The 1960's

Disney Look-Alikes:
Astro Boy (Tetsuwan Atomu) and Speed Racer (Mach Go-Go-Go)

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Anime Releases in Japan
Tetsuwan Atom (Astro Boy)
Tetsujun 28 (Gigantor)
8-Man (TOBOR, The Eighth Man)
Jungle Taitei (Kimba the White Lion)
Mach Go-Go-Go (Speed Racer)
Ribun No Kishi (Princess Knight)
Dororo
1001 Nights
Cleopatra

Initially, anime imitated much of Western animated film --- the characters had the same juvenile features as the big-eyed Disney characters, and almost all the characters had distinctly Caucasian characteristics: blond hair, blue eyes, and pale, pink skin were all common features of anime characters in the 1960's through the 1970's. It cannot be a coincidence that during this time period, Japanese national self-esteem was at an all time low, and given the economic problems of the time, products that were distinctly Japanese were viewed as inferior to Western products.