From short films in 1917 to a global cultural force, Japanese anime has undergone a remarkable evolution.
This article traces that history, explaining how anime developed and expanded worldwide, and highlights the unique strengths of Japanese studios and the benefits for overseas companies collaborating with them.

Japanese anime is no longer just audiovisual content; it has become a cultural phenomenon admired worldwide.
From short films of the 1910s, through the rise of TV anime in the 1950s, the golden age of animated features in the 1980s, and into the digital/global era of the 2000s, anime has continually evolved.
Along the way it forged high technical standards and a distinctive expressive style—establishing a uniquely Japanese creative identity unlike any other animation tradition.

Today, platforms such as Netflix and Disney+ release Japanese anime simultaneously worldwide, and more overseas companies are commissioning Japanese studios directly.
This article reviews anime’s historical milestones, the drivers of its growth, and why partnering with Japanese studios delivers strategic value for international companies.

Early Beginnings of Japanese Animation (1910s–1940s)

Japanese animation began around 1917 with short experimental films.
Before cinematic techniques were established, creators used paper cutouts and puppetry, exploring animation as a “new form of expression.”
Amid the global infancy of the medium, Japan developed techniques and aesthetics all its own.

Pioneering Works

Early examples include Namakura Gatana (1917) and other shorts.
Though only minutes long, they showcased inventive character motion and humor—innovations for their time.
Created via hand-drawn frame-by-frame techniques without a mature commercial market, these experiments laid the foundation for Japan’s culture of character-centric motion.

Technical Foundations: Cel and Puppet Animation

In the 1920s–30s, cel animation was adopted: characters were drawn on transparent celluloid and photographed over separate backgrounds—boosting both efficiency and expressive range.
Puppet animation also evolved, reinforcing Japan’s pursuit of finely detailed motion.
These advances established the foundations for commercial animation in later decades.

Wartime Propaganda Context

In the 1940s, wartime mobilization led to state-backed propaganda films such as Momotaro’s Sea Eagles (1943) and Momotaro: Sacred Sailors (1945).
Despite creative constraints, larger budgets and organized production improved technical standards—experience that later strengthened postwar studio capabilities.

The Rise of TV Anime and an Early Golden Era (1950s–1970s)

Astro Boy and the Limited Animation System

Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy (1963) marked Japan’s first full-fledged TV anime.
To maintain quality under tight budgets and schedules, studios adopted limited animation—reducing frame counts strategically.
This enabled consistent weekly series production, establishing a scalable system that still underpins TV anime today.

Toei Doga and Mushi Production

In the 1960s–70s, Toei Doga (now Toei Animation) and Mushi Production led the industry.
Toei pursued Disney-like feature animation, producing films such as The Tale of the White Serpent (1958) and laying foundations for anime cinema.
Mushi Pro delivered repeated TV hits with character-driven storytelling and innovative direction, fueling market growth and stylistic diversity.

Early Exports and Global Reach

During this era, Japanese anime began airing abroad. Astro Boy found success in the U.S., followed by titles like Speed Racer (Mach GoGoGo) and Candy Candy.
Appeal stemmed from charismatic characters and brisk storytelling, spurring early collaborations between overseas companies and Japanese studios—laying groundwork for later global expansion.

Diversification and the Rise of Anime Cinema (1980s–1990s)

Studio Ghibli and Feature Film Breakthroughs

Founded in 1985, Studio Ghibli transformed anime cinema with timeless works like Laputa: Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, and Kiki’s Delivery Service.
In 1997, Princess Mononoke broke domestic box-office records, confirming anime films as a national pastime.
Ghibli’s global acclaim spotlighted the originality and quality of Japanese animation worldwide.

OVAs and the Growth of Fan Culture

Original Video Animation (OVA) emerged in the 1980s, enabling boundary-pushing projects outside TV constraints.
Series like Patlabor and Bubblegum Crisis grew from OVAs into broader hits.
Magazines, doujinshi, and events flourished, energizing fan communities and shaping today’s market where fandom drives success.

