and follows a specific storyline. There are some differences with the way that Anime is formulated with regards to the appearance of the characters and their stories.
Some say that Anime is just known to be more compelling as compared to the other cartoons that they have seen, but this will still depend on people and their preferences. From the background, characters, and the plot, Anime is on a league of its own although technically, it is considered to be a cartoon.
Both anime and cartoons have characters that are animated. Some regard animes as a type of cartoon, but there are many differences between them. Anime is from Japan and can come in many formats, like television shows. Cartoons are illustrated in visual arts, which are two dimensional. They originated in the United States.
The physical characteristics of anime characters are more realistic and lifelike, compared to those characters in cartoons. While both anime and cartoon movies can last for several hours, anime television shows usually are 22 to 25 minutes, while cartoon shows can be anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour long.