Ever since Japanese artists and filmmakers were inspired by Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and other Walt Disney animated films of the 1930s, a vigorous animated film industry has developed in Japan. The distinct techniques and styles of Japanese animation have been become known as “anime” styles, and are now recognised and appreciated worldwide.
Animated films in the anime genre vary greatly from one artist to another, but characteristics often include: exaggerated body shapes or features (big eyes, big hair, elongated bodies); an innovative approach to viewpoint and perspective; and certain stylised visual conventions, such as a sweat drop floating near a character’s head to indicate embarrassment. For economy in production, motion is sometimes presented by panning across a still picture, to give an impression of movement.
Astro Boy (developed from the manga by Osamu Tezuka) was one of the first major anime series, broadcast on Japan television from 1963.
During the 1980s and 1990s Japanese artists further developed anime into many different styles, but the genre was still little known outside Japan.
The rise of DVDs and the Internet have played an important role in spreading anime’s popularity worldwide, as has its commercial success. The Pokemon phenomenon (Nintendo, from 1995) shows the close relation and synergy which anime has not only with manga, but also with computer gaming. The Pokemon anime, a spin-off from the computer game, has had a significant impact worldwide, exposed many young Westerners to anime for the first time and increasing the level of interest in this aspect of Japanese culture. The quality of the animations produced by Hayao Miyazaki at Studio Ghibli (My Neighbour Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Howl’s Moving Castle) are widely recognised and appreciated internationally.
Major anime characters are now recognised worldwide, and anime-influenced styles are used in advertising, computer games and television series (eg. South Park). Anime is Japan’s distinct creative contribution to the world of animated film.
