how did anime start

by Floy Orn 9 min read
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Modern anime began in 1956 and found lasting success in 1961 with the establishment of Mushi Productions by Osamu Tezuka, a leading figure in modern manga, the dense, novelistic Japanese comic book style that contributed greatly to the aesthetic of anime. Anime such as Miyazaki Hayao's Princess Mononoke (1997) are the ...May 7, 2022

How did you start watching anime?

Part 4 Part 4 of 5: Making a Selection

  1. Decide what service you will use. There is an abundant amount of services to view anime on. ...
  2. Determine between sub or dub. Nowadays in the anime community, there is a huge argument about whether sub or dub anime is better.
  3. Consider watching with a friend. ...
  4. Determine the setting. ...
  5. Narrow your selections. ...

How was the first anime made?

  • Magic Boy (1959),
  • Alakazam the Great (1960),
  • The Littlest Warrior (1961),
  • The Adventures of Sinbad (1962)
  • and The Little Prince and the Eight-Headed Dragon (1963).

What was the first anime ever created?

The Making Of The Anime Series

  • The Development Of Japanese Anime. The year 1917 saw the rise of the fathers of anime – manga artists Oten Shimokawa, Junichi Kouchi, and painter Seitaro Kitayama.
  • The Longest Running Anime. Many anime movies have existed for a long time and continue to exist today. ...
  • Strongest Anime Characters. ...
  • Greatest Anime Studios. ...
  • Top Ten Anime of All Time. ...
  • Conclusion. ...

How bad is anime?

Well, while the anime has consistent style, animation, and music – the later narrative is disastrous. It really didn’t know where it was going, and you can tell. Even then, it’s honestly worth a watch!

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Who first started anime?

The history of anime can be traced back to the start of the 20th century, with the earliest verifiable films dating from 1917. The first generation of animators in the late 1910s included Ōten Shimokawa, Jun'ichi Kōuchi and Seitaro Kitayama, commonly referred to as the "fathers" of anime.

What was the first anime?

Momotaro: Sacred SailorsThe first feature-length anime film was Momotaro: Sacred Sailors (1945), produced by Seo with a sponsorship from the Imperial Japanese Navy. The 1950s saw a proliferation of short, animated advertisements created for television.

Who actually created anime?

That man is Osamu Tezuka, frequently nicknamed the "god of manga," the "godfather of anime," and the "Walt Disney of Japan." At long last, a new biography of Tezuka has arrived in the US — 14 years after its Japanese debut.

Who is the strongest anime character?

The 12 Strongest Anime Characters of All Time1 Saitama (One Punch Man)2 Son Goku (Dragon Ball) ... 3 Giorno Giovanna (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure) ... 4 Anos Voldigoad (The Misfit of Demon King Academy) ... 5 Tetsuo Shima (Akira) ... 6 Muzan Kibutsuji (Demon Slayer) ... 7 Kaguya Otsutsuki (Naruto) ... 8 Yhwach (Bleach) ... More items...•

What is the oldest anime character?

15 Anime Characters That Look Young But Are Hundreds Of Years Old1 Umineko When They Cry: Bernkastel (1,000+ Years Old)2 Gate: Rory Mercury (967 Years Old) ... 3 Hell Girl: Enma Ai (Around 400 Years Old) ... 4 Medaka Box: Najimi Ajimu (3 Trillion+ Years Old) ... 5 Yu Yu Hakusho: Koenma (700+ Years Old) ... More items...•

Who is the god of anime?

Talking about authors as gods of their creations is a subject which can easily get pretentious, but in the case of Osamu Tezuka, it's his freakin' nickname. Yep, Osamu Tezuka is frequently referred to as "the god of manga," so in a way, he's the most powerful "anime god" of them all.

Who is Naruto based on?

In fact, Naruto is heavily inspired by Japanese mythology, especially Shintoism, and even Confucian thought. For example, Sasuke's brother, Itachi, has techniques named after the Shinto deities Tsukiyomi, Amaterasu, and Susano-o.

When did Japan start making anime?

In the 1950s, anime studios began appearing across Japan. Hiroshi Takahata bought a studio named Japan Animated Films in 1948, renaming it Tōei Dōga, with an ambition to become "the Disney of the East.". While there, Takahata met other animators such as Yasuji Mori, who directed Doodling Kitty, in May 1957.

What was the first anime?

