Anime, as we know it today, has a rich and evolving history that spans over a century. Its roots trace back to the early 20th century, with Japan’s first animated works emerging in the 1910s and 1920s. These early films were heavily influenced by Western animation, particularly from the U.S. and Europe.
However, it was in the 1960s that anime began to take shape as a distinct cultural form, largely due to the work of Osamu Tezuka, often referred to as the "God of Manga." Tezuka's iconic series *Astro Boy* (1963) is widely credited with launching the anime industry as we know it, establishing the visual style and storytelling conventions that would define the medium.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, anime became more poular, with the rise of beloved series like *Mobile Suit Gundam*, *Dragon Ball*, and *Akira*. These decades marked the emergence of anime not only as entertainment but also as a powerful cultural export.
By the 1990s, anime had become a global phenomenon, with iconic titles such as *Sailor Moon*, *Pokémon*, and *Neon Genesis Evangelion* reaching audiences around the world.