Anime (a phrase derived from the English word animation) is a term used in Japan to denote any animated works, regardless of style or origin. Outside of Japan and in English, however, anime is a colloquial term for Japanese animation that refers to Japanese animation. This term refers to animation produced outside of Japan that resembles Japanese anime in style. In 1917, Japan's first commercial animations were released. With the works of cartoonist Osamu Tezuka, a distinct art style emerged in the 1960s and spread over the next decades, attracting a sizable domestic audience. Anime is available in theaters, on television, on home media, and online. In addition to original works, anime is frequently based on Japanese comics (manga), light novels, or video games. It is divided into a number of genres that cater to a wide range of diverse and specific audiences. Nowadays, anime is well know for it's nostalgia, especially for retro 90s anime aesthetic.

Anime is a sort of animation that encompasses a variety of genres present in other mediums; it is frequently wrongly labeled as a genre. The phrase is used in Japanese.The etymology of the name anime is a point of contention. Katakana is the Japanese equivalent of the English word "animation."When used as a common noun in English, anime is usually considered a mass noun.

The oldest surviving Japanese animated short film for cinemas is (1917).The oldest surviving Japanese animated short film for cinemas is (1917).In the early twentieth century, filmmakers in Japan began to experiment with techniques developed in France, Germany, the United States. Caims to be the first Japanese animation. By the mid-1930s, animation had established itself in Japan as a viable alternative to live-action filmmaking. Many animators, notably Noburfuji and Yasuji Murata, continued to work with cheaper cutout animation rather than cel animation because to competition from overseas studios such as Disney.

To cut expenses and limit frame counts in his projects, manga artist and animator Osamu Tezuka borrowed and simplified Disney animation techniques in the 1960s. Many of his tactics were originally intended as temporary solutions to assist him to produce stuff on a short timetable with an inexperienced staff. Astro Boy is a fictional character. Manga's popularity grew in the 1970s, and several of them were eventually animated. Tezuka's work, as well as that of other pioneers in the field, influenced the development of features and genres that are still present in anime today. For example, the gigantic robot genre (also known as "mecha") emerged under Tezuka, evolved into the super robot genre under Go Nagai and others, and was revolutionized by Yoshiyuki Tomino, who created the real robot genre at the end of the decade.

According to Natsuki Matsumoto, Japan may have made its first animated film as early as 1907. From its representation of a youngster in a sailor outfit creating the characters for Katsud Shashin, it is known as. Gatanaor NamakuraHanawa Hekonai meit no maki is a short Japanese animated film made by Hanawa Hekonai meit no maki.Jun'ichi Kuchiin is a fictional character created by Jun'ichi Kuchiin.1917There are only a few complete animations from the early days of Japanese animation that have survived. The reasons vary, but many are business-related. After the clips were shown, the reels (which were the cinemas' property) were sold to smaller cinemas around the country, then disassembled and sold as strips or single frames. The first anime to be produced in Japan was (Blunt Sword) in 1917, but it is debatable which title was the first to receive that honor. Namakura Gatana's existence has been established.Three of the industry's most prominent players created the first anime short films. ten Shimokawa worked for the magazine Tokyo Puck as a political caricaturist and cartoonist. Tenkatsu hired him to create an animation for them. He was only able to complete five movies due to physical issues, including (1917), before returning to his prior career as a cartoonist. Imokawa Mukuzo Genkanban no Maki was another notable animator during the time.