The Cool Story of How Japanese Anime Started

Hey there, future anime aficionados! Ever wondered how those awesome Japanese anime came to be? The word anime comes from animation and is what we call in the Western world a cartoons.

Well, let’s take a trip back to the 1900s and find out how it all began, from experiments with cool techniques to the birth of the very first anime!

Getting the Animation Bug

In the early 20th century, filmmakers in Japan were like mad scientists, experimenting with animation tricks they learned from other countries like France, Germany, the US, and Russia. It’s like they were mixing potions to create the magic of moving pictures!

The Earliest Anime? Meet Katsudō Shashin

Around 1907, someone mysterious (we’re talking Sherlock-level mystery here!) created something called Katsudō Shashin. It’s like a secret treasure because no one knows who made it!
But this little piece of animation history might just be the earliest Japanese animation. Imagine that!

Lights, Camera, Anime

Fast forward to 1917, and things are starting to heat up. The first legit animated films made their grand entrance. People like Ōten Shimokawa, Seitarō Kitayama, and Jun’ichi Kōuchi – basically the OG anime creators – stepped onto the scene.

They’re like the godfathers of anime, laying the foundation for all the epic shows you love today.

Old-School Gems

These early animation wizards made a bunch of cool films, and one of the oldest surviving ones is Kōuchi’s “Namakura Gatana.” It’s like a time capsule, giving us a peek into the past and showing us where the anime magic all began.

Oops, Lost in Time

Sadly, not all the cool stuff from back then survived. In 1923, the Great Kantō earthquake struck and wiped out many early animations that were stored in Shimokawa’s warehouse. It’s like a piece of history got lost in the rumble.

In a Nutshell: Anime Origins Unveiled!

And there you have it, Japanese anime enthusiasts! The journey of Japanese animation started with creative minds tinkering with animation tricks from around the world.

From mysterious beginnings to iconic OG creators, and even a few bumpy moments in history, Japanese animation bloomed into the epic art form we adore today. So next time you’re binge-watching your fave anime, remember it all started with some curious minds and a dash of animation magic!