In the 1960s, the unique style of Japanese anime began forming, with large eyed, big mouthed, and large headed characters. The first anime film to be broadcast was Moving pictures in 1960. 1961 saw the premiere of Japan's first animated television series, Instant History, although it did not consist entirely of animation. Astro Boy, created by Osamu Tezuka, premiered on Fuji TV on January 1, 1963. It became the first anime shown widely to Western audiences, especially to those in the United States, becoming relatively popular and influencing U.S. popular culture, with American companies acquiring various titles from Japanese producers. Astro Boy was highly influential to other anime in the 1960s, and was followed by a large number of anime about robots or space. While Tezuka released many other animated shows, like Jungle Emperor Leo, anime took off, studios saw it as a commercial success, even though no new programs from Japan were shown on major U.S. broadcast media from the later 1960s to late 1970s. The 1960s also brought anime to television and in America.

What was the anime boom of the 1980s?

The success of the theatrical versions of Yamato and Gundam is seen as the beginning of the anime boom of the 1980s, and of " Japanese Cinema 's Second Golden Age". A subculture in Japan, whose members later called themselves otaku, began to develop around animation magazines such as Animage and Newtype.

What was the first magical girl anime?

What is noted as the first magical girl anime, Sally the Witch, began broadcasting in 1966. The original Speed Racer anime television began in 1967 and was brought to the West with great success.

When did anime come out?

The 1980s brought anime to the home video market in the form of original video animation (OVA), as shows were shifting from a focus on superheroes to robots and space operas, with original video animation (OVA or OAV) coming onto the market in 1984, with a range in length.

When was the first color anime made?

Toei Animation and Mushi Production was founded and produced the first color anime feature film in 1958, Hakujaden ( The Tale of the White Serpent, 1958 ). It was released in the US in 1961 as well as Panda and the Magic Serpent. After the success of the project, Toei released a new feature-length animation annually.

When did anime become mainstream?

In the 1980s , anime became mainstream in Japan, experiencing a boom in production with the rise in popularity of anime like Gundam, Macross, Dragon Ball, and genres such as real robot, space opera and cyberpunk.

When did anime start?

The earliest examples of Japanese animation can be traced back to 1917. The defining characteristics of the anime art style we know today first emerged in the 1960s through the works of Osamu Tezuka. If you watch modern anime, you'll quickly pick up on the unique look and feel of the anime art style.

When did anime become popular?

In the United States, for example, anime began gaining popularity in the 1990s.

What are the characteristics of anime?

Anime characters usually have large, doe-like eyes and brightly-colored hair. Their movements and gestures, as well as their emotional responses, tend to be exaggerated. Historians believe anime artists may have been influenced by early Western cartoon characters, such as Betty Boop and Mickey Mouse.

What does "anime" mean?

The word "anime" is simply an abbreviation of the word " animation .". In Japan, "anime" is used to refer to all animation . Everywhere else in the world, people use "anime" to refer specifically to animation from Japan. People who like anime often also enjoy Japanese comic books, known as manga.

What is the abbreviation for anime?

If you enjoyed these shows, then it's likely you're a big fan of anime. The word "anime" is simply an abbreviation of the word " animation .".

Is anime a Japanese anime?

Don't think of anime simply as Japanese versions of American cartoons, though. They're quite different in several important ways. First, anime isn't directed solely at children like American cartoons tend to be. In Japan, you'll find anime for every age group, including adults.

When did anime start?

Anime dates back to the birth of Japan’s film industry in the early 1900s and has emerged as one of Japan’s major cultural forces over the past century.

What was the first Japanese animation company?

It wasn’t until after WWII—in 1948, to be precise—that the first modern Japanese animation production company, one devoted to entertainment, came into being: Toei. Their first theatrical features were explicitly in the vein of Walt Disney’s films (as popular in Japan as they were everywhere else). One key example was the ninja-and-sorcery mini-epic Shōnen Sarutobi Sasuke (1959), the first anime to be released theatrically in the United States (by MGM, in 1961). But it didn’t make anywhere near the splash of, say, Akira Kurosawa’s Rashōmon, which brought Japan’s movie industry to the attention of the rest of the world.

What anime titles are in English dubs?

That plus the start of widespread TV syndication of many more popular anime titles in English dubs— Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball Z , Pokémon— made anime that much more readily accessible to fans and visible to everyone else.

What was the first anime to make a home video in America?

