In 2024 it is almost impossible to avoid the craze that’s sweeping Western culture. Rick and Morty just did it and more are on the way. So what is anime and what are some examples? Read along as we navigate this rapidly ascending market!

So what is anime?

Anime is both hand-drawn and computer-generated animation originating from Japan. It includes shonen, seinen, shojo, and kodomomuke! Critics consider the early 1900s release Hekoten Shimokawa’s Dekobo Shingacho – Meian no Shippai as the first preserved anime!

The medium would continue to evolve from there, leading to what many critics say is the most important anime of all time: Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy. Bursting onto the scene in 1963, Astro Boy made waves in the community for its impressive character design and more iconic features that would form the backbone of anime moving forward. This would spawn an influx of unique worlds as artists pushed their boundaries until we moved beyond the android hero of Astro.

What are some types of anime?

Enter in Mobile Suit Gundam. The 1979 anime created by Yoshiyuki Tomino wowed viewers with the introduction of fully mechanized warriors capable of fantastical feats both on the ground and air! Tomino mirrored Japan’s rapid economic and technological growth as Gundam brought a new subgenre to the forefront: the Mechs.

While Tomino focused on Mechs, another artist was innovating in another field. Hayao Miyazaki, founder of renowned Studio Ghibli, released his first project Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind in 1985, quickly impressing audiences with his contrast of a uniquely beautiful animation style and serious tones regarding humanity.

The Rise of Shonen

If you’ve made it this far then the first anime you heard about was probably inspired by the most influential and culturally impactful anime of all time, Dragon Ball. The late great Akira Toriyama released Dragon Ball in 1986, and he would forever transform the shonen genre. Shonen is anime targeted towards teenage boys and its hallmarks were first found with the iconic hero, Son Goku.

Just two years later, Katsuhiro Otomo would introduce the cyberpunk subgenre among shonen anime with Akira. The movie details the harrowing destruction of New Tokyo and its aftermath, showing the brutal consequences of a militaristic society. Kaneda and Tetsuo wreak havoc through a city that’s interwoven with technological advancements at every corner, culminating into one of the most iconic scenes ever: the Akira Slide.

Sailor Moon and Pikachu bring the spotlight

Shonen controlled the mainstream for years until the first culturally popular shojo arrived. Sailor Moon, created by Naoko Takeuchi, set fire to the airwaves with the story of Usagi Tsukino. After saving a cat, she gains fantastic powers and finds a long-lost crew of Moons. Takeuchi successfully created a new subgenre of shojo: the magical girls and it led to immense popularity.

Okay, your first anime wasn’t Dragon Ball, or any of its sequels, but that’s only because you watched an anime before you even knew what it was! Satoshi Tajiri created Pokémon as a Gameboy game in 1996. Its anime was released just one year later. It quicky became a worldwide phenomenon with Pikachu becoming a household name. To this day, it is the most iconic kodomomuke anime.

Seinen Strengthens Anime’s Reputation in America

Dragon Ball introduced anime to the West. Pokémon made it popular amongst children and anime fans, but there wasn’t a clear avenue for adults in the seinen genre. This came by way of Shinichirō Watanabe and his western space combat classic, Cowboy Bebop. The charismatic pair of Jet and Spike legitimized anime in the Western hemisphere and served as a launchpad for the jet setting success it is seeing today.

As far as current anime, there is none better to list than One Piece. Eiichiro Oda’s shonen anime started all the way back in 1999 and still runs today. It is famous for its length, as the journey of the Straw Hats is currently over 1000 episodes! One Piece stands alone as a cultural experience right now. Get in on it before it is revealed because we may not see something like this for a long time!

Okay, now what?

To recap: at the base level anime is computer-generated or hand-drawn animation produced in Japan. Beyond the surface however, its an enormous resource of amazing narrative experiences for everyone to enjoy! If you don’t know where to start: Don’t Worry! Check out some synopses and reviews here, I promise you’ll find that next show to binge!