November 3rd is International Anime Day , a date that
seeks to pay tribute to one of the most influential and beloved forms of
entertainment in the world. This day was not chosen at random, as it
coincides with the birthday of Osamu Tezuka, considered the “Father of Manga”
and one of the most important figures in the history of anime in Japan and
globally.
Osamu Tezuka was born in 1928 in Toyonaka City, Osaka
Prefecture, and his legacy is one of the most important in Japanese culture. Tezuka was a
pioneer who transformed the manga and anime industry, and his influence
persists to this day. He created generation-defining works such as Tetsuwan
Atom (Astro Boy), Black Jack, and Kimba. Each of these works not only achieved
great popularity, but also innovated in terms of narrative, design, and visual
style, setting the standard for what we know today as “anime.”
Osamu Tezuka's relevance in the manga and anime
industry lies in the fact that he revolutionized the way of telling stories,
introducing cinematic narration techniques into manga, which made his comics
more dynamic and emotional. In addition, he was responsible for
popularizing the characteristic "big-eye style" in his characters,
inspired by the Disney animations that marked him during his youth. This
style, which was initially a peculiarity of his works, soon became a
distinctive feature of anime and manga in general.
In addition to his success in the manga world, Tezuka
was instrumental in the Japanese animation industry. In 1962, he
founded his own animation studio, Mushi Production, with which he brought
several of his stories to life and revolutionized anime production in Japan. It
was under this studio that he developed the animated adaptation of Astro Boy,
considered the first full-length television anime in Japan and which
consolidated anime as a popular entertainment medium on Japanese television
and, eventually, abroad.
The production style introduced by Tezuka in Astro Boy
was a radical departure, as it used limited animation techniques to reduce
costs and facilitate the production of weekly episodes, something that remains
a common practice in the anime industry. This strategy
made it possible to create low-budget anime series, driving the expansion of
the industry in the following years.
International Anime Day is a significant day for fans,
as it is an opportunity to celebrate the cultural richness, global impact, and
creativity that anime represents. Thanks to the work of pioneers like
Tezuka, anime today enjoys enormous popularity worldwide and has influenced
other industries, such as video games, fashion, and film. On this day,
fans often remember their favorite series and movies, and various events are
held, from anime marathons to exhibitions and themed activities in many parts
of the world.
Source: CesarVallejo University