Another major hit, Macross (which arrived in 1982), was transformed along with two other shows into Robotech, the first anime series to make major inroads on home video in America. Mazinger Z showed up in many Spanish-speaking countries, the Philippines, and Arabic-speaking nations.

What was the first animated movie?

1963 heralded Japan’s first major animated export to the U.S.: Tetsuwan Atomu —more commonly known as Astro Boy. Adapted from Osamu Tezuka’s manga about a robot boy with superpowers, it aired on NBC thanks to the efforts of Fred Ladd (who later also brought over Tezuka’s Kimba the White Lion ).

Why were animated movies not popular?

But due to the rise of Japanese nationalism and the start of WWII, most of the animated productions created from the 1930s on were not popular entertainments, but instead were either commercially-oriented or government propaganda of one type or another.

What brought Japan's movie industry to the attention of the rest of the world?

But it didn’t make anywhere near the splash of, say, Akira Kurosawa’s Rashōmon, which brought Japan’s movie industry to the attention of the rest of the world. What really pushed animation to the fore in Japan was the shift to TV in the Sixties.

When did anime start in Japan?

Anime’s roots can be found going all the way back to the early 1900s. It’s hard to know exactly when the first piece ...

What was the first anime movie?

Movies like Momotaro’s Sea Eagles in 1943 and Momotaro’s Divine Sea Warriors in 1945 were made with help from the Navy; Sea Warriors was the the first full-length animated feature film in the history of anime.

How many animated movies did Junichi make?

He would go on to create five animated films for a studio called Tenkatsu before returning to his cartoonist work. Junichi was a painter who specialized in water colors and was hired by a studio to be an animator. He was considered one of the best of his time.

What is anime short for?

In the West, anime is a term short for ‘animation ’ and is used to describe any type of animated works made in Japan. However, the Japanese definition of anime includes any kind of animation, even if it’s made outside of Japan. How is it that Japanese animation became so special and iconic that the rest of the world decided to distinguish it ...

What happened to animation in Japan during the prewar years?

Prewar (1920 – 1940) In 1923, the Great Kantō Earthquake struck and devastated Tokyo . The result was that many animation studios were destroyed, along with many of their works. Even without the earthquake, things were not easy for Japanese animators during this time.

Who were the three people who made the anime?

There were three people who were the industry leading figures in the beginning of the history of anime filmmaking: Ōten Shimokawa, Junichi Kōuchi, and Seitaro Kitayama. Ōten was originally a cartoonist for a magazine called Tokyo Puck.

When was Japan Animated Films founded?

Just three years after Japan surrendered in World War II, Japan Animated Films was founded in 1948 . This studio would go on to be acquired by the now legendary Toei film company to become their animation department.

Why did creators work on anime?

It also allowed for more and more people overseas to access anime – the process was still difficult, but it was more accessible than it had been previously.

When did anime become popular?

As the styles and techniques of anime progressed over the preceding decades, so did anime’s popularity, and the 1960s saw some of the first instances of Japanese animation being shown in other countries.

What was the Japanese culture in the 90s?

1990s – modern day. Needless to say, the passion and dedication of Japanese animators meant that by the start of the 90s Japan had an extensive catalog of anime. Both anime movies and series had loyal, devoted fans, and were firm fixtures of Japanese culture.

What is the anime called that is not a shippai?

That anime was called Dekobō Shingachō: Meian no Shippai, but like most anime of the time the original copies did not stand the test of time - most of them were cut up and sold as individual frames or strips to collectors.

What does anime mean in Japan?

Entranced by the fantastic plot lines, giant eyes, and wonderful animation, I was watching anime without even knowing it. Anime means “animation” in Japan, so in theory, could apply to any form of animation from around the world, but in modern times has come to refer to any and all Japanese animation.

What studios made Dragonball?

Not only were there some truly iconic releases, but 1985 saw the creation of one of the most iconic studios too – Studio Ghibli.

How did manga influence anime?

Manga's Influence On Anime. Manga has had an enormous effect on the success of anime, in part because while animators were perfecting their own styles, so too were manga artists, and they didn’t have the confines of technology to restrict them.

What does anime mean?

Outside of Japan, however, the term anime has come to mean “animation made in Japan,” or more broadly, any animated show or movie that uses signature aspects of Japanese-style animation, like vibrant colors, dramatic panning, and characteristic facial expressions. Advertisement. Hide. In the U.S., most anime is classified as a niche form ...

What does anime mean in Japanese?

