A Brief History of Anime (Week 7)

Today, anime is celebrated across the globe as a unique and respected art form. From Studio Ghibli’s delicate storytelling to the gripping action of Demon Slayer, anime captivates audiences of all backgrounds. It has introduced Japanese culture to a wider audience, and has carved out its position as a major cultural export that’s inspired everything from global cosplay conventions to Western animation like Avatar: The Last Airbender. With the global anime industry valued at over $24 billion in 2021, there is no question of its massive cultural impact.

But anime’s journey through time is anything but straightforward. Its roots lie not in global ambition, but in local ideological control. Leading up to and during WWII, Emperor Hirohito put in place strict controls over cinema and animation modeled after Nazi restrictions, only allowing entertainment to praise the Japanese values and the empire. Criticism of the government was prohibited alongside displays of “trashy” Western culture, like smoking and going to bars. In fact, one of Japan’s earliest full-length animated films, Momotaro’s Divine Sea Warriors (1945), was a wartime propaganda piece designed to instill national pride and justify Japan’s military conquests in the South Pacific. In the film, cute animals representing Japan’s Asian neighbors are shown welcoming the Japanese military as “liberators” from Western powers.

(Momotaro’s Divine Sea Warriors)

What’s especially striking is how far anime has evolved from these origins. Once a tool to shape domestic public opinion, anime is now an instrument of soft power that exports Japanese values, aesthetics, and creativity across borders. Instead of Japanese works isolating themselves from Western values and aesthetics, several works take heavy inspiration from European and American culture, with titles like Black Butler, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, and Banana Fish coming to mind. Technological innovation, global distribution platforms like Crunchyroll and Netflix, and a growing international fandom have made anime into a worldwide phenomenon. For many international viewers, anime serves as a first introduction to Japanese traditions, language, and food.

(Black Butler)

Moreover, the influence of anime and manga is especially prominent in America and Asia. American shows like Teen Titans borrow heavily from anime’s stylistic and narrative techniques. Meanwhile, countries like Korea, China, and Taiwan have built their own animation industries—often starting with Japanese collaborations or stylistic influence. Shows like Korea’s Mashimaro and Pucca resemble Japanese mascots, while Chinese animators frequently train under or subcontract for Japanese studios. Even in Hong Kong and Taiwan, television dramas and comics have directly adapted Japanese storylines, often with minor localization tweaks to avoid copyright issues.

(Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, a Chinese donghua)

What began as a state-controlled tool to shape Japan’s identity has become a cultural juggernaut, reshaping the world’s perception of Japan in the process. Japan has traded its militaristic image for one of creativity, imagination, and artistic excellence.