Top 10 First Anime in World History!

Over the years, anime has become a cultural phenomenon, with millions of fans around the world enjoying everything from action-saga to heartwarming tales. But to understand how anime evolved to what it is today, we really have to go back to the very beginning. The first anime films and shows laid the foundation for the whole industry we know and love now. Now, let's take a look at the top 10 first anime in world history—those groundbreaking works that set the stage for everything that came after.

1. Namakura Gatana (The Dull Sword) - 1917

A 1917 release, Namakura Gatana is often considered one of the first anime films. This short film from director Jun''chi Kōuchi runs a little over four minutes in length but nonetheless proved to be one of the most influential Japanese animations in history. It is a comic tale of a hapless samurai utilizing 2D animation that would define anime. Although crude by today's standards, Namakura Gatana was a milestone in the development of Japanese animation.

2. One Thousand and One Nights - 1969

This movie, crafted from the classic Middle Eastern folk tale, is among the very first anime films that broke the chains in terms of animation for both storytelling and visual style. Directed by Eiichi Yamamoto, A Thousand and One Nights features a bold and mature narrative and experimental art that was unlike anything seen before in the anime industry. Its risqué content and art style were considered avant-garde at the time, and the film still holds an important place in anime history.

3. Astro Boy (Tetsuwan Atom) - 1963

If you’re a fan of anime, you’ve probably heard of Astro Boy. Created by Osamu Tezuka and often described as the first modern anime series, this iconic series premiered in 1963 and is credited with influencing future anime through its distinct art style and storytelling. The story revolves around a robot boy-Atom, more commonly known as Astro Boy-who fights against evil to save the world, a theme which later became a cliche for many other anime. Its success in Japan also spread anime beyond the country's borders.

4. Momotaro: Umi no Shinpei (Momotaro, Sacred Sailors) - 1945

Momotaro: Umi no Shinpei was created during World War II and is considered the first feature-length anime film. This wartime propaganda film was created by the Japanese Imperial Navy and is based on the traditional Japanese folk story of Momotaro, a boy born from a giant peach. Despite being a propaganda work, the film showcases the potential of anime as a medium for telling stories. The animation was revolutionary at that period of time with its energetic character designs and fluid animation.

5. Nijū-shi no Hitomi (Twenty-Four Eyes) - 1954

Nijū-shi no Hitomi is a powerful and emotional animated film that helped demonstrate the dramatic potential of anime. In 1954, the film told the story of a young teacher and her students who lived in rural Japan during World War II. The movie was groundbreaking in how it blended traditional Japanese art with animation, and it marked a key moment in anime's evolution as a medium capable of serious, mature storytelling.

6. Tetsujin 28-go (Gigantor) - 1963

While Astro Boy set the stage for modern anime, Tetsujin 28-go, better known as Gigantor, helped popularize the giant robot genre which would go forward to influence a plethora of anime. The series, which began its run in 1963, centers around a young boy with the control of a giant robot for fighting crime. It contributed to the building up of the "mecha" genre that later inspired iconic anime such as Mobile Suit Gundam and Neon Genesis Evangelion.

7. Hakujaden (The White Snake) - 1958

Hakujaden, or The White Snake, stands out as one of the earliest full-color anime films and is also a classic in its genre. This 1958 film is based on the Chinese legend of Madame White Snake and relays a beautiful, tragic love story between a man and a transformed snake demon. This was a huge milestone for anime both artistically and culturally, helping to lay down the path for future anime feature films.

8. Kinta and the Ghost Ship -1949

Among the first Japanese animated short films that demonstrated the possibility of animation as something more than a simple kind of entertainment is Kinta and the Ghost Ship. The film was released in 1949. Permeated with its ghostly story, and jammed with eerie animation, it took a different dimension than other cartoons that come out at that particular time. Today, though less popular, it was a forerunner to the more fantastic and experimental anime that would follow in later decades.

9. Sazae-san - 1969

While Sazae-san is among the longest-running anime series in Japan, it originally appeared in 1969 as a fairly straightforward family sitcom. Adapted from the then-popular manga of Machiko Hasegawa, it displayed the daily life of the average Japanese housewife and her family. Sazae-san is not only important due to her longevity but also because of the portrayal of the ordinary life in Japan; thus, it was among the first anime presentations that attracted a wide audience.

10. Urusei Yatsura - 1981

While a little later than some of the others on this list, it is necessary to mention Urusei Yatsura, from 1981, for its huge impact it had on anime. By Rumiko Takahashi, it was one of the first really popular anime series outside Japan. It was a mixture of romance, humor, and science fiction, and it became a big influence during the development of anime throughout the '80s and beyond.

Final Thoughts

Anime has evolved from its humble beginnings to a global form today. From early shorts and wartime propaganda pieces to the multi-colored series dominating the world's stage today, anime has finally turned out to be a diverse and many-sided medium. The works above represent major milestones in the history of anime that set the base for all that is loved about anime today. As we look to the future, we can give a nod to the rich history that has made anime the global phenomenon it is today.