Interestingly enough, the name itself isn’t an abbreviation of the English word animation. Instead, it’s how you say “animated cartoon” (written アニメ) in Japanese. To a Japanese viewer, anime is any cartoon, whether it’s made in Japan or not. Outside of Japan, however, the term anime has come to mean “animation made in Japan,” or more broadly, ...

What is the genre of mecha anime?

Mecha. For many Americans, mecha anime was the first taste of the genre, thanks to the Robotech invasion of the ’80s. The tradition continues with old-school classics like Mobile Suit Gundam (made initially around the same time as Robotech) while Netflix delivers newer hits in the form of Knights of Sidonia.

What is subbed anime?

Anime comes in two formats: Dubbed and subbed. Subbed plays the original Japanese vocal track for the show or movie you’re watching with English (or whatever language you’re watching in) subtitles. Dubbed, on the other hand, features an English-speaking cast of voice-over actors working from a translated script.

What is J apanese animation?

J apanese animation is more than just heartbreak, fighting, and melodrama— it’s a place to explore the boundaries of the imagination. Paprika is a spellbinding tale of scientists investigating human dreams, pushing beyond the imagery live action effects can pull off to build an artistic tour de force. Looking for a story with less chaos and more nuance? Colorful won the 34th Japanese Academy Prize for Excellence in Animation, by using fantasy to explore humanity’s relationship with death. If you give these oddball films a chance, you won’t regret it.

What streaming service has anime?

Today, anime is available on most streaming services like Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime.

Is there a horror anime in Japan?

Horror anime comes in countless flavors, from action-focused titles like Attack on Titan to the gore-soaked insanity of Tokyo Ghoul. Don’t worry, it’s not just one big bloodbath, thanks to contemplative sci-fi series like Serial Experiments Lain or Dusk Maiden’s soapy delights.

What anime was made in the 1970s?

1970's- Various "mecha" anime (anime with giant robots) took over. Among them were G-Force, Battle of the Planets, Great Mazinger, and Star Blazers. 1979 - Mobile Suit Gundam, the originial version of the current anime Gundam Wing premiered and was a huge success which turned into a nation wide obsession.

Who is the father of anime?

Many were impressed by Tezuka's original style. However, it was not until Tezuka released his ultimate work Tetsuwan Atomu (Astro Boy) that he achieved success; he was pronounced "the Father of Manga and Anime".

What anime was released in 2000?

2000 - Gundam Wing, the anime descended from Mobile Suit Gundam, was released. Along with it came Tenchi Muyo, Card Captors, Blue Submarine 6, and the short lived Vision of Escaflowne. 2001 - Outlaw Star, the most current anime to be aired in the US, is showing on Cartoon Netwrok's Toonami. WWW Sites.

What are Miyazaki's works?

Some of Miyazaki's works are Kiki's Delivery Service, Heidi, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, and his recent masterpiece Princess Mononoke. Hayao Miyazaki (Courtesy of Nausicaa.net) My Background on Anime and Manga: As for me, I have been an avid otaku (fan) of anime for a very long time.

What is the Japanese comic called?

The same applies to Japanese comics known as manga. In order to understand anime and its invasion into the US, a look into its history would be most appropriate. The best place to start is around World War II, since that was the time when the anime and manga (Japanese comics) industry evolved significantly.

What Disney movies were made during the war?

During the war, Walt Disney Studios released two more films Saludos Amigos and The Three Caballeros in South America.

When did Dragon Ball come out?

As a result, the series was released into three theatrical films. 1986 - The artist, Akira Toriyama, released the series Dragon Ball, which became one of Japan's most popular anime shows. Later, the series went on forming Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball GT. Dragon Ball Z © TOEI ANIMATION and FUNimation Productions.

What are some interesting facts about anime?

Details to Anime. Some of the more interesting details about anime are the bits and pieces of Japanese cultural particulars. For example, you may see paper shoji screens, Buddhist bells or people removing their shoes when they enter a home. Elderly parents figure heavily into story lines and the duty to do right by them is strong.

Why did anime and cinema dive after World War II?

After the war, anime and cinema both took a dive because of the damage inflicted in battle.

Why are girls involved in manga?

Many girls are involved in the making and trade of such manga because boys seem to have greater demands on their time to get better grades or to go higher in school. This particular event takes place at Tokyo Big Sight in the Obaida area and people line up for hours to get in.

What is the name of the anime based on Tezuka's doll with a soul?

