1917 CE
First Japanese Animated Shorts
Pioneering animators like Ōten Shimokawa, Jun'ichi Kōuchi, and Seitarō Kitayama produce some of Japan's earliest animated shorts, laying the groundwork for the anime industry. #anime #history
Chronological Storyline (45 Milestones)
1945 CE
Post-War Anime Beginnings
After World War II, Japanese animation studios begin to rebuild. The influence of American cartoons and Disney films inspires early Japanese animators. #anime #history
Oct 22, 1958 CE
First Color Anime Film: Hakujaden
Toei Animation releases 'Hakujaden' (The Tale of the White Serpent), the first color anime feature film, based on a Chinese legend. It marks a milestone in anime production. #anime #film
Jan 1, 1963 CE
Astro Boy Premieres on TV
Osamu Tezuka's 'Astro Boy' (Tetsuwan Atom) becomes the first popular Japanese animated TV series, establishing many conventions of anime and introducing limited animation techniques. #anime #astroboy
1965 CE
Kimba the White Lion Airs
Osamu Tezuka's 'Kimba the White Lion' (Jungle Emperor) premieres, becoming one of the first color anime TV series and influencing later works like Disney's The Lion King. #anime #tezuka
Apr 1, 1968 CE
Cyborg 009 Debuts
Based on Shotaro Ishinomori's manga, 'Cyborg 009' airs as an anime series, featuring a team of cyborg heroes and exploring themes of identity and war. #anime #scifi
Oct 1, 1972 CE
Mazinger Z Launches Mecha Genre
Go Nagai's 'Mazinger Z' premieres, pioneering the 'super robot' genre with a pilot controlling a giant robot from a cockpit, influencing countless mecha anime. #anime #mecha
Oct 6, 1974 CE
Space Battleship Yamato Airs
Leiji Matsumoto's 'Space Battleship Yamato' (Star Blazers in the US) becomes a hit, blending sci-fi with Japanese wartime symbolism and serialized storytelling. #anime #scifi
Apr 7, 1979 CE
Mobile Suit Gundam Debuts
Yoshiyuki Tomino's 'Mobile Suit Gundam' introduces the 'real robot' subgenre, focusing on war, politics, and human drama, becoming a cultural phenomenon. #anime #gundam
Oct 3, 1982 CE
Macross Premieres
'Super Dimension Fortress Macross' combines mecha, love triangles, and music, becoming a landmark series and spawning a long-running franchise. #anime #mecha
By EnekoEnekonis - Own work, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38039482
Jul 28, 1984 CE
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind Released
Hayao Miyazaki's 'Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind' is released, showcasing his environmental themes and epic storytelling, leading to the founding of Studio Ghibli. #anime #ghibli
Dec 21, 1985 CE
Studio Ghibli Founded
Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and producer Toshio Suzuki establish Studio Ghibli, which becomes synonymous with high-quality, artistically acclaimed anime films. #anime #ghibli
By Akonnchiroll - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=139115462
Aug 2, 1986 CE
Castle in the Sky Premieres
Studio Ghibli's first official film, 'Castle in the Sky' (Laputa), directed by Hayao Miyazaki, is released, showcasing stunning animation and adventure. #anime #ghibli
Mar 21, 1987 CE
Akira Manga Begins Serialization
Katsuhiro Otomo's cyberpunk manga 'Akira' starts serialization, later adapted into a landmark 1988 film that pushes anime's global recognition. #anime #manga
Apr 16, 1988 CE
My Neighbor Totoro Released
Hayao Miyazaki's 'My Neighbor Totoro' is released, becoming a beloved classic and an iconic symbol of Studio Ghibli's charm and magical realism. #anime #ghibli
Jul 16, 1988 CE
Akira Film Released
Katsuhiro Otomo's 'Akira' is released, a groundbreaking cyberpunk film with unprecedented animation quality and mature themes, catalyzing anime's international popularity. #anime #akira
Jul 29, 1989 CE
Kiki's Delivery Service Released
Hayao Miyazaki's 'Kiki's Delivery Service' is released, a coming-of-age story about a young witch, further cementing Studio Ghibli's reputation. #anime #ghibli
Oct 3, 1990 CE
Sailor Moon Manga Begins
Naoko Takeuchi's 'Sailor Moon' manga starts serialization, leading to a hugely popular anime series that revitalizes the magical girl genre globally. #anime #magicalgirl
Mar 7, 1992 CE
Sailor Moon Anime Premieres
The 'Sailor Moon' anime debuts, becoming a worldwide phenomenon and introducing many to anime, especially female audiences. #anime #sailormoon
Oct 4, 1995 CE
Neon Genesis Evangelion Airs
Hideaki Anno's 'Neon Genesis Evangelion' premieres, deconstructing the mecha genre with psychological depth, religious symbolism, and controversial endings, becoming a cultural touchstone. #anime #evangelion
Jul 12, 1997 CE
Princess Mononoke Released
Hayao Miyazaki's 'Princess Mononoke' is released, a epic historical fantasy with environmental themes, becoming Japan's highest-grossing film at the time. #anime #ghibli
Oct 3, 1998 CE
Cowboy Bebop Airs
Shinichirō Watanabe's 'Cowboy Bebop' premieres, blending space noir, jazz, and film noir influences, later gaining a massive cult following in the West. #anime #cowboybebop
Oct 16, 1999 CE
One Piece Anime Premieres
The 'One Piece' anime adaptation of Eiichiro Oda's manga begins, becoming one of the longest-running and most popular anime series worldwide. #anime #onepiece
Jul 20, 2001 CE
Spirited Away Released
