What is anime?
Anime is a style of Japanese animation created under the influence of manga and anime. The term is used to describe all animation in Japan, regardless of where it originates, and it is most commonly used to refer to manga and anime. Outside of Japan, however, the term “anime” is used to describe Japanese animated films that have vibrant graphics, animated characters, and enticing themes like science fiction, romance, and supernatural abilities (Team, 2022).
History of anime
The history of animation can be traced back to the birth of the Japanese film industry in the early 1900s and its emergence as one of the major cultural powers in Japan over the past 100 years. At this time, the works were not cel animation, which would later become mainstream, but used a variety of techniques such as blackboard drawing, painting directly on film, and paper cut-outs. The techniques of today’s animation, such as sound (and eventually color), multifocal cameras, and celluloid pictures, were added one after another. However, due to the rise of nationalism and the effects of World War II, most animations created after the 1930s were not intended as mass entertainment but for commercial purposes or as government propaganda. (Brief History of Anime: From Origins to Today, 2019)
In 1963, on January 1, a 30-minute animated television series “Astro Boy” was broadcast on Fuji Television, which became a huge hit and triggered an animation boom that led to a fierce battle for television viewers. This success heralded the opening of a new animation industry (Yasuo, 2013).
Start of Toei Animation
It was during this period, as Japan was beginning to recover from the war, that Toei President Hiroshi Okawa saw Disney’s “Snow White” (1937). In 1956, he built a modern, air-conditioned studio called the White Palace and established Toei Doga (now Toei Animation). His goal was to become the “Disney of the Orient”. Toei Doga chose “Hakujaden” as its first film. A research team was sent to the U.S., and several experts were invited to Japan as instructors. This allowed them to learn Disney’s “assembly line production” method. The new recruits then honed their skills under veteran animators such as Yasuji Mori and Akira Daikuhara and created their own works (Yasuo, 2013).
Evolution of Anime
1960’s
Aired on New Year’s Day in 1963, Astro Boy was the first commercially successful Japanese animated television series and a testament to the Japanese animation style that is now so familiar. Known as the “Godfather of Manga,” Tezuka created the aesthetic that has made Japanese animation what it is today. In 1968, he founded Tezuka Productions and created many iconic series, including “Black Jack” and “Kimba the White Lion”.
1970’s
Doraemon, the blue cat-shaped robot that first appeared in 1970, has been a favorite of many children ever since. Created by Shin-Ei Animation, this “Doraemon” series was born in a decade of rapid technological innovation and caught the imagination of the age.
1980’s
The 1980s are frequently cited as the height of anime popularity. A Cambrian explosion in the animation genre was spurred by the creative rush that came along with Japan’s expanding economy, and this explosion led to the development of numerous legendary franchises over the decade. It is impossible to discuss Japan’s unmatched commitment to this style of art without mentioning Studio Ghibli. The sports anime “Prince of Tennis,” “Hajime no Ippo,” and, of course, “Slam Dunk” are also available.
1990’s
The success of anime in the martial arts and sports genres, such as “Dragon Ball” and “Slam Dunk,” led to an increase in anime enthusiasts all around the world in the 1990s (Sotheby, 2021).
References
Brief History of Anime From Origins to Today (2019). Brief History of Anime From Origins to Today. [online] LiveAbout. Available at: https://www.liveabout.com/brief-history-of-anime-144979 [Accessed 3 February 2023]
Sotheby (2021). THE EVOLUTION OF JAPANESE ANIMATION. [online] Sotheby’s. Available at: https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles/the-evolution-of-japanese-animation#:~:text=The%20history%20of%20anime%20began,more%20commonplace%20fixture%20of%20households. [Accessed 3 February 2023]
Team, N.F.I. (2022). What is Anime? Everything You Need To Know. [online] NFI. Available at: https://www.nfi.edu/what-is-anime/ [Accessed 3 February 2023]
Yasuo, Y. (2013). The Evolution of the Japanese Anime Industry. [online] nippon.com. Available at: https://www.nippon.com/en/features/h00043/ [Accessed 3 February 2023]