With the advent of television, there was soon a program based on Tezuka’s 50s manga character; his doll-with-a-soul was redubbed into English and called Astro Boy.

What are the values of Japanese literature?

There are traditional values portrayed by the characters such as sincerity, perseverance and determination in the face of adversity . The Japanese films and books like to illustrate a change in time by using allegory such as a falling leaf, snow melting or a cherry blossom growing, providing a bittersweet sense of time’s passing.

Can anime characters be changeable?

The characters in anime can be changeable . Heroes can show bad traits and even commit horrid acts, although they regret them and express those emotions. In addition, in serious anime there can be a sudden comedic interlude, such that a farce can have tragic moments.

Is manga a major source of anime?

To begin, there are a huge number of animation studios in Japan and the massive manga (comic book) industry functions as subcontractors for the larger companies. Manga is a major source for anime stories in print and on film, and the tales have been widely tested so there are many stories to draw from throughout history.

The First Big Anime In the West

Some of the first massively successful anime both in Japan and the West were works such as Astro Boy and Speed Racer. The former is about a future dominated by robots in which a robot boy with a heart of gold defends his city, giving rise to one of the most venerable anime franchises over the years.

Akira and the Rise of Otaku Culture

Many anime tropes had become established by the 1970s, and the industry was now a firm feature in Japan. The rise of VHS tapes saw anime shows become more profitable than ever, giving birth to the concept of OVAs.

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Overview

The history of anime can be traced back to the start of the 20th century with very simple anime, with the earliest verifiable films dating from 1907, which is far more accomplished than most other animations of the time of Hoya. Before the advent of film, Japan already had a rich tradition of entertainment with colourful painted figures moving across the projection screen in utsushi-e (写し絵), a particular Japanese type of magic lantern show popular in the 19th century. Possibl…

Precursors

Before film, Japan had already several forms of entertainment based in storytelling and images. Emakimono and kagee are considered precursors of Japanese animation. Emakimono was common in the eleventh century. Traveling storytellers narrated legends and anecdotes while the emakimono was unrolled from the right to left with chronological order, as a moving panorama. Kagee was popular during the Edo period and originated from the shadows play of China. Magic …

Origins of anime (early 1900s – 1922)

According to Natsuki Matsumoto, the first animated film produced in Japan may have stemmed from as early as 1907. Known as Katsudō Shashin (活動写真, "Activity Photo"), from its depiction of a boy in a sailor suit drawing the characters for katsudō shashin, the film was first found in 2005. It consists of fifty frames stencilled directly onto a strip of celluloid. This claim has not been verified though and predates the first known showing of animated films in Japan. The date and f…

Pre-war productions (1923–1939)

Yasuji Murata, Hakuzan Kimura, Sanae Yamamoto and Noburō Ōfuji were students of Kitayama Seitaro and worked at his film studio. Kenzō Masaoka, another important animator, worked at a smaller animation studio. Many early animated Japanese films were lost after the 1923 Tokyo earthquake, including destroying most of the Kitayama studio, with artists trying to incorporate traditional motifs and stories into a new form.

During the second World War

In the 1930s, the Japanese government began enforcing cultural nationalism. This also lead to strict censorship and control of published media. Many animators were urged to produce animations that enforced the Japanese spirit and national affiliation. Some movies were shown in newsreel theatres, especially after the Film Law of 1939 promoted documentary and other educational films. Such support helped boost the industry, as bigger companies formed throug…

Postwar environment

In the post-war years, Japanese media was often influenced by the United States, leading some to define anime as any animation emanating from Japan after 1945. While anime and manga began to flourish in the 1940s and 1950s, with foreign films (and layouts by American cartoonists), influencing people such as Osamu Tezuka,
In the 1950s, anime studios began appearing across Japan. Hiroshi Takahata bought a studio n…

Toei Animation and Mushi Production

Toei Animation and Mushi Production was founded and produced the first color anime feature film in 1958, Hakujaden (The Tale of the White Serpent, 1958). It was released in the US in 1961 as well as Panda and the Magic Serpent. After the success of the project, Toei released a new feature-length animation annually.
Toei's style was characterized by an emphasis on each animator bringing his own ideas to the pr…

1960s

In the 1960s, the unique style of Japanese anime began forming, with large eyed, big mouthed, and large headed characters. The first anime film to be broadcast was Moving pictures in 1960. 1961 saw the premiere of Japan's first animated television series, Instant History, although it did not consist entirely of animation. Astro Boy, created by Osamu Tezuka, premiered on Fuji TV on January 1, 1963. It became the first anime shown widely to Western audiences, especially to tho…