Overseas Expansion and Global Recognition

In the 1990s, anime broke out globally with titles such as Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon, Neon Genesis Evangelion, and Pokémon.
Audiences embraced its deep narratives, distinctive characters, kinetic action, and philosophical themes—traits rare in other animation traditions.
These successes elevated anime to a world-watched culture and catalyzed more international co-productions with Japanese studios.

Digital Transformation and Global Expansion (2000s–Present)

Digital Pipelines and 3DCG

Since the early 2000s, production has shifted from analog to digital drawing and coloring, expanding directorial freedom and enabling complex effects and palettes.
The adoption of 3DCG introduced new aesthetics—seen in titles like Knights of Sidonia and Land of the Lustrous—delivering depth and fluid motion.
These advances broadened genres and made international pipeline collaboration easier.

Simulcasting and Global Collaboration

Investment by Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ made worldwide same-day releases common, rapidly expanding overseas viewership.
Co-productions, financing, and exclusivity deals increased, shifting anime from a domestic-first model to a global-by-design business.
International partners now pursue joint IP development, reboots, and shorts with Japanese studios in a variety of collaboration models.

What Overseas Companies Value in Japanese Studios

Overseas companies turn to Japan for its blend of creativity and technical mastery.
Studios excel at nuanced emotional acting, subtle motion, and direction that lingers in the viewer’s memory. They are also praised for careful world-building and faithful adaptation of source material.
Equally important are precise production management and a professional commitment to demanding schedules—key trust factors for international partners.
These strengths elevate anime as a global content category and keep Japanese studios in demand for cross-border projects.

Benefits of Partnering with Japanese Anime Studios

High-Quality Sakuga and Direction

Japanese studios are renowned for Sakuga that captures delicate emotion and motion, top-tier Background Art (Art Board), lighting, and precise layout.
They also possess established know-how for constructing the drama of a scene—timing, pacing, and perspective—hallmarks of Japanese direction.

Pipelines Built for Global Distribution

With the rise of co-productions, Japanese studios have become fluent in global-standard production and QC.
They develop scripts and Storyboard (E-conte) for multilingual release, deliver in international formats, and collaborate online with overseas teams—pipelines optimized for simulcast distribution.

IP-Minded Planning and Marketing Sense

Because anime frequently expands into merchandise, events, games, and stage, Japanese studios plan from the outset with world-building, character appeal, and fandom growth in mind.
They approach projects as long-term IP, enabling partners to build franchises rather than one-off titles.

What to Align at the Concept Stage

The more precisely you align early, the stronger the final work. Share:
• Target audience (age, regions, platforms)
• Worldview, tone, and themes
• Character Design (Chara Design) direction and references
• Episode count, runtime, structure
• End goals (IP development, series, promotion)

Japanese studios build deeply from documents, images, and scenario notes; richer inputs at concept stage yield more precise creative execution.

Contracts, Schedules, and Rights

Define at contract: scope, timeline, revision limits/fees, IP ownership and secondary rights, and delivery specs.
Because rights practices vary by country, specify what the client owns and what the studio retains.
Stage-based review calendars help prevent schedule slippage.

Communication Tips for Co-Productions

Use regular meetings and reviews, track tasks via email/chat, and clarify intent with visuals—Storyboard (E-conte) and references.
Avoid ambiguity: state objectives, decision criteria, and “no-go” examples.
Given Japanese studios’ strengths in detail and schedule control, transparent communication directly enhances outcomes.

Conclusion: A Global Standard of Creativity Shaped by History

From early shorts to TV, through a cinematic golden age and into the digital/global present, Japanese anime has adapted and evolved with every era.
Its Sakuga, direction, and world-building expertise set benchmarks for visual culture and inspire creators worldwide.

With more co-productions and global development, anime is recognized not as a “domestic product” but as global content.
This historical trajectory explains why Japanese studios continue to earn the trust of international partners.

For overseas companies, partnering with a Japanese studio goes far beyond outsourcing.
It’s an opportunity to create globally competitive works with teams that combine memorable storytelling, IP-minded planning, and rigorous production management.
Understanding anime’s history reveals its strengths and potential—and underscores why collaborating with Japanese studios is increasingly valuable for building a culture of animation loved worldwide.