Evolution of a Genre: 1963-1999

1960's - 1970's - 1980's - 1990's

Anime has its roots in the policies of the American Occupation of Japan after World War II. Films that had nationalistic or traditional themes were banned by the U.S. occupational forces, and so film makers were spurred on to explore fields that had not previously been popular: namely, the fantastic and the avant-garde. What we know as cult classics here in the United States, such as Godzilla (Gojira in the original Japanese) and Astro Boy, were the result of the Japanese desire to express their perspectives and feelings about nuclear bombs and the war in such a way that their works would not be censored. (3)

Anime as a genre was first created at the hands of Osamu Tezuka, a manga (comic-book) artist in Japan who decided to leave the printed world and explore the medium of film. His works, generally assented by modern anime artists as being perhaps the most influential force on the genre, were first inspired, ironically enough, by an American company -- the Disney Corporation. (3)

Anime is perhaps one of the best examples of cultural exchange between Japan and the United States. It was inspired by Americans, created by the Japanese, and influenced by both cultures throughout its development.