Post-War and The Rise of TV

  • It wasn’t until after WWII—in 1948, to be precise—that the first modern Japanese animation production company, one devoted to entertainment, came into being: Toei. Their first theatrical features were explicitly in the vein of Walt Disney’s films (as popular in Japan as they were everywhere else). One key example was the ninja-and-sorcery mini-epic...
See more on liveabout.com

First Exports

  • Up until this point, Japanese animated productions had been made by and for Japan. But gradually they began to show up in English-speaking territories, although without much in the way to link them back to Japan. 1963 heralded Japan’s first major animated export to the U.S.: Tetsuwan Atomu—more commonly known as Astro Boy. Adapted from Osamu Tezuka’s manga …
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Diversification

  • In the 1970s, the rising popularity of TV put a major dent in the Japanese film industry—both live-action and animation. Many of the animators who had worked exclusively in film gravitated back to TV to fill its expanding talent pool. The end result was a period of aggressive experimentation and stylistic expansion, and a time where many of the common tropes found in anime to this da…
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The Video Revolution

  • Home video transformed the anime industry in the Eighties even more radically than TV had. It allowed casual re-watching of a show apart from the rerun schedules of broadcasters, which made it that much easier for die-hard fans—otaku, as they were now starting to be known in Japan—to congregate and share their enthusiasm. It also created a new submarket of animated …
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Evangelion, “Late-Night Anime” and The Internet

  • In 1995, GAINAX director Hideaki Anno created Neon Genesis Evangelion, a landmark show which not only galvanized existing anime fans but broke through to mainstream audiences as well. Its adult themes, provocative cultural criticism and confounding ending (eventually revisited in a pair of theatrical films) inspired many other shows to take risks, to use existing anime tropes, such a…
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The Trouble New Millenium

  • At the same time, anime was expanding far beyond Japan’s borders, one major upheaval after another through the 2000s threatened its growth and led many to speculate if it even had a future. The first was the implosion of Japan’s “bubble economy” in the Nineties, which had injured the industry during that time but continued to affect things into the new millennium. Contracting bud…
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Surviving and Enduring

  • And yet despite all this, anime survives. Convention attendances continue to climb. A dozen or more anime titles (full series, not simply single discs) hit the shelves in any given month. The very digital networks that made piracy possible are now also being used aggressively by the distributors themselves to put high-quality, legit copies of their shows into the hands of fans. Th…
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What Makes Anime Special?

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In the West, anime is a term short for ‘animation’ and is used to describe any type of animated works made in Japan. However, the Japanese definition of anime includes any kind of animation, even if it’s made outside of Japan. How is it that Japanese animation became so special and iconic that the rest of the world decid…
See more on japancentric.com

Origins

  • The history of anime in Japan goes back further than one might think. It’s further than the iconic Astro Boy of 1960s, and even earlier than when it was common for televisions to be in peoples home, and even before World War II. Anime’s roots can be found going all the way back to the early 1900s. It’s hard to know exactly when the first piece of a...
See more on japancentric.com

Prewar

  • In 1923, the Great Kantō Earthquake struck and devastated Tokyo. The result was that many animation studios were destroyed, along with many of their works. Even without the earthquake, things were not easy for Japanese animators during this time. They were competing with foreign companies like Disney, who were selling already profitable products abroad and were able to un…
See more on japancentric.com

During WWII

  • The years leading up to World War II saw the Japanese government start enforcing national pride in any way that they could. This included national pride through media and film by enacting laws to control and censor them. Specifically in 1939, the passing of the Film Law enforced heavy regulations on the industry and ensured they served the governments interests. While this force…
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After WWII

  • Just three years after Japan surrendered in World War II, Japan Animated Films was founded in 1948. This studio would go on to be acquired by the now legendary Toei film company to become their animation department. In 1958 Toei release Hakujaden, also known as Tale of the White Serpent, which is one of the most recognizable older anime. The film was the first feature lengt…
See more on japancentric.com

The Stepstoward Modern Anime

  • If we look back to what we were first trying to uncover, how is it that Japanese animation became so special and iconic that the rest of the world decided to distinguish it from others? Much of what was covered from the 1900s up until the 1960s feels like it hasn’t quite revealed the answer yet. However, the creation of Toei’s animation department was a significant turning point that ha…
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