Who must we thank for modern Anime?

BAMBI!

No, not exactly. Nevertheless, manga and anime have been greatly influenced by Walt Disney-style animation. In the 1930’s, Walt Disney was at the top of the animation pyramid, paving the way for future animators by pioneering sound and color, and approaching his art as a family-oriented medium. By that time, animation had already become a prominent part of the Japanese film industry, and in the next four decades it would adopt some of Disney’s character designs, themes, and storytelling techniques.


From the aftermath of World War II, the manga industry rose from the ashes to join early anime in its development. Disney’s animation was soon analyzed by the man dubbed “god of manga,” Osamu Tezuka, a young medical student whose interest in this art form grew from his experience as consultant on the Toei film Alakazam the Great.


Japan’s first hit anime television series aired January 1st, 1963; created by none other than Dr. Tezuka. Astro Boy, as it’s called in North America, became just as popular overseas as it did in Japan. Though Tezuka was a huge fan of Walt Disney (he watched Bambi 80 times), it is evident that his first anime had already begun steering anime away from its Disney-style origins. By the 70’s, Tezuka managed to target a larger audience of various ages with anime that touched upon just about every genre imaginable.


I remember writing a similar report on the origins of anime and manga in the 10th grade (unfortunately I lost it under a pile of junk in the black hole that is my room). The idea of anime being greatly influenced by Disney films such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Fantasia, Dumbo, and many others is something I’ve always found interesting. The best part is knowing that both Dr. Tezuka and Walt Disney met at the New York World’s Fair in 1964 – two animation giants praising each other’s work like fanboys.

 So, if it wasn’t for Walt Disney, anime fans wouldn’t have gotten to enjoy Yu-Gi-Oh, Digimon, Akira, My Neighbor Totoro, or any other famous anime titles. Does this make Disney the godfather of anime?


References:

1. A Brief History of Anime
2. Anime Explosion! : The What? Why? & Wow! of Japanese Animation
3. Astro Boy: Manga for Boomers

It's Bambi's Japanese cousin, Deerie Lou!