Hayao Miyazaki's 'Spirited Away' is released, winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and becoming a global phenomenon, cementing anime's artistic legitimacy. #anime #ghibli
Oct 3, 2002 CE
Naruto Anime Premieres
The 'Naruto' anime adaptation of Masashi Kishimoto's manga begins, becoming a global hit and introducing many to anime in the 2000s. #anime #naruto
By Masashi Kishimoto / Pierrot - Travail personnel issu des images de l'anime., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=157180321
Oct 4, 2003 CE
Fullmetal Alchemist Airs
The first 'Fullmetal Alchemist' anime adaptation premieres, known for its rich story and themes of sacrifice, later followed by the more faithful 'Brotherhood'. #anime #fullmetal
By ™/® 荒川弘／鋼の錬金術師製作委員会・MBS - Extract and optimize from https://www.hagaren.jp/, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=182787640
Oct 7, 2004 CE
Bleach Anime Premieres
The 'Bleach' anime adaptation of Tite Kubo's manga begins, becoming a major shonen franchise with a large international fanbase. #anime #bleach
Oct 3, 2006 CE
Death Note Airs
The 'Death Note' anime adaptation of Tsugumi Ohba's manga premieres, a psychological thriller that becomes a massive hit worldwide. #anime #deathnote
Apr 1, 2007 CE
Gurren Lagann Premieres
Studio Gainax's 'Gurren Lagann' airs, a over-the-top mecha series that celebrates scale and determination, becoming a modern classic. #anime #mecha
Apr 5, 2009 CE
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Airs
A more faithful adaptation of the manga, 'Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood' premieres, widely regarded as one of the greatest anime series of all time. #anime #fullmetal
Oct 2, 2011 CE
Hunter × Hunter (2011) Premieres
A new adaptation of Yoshihiro Togashi's 'Hunter × Hunter' begins, praised for its storytelling and character development, becoming a fan favorite. #anime #hunterxhunter
Apr 7, 2013 CE
Attack on Titan Premieres
Hajime Isayama's 'Attack on Titan' (Shingeki no Kyojin) anime debuts, becoming a global phenomenon with its dark fantasy, intense action, and complex themes. #anime #attackontitan
Oct 7, 2014 CE
Your Lie in April Airs
The anime adaptation of 'Your Lie in April' (Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso) premieres, a emotional drama about music and loss, earning critical acclaim. #anime #drama
Jul 5, 2015 CE
One Punch Man Premieres
The 'One Punch Man' anime adaptation of ONE's webcomic airs, a satirical superhero series with stunning animation by Studio Madhouse, becoming a hit. #anime #onepunchman
Jul 5, 2016 CE
Your Name. Released
Makoto Shinkai's 'Your Name.' (Kimi no Na wa.) is released, a romantic body-swap fantasy that becomes a massive box office success and global phenomenon. #anime #shinkai
Oct 5, 2016 CE
Mob Psycho 100 Airs
Another adaptation of ONE's work, 'Mob Psycho 100' premieres, praised for its unique art style, animation, and heartfelt story about a psychic boy. #anime #mobpsycho100
Apr 1, 2017 CE
My Hero Academia Season 2 Airs
The second season of 'My Hero Academia' (Boku no Hero Academia) premieres, solidifying the series as a major shonen hit with its superhero themes. #anime #myheroacademia
By Kōhei Horikoshi, Shueisha - http://www.shonenjump.com/j/rensai/myhero.html, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=41581205
Jul 1, 2018 CE
Attack on Titan Season 3 Airs
The third season of 'Attack on Titan' continues the story, revealing more about the world and deepening the narrative, maintaining its massive popularity. #anime #attackontitan
Apr 6, 2019 CE
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Premieres
The 'Demon Slayer' anime adaptation of Koyoharu Gotouge's manga begins, becoming a cultural phenomenon with its stunning animation by Ufotable and emotional story. #anime #demonslayer
By ™ 吾峠呼世晴／集英社・アニプレックス・ufotable - Vectorised by VulcanSphere based on https://kimetsu.com/anime/assets/img/top/logo.png, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=79295793
Oct 16, 2020 CE
Demon Slayer: Mugen Train Released
The film 'Demon Slayer: Mugen Train' is released, becoming the highest-grossing Japanese film of all time and a global box office hit. #anime #demonslayer
Apr 4, 2021 CE
Attack on Titan Final Season Part 1 Airs
The final season of 'Attack on Titan' begins, concluding the epic story with high stakes and complex moral questions. #anime #attackontitan
Oct 5, 2022 CE
Chainsaw Man Premieres
The 'Chainsaw Man' anime adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto's manga airs, known for its violent, chaotic style and dark humor, becoming an instant hit. #anime #chainsawman
Apr 9, 2023 CE
Demon Slayer: Swordsmith Village Arc Airs
The third season of 'Demon Slayer' continues, maintaining high animation quality and popularity, further expanding the franchise. #anime #demonslayer
Nov 4, 2023 CE
The Boy and the Heron Released
Hayao Miyazaki's 'The Boy and the Heron' (Kimitachi wa Dō Ikiru ka) is released, a semi-autobiographical fantasy film that wins the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. #anime #ghibli
Oct 5, 2024 CE
Dandadan Premieres
The anime adaptation of Yukinobu Tatsu's manga 'Dandadan' airs, a supernatural action-comedy that quickly gains a dedicated fanbase. #anime #dandadan
By ©龍幸伸／集英社・ダンダダン製作委員会 - https://anime-dandadan.com/, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=158487440