Why Is Japanese Animation So Popular? Posted Apr 2, 2026

Let’s take a look at the history of anime, go over a few key terms, figure out why characters have such big eyes, and talk a bit about manga.

How It All Started

Anime as a genre began in Japan in the early 20th century, when filmmakers started experimenting with animation techniques coming from the West.

In 1907, a short animated clip was created — it doesn’t have an official title, but online it’s known as Katsudō Shashin, which means “moving pictures.”

It’s only about 3 seconds long: a boy in a sailor outfit writes “moving pictures” on a board, turns to the viewer, and takes off his hat.

In 1917, a two-minute comedy called Namakura Gatana was shown to the public. It tells the story of a samurai trying to test his new sword, only to be defeated by a blind musician. For a long time, the film was considered lost until a copy was found in an antique shop in Osaka in 2008.

By the 1940s, groups of artists and animators had formed, working on anime — often used at the time for government propaganda.

The real breakthrough came in 1963, when the black-and-white TV series Astro Boy (Tetsuwan Atom) aired in Japan. Its creator, Osamu Tezuka, is often called the “God of Anime.”

He laid the foundation for the modern anime style and created around 500 manga (Japanese comics). Tezuka also founded Mushi Production, and Astro Boy helped kick off the anime boom.

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Growth and New Genres

As anime series became more popular, new studios appeared and started exploring different themes.

In 1965, Toei Animation released a feature film called Gulliver's Travels Beyond the Moon, inspired by stories from Hans Christian Andersen and Jonathan Swift. A young Hayao Miyazaki even worked on it.

In 1966, the series Sally the Witch was released — one of the first and most successful anime shows aimed at girls. It helped create the shojo genre, which usually features a young female main character with magical powers.

The 1980s are often called the golden age of anime. By then, anime had become a full subculture and gained popularity not just in Japan, but around the world.

In 1984, Miyazaki released Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, a key example of Japanese steampunk. During its production, Studio Ghibli was formed — later known for films like Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, and Porco Rosso.

Big Eyes and Strong Emotions

As mentioned earlier, Astro Boy had a huge influence on anime — including its visual style.

Everything we see in modern anime was already there: big eyes, expressive faces, and a strong focus on emotions.

The show tells the story of a boy named Astro Boy, created by scientists. He has super strength, speed, and the ability to fly — but he also has emotions and feelings, which make him human. This is shown both through the story and the character design.

Tezuka was inspired by Disney characters like Bambi and Mickey Mouse. Round faces, big eyes, and small noses help focus the viewer’s attention on emotions.

You might also notice that anime often uses close-up shots — again, to highlight what the character is feeling.