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The beginning
Japan began producing animation in 1917—still the age of silent films. -
The Great Kantō Earthquake
Domestic anime production was beginning to develop a small but solid foundation when Tokyo and the surrounding area suffered catastrophic damage in the Great Kantō Earthquake in 1923. The anime industry was forced to start over from scratch. -
Tōei Dōga’s Hakujaden
Tōei Dōga’s first full-length film, Hakujaden, was released in October 1958. It was based on a Chinese tale. -
Astro Boy
Tetsuwan Atomu (Astro Boy): The First Japanese Television Anime -
Kyojin no hoshi
The popular baseball-themed Kyojin no hoshi (Star of the Giants) began. -
Start of Sazae-san
The longest anime show ever presented started this day (still shown to this day) -
Period: to
Sazae-san
The first episode of the family drama Sazae-san, which continues to this day as the longest-running series in anime history.Sazae-san started as a Japanese yonkoma manga series written and illustrated by Machiko Hasegawa. It was first published in Hasegawa's local paper, the Fukunichi Shinbun -
1980's anime start
Anime was accepted in the mainstream in Japan, and experienced a boom in production. -
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1980's anime
Anime was accepted in the mainstream in Japan, and experienced a boom in production. The rise of Gundam, Macross, Dragon Ball, and the Real Robot. Space opera and cyberpunk genres set a boom as well. -
Super Dimensional Fortress Macross
This wildly popular animated series, featuring robots that transform into fighter jets, was imported into America as "Robotech" several years later. The combination of a deep plot, a love story and an incredible mecha design have enchanted fans for nearly two decades. -
My Neighbor Totoro
Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli. -
Akira
This incredibly detailed manga series spawned a feature film that caused Americans to question their preconceptions of Japanese animation as cartoons for kids. Dark, violent and adult oriented, Akira stands as a masterpiece of Japanese sci-fi even today. -
1980's anime end
Anime was accepted in the mainstream in Japan, and experienced a boom in production. -
Period: to
Sailor Moon
originally translated as Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon and later as Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon is a Japanese shōjo manga series written and illustrated by Naoko Takeuchi. It was originally written in Nakayoshi from 1991 to 1997; the 52 individual chapters were published in 18 tankōbon volumes. It later aired on March 7, 1992 -
Improvement of animation
Better animation skills and drawing since 2004 -
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Improvement of animation
Better animation of the anime characters is visually presented in the shows. -
still present Sazae-san
The longest ever televised anime show is still being watched by kids to this day. -
Ongoing imporvement of animation
The anime industry is still improving their animation and drawing skills.
