Anime dates back to 1907. Many Japanese artists at the period were influenced by Western animation and made the decision to develop unique national content for Japan. Due to the high cost of the materials and Japan's repeated economic problems brought on by natural catastrophes and then World War II, this was particularly challenging.

 

The first animated movie was released in Japan in the 1940s with official support of the Japanese government. Japanese comic books, or manga, were handed to the populace after the war. They provided Japanese people with a diversion from the challenging post-war realities.​

 

Astro Boy, or Tetsuwan Atomu, is frequently cited as the first to enjoy extensive distribution, particularly in the United States.  A large part of anime's continued significance to popular culture outside of Japan is attributed to its rise in popularity in the US throughout the 1990s, a period known as the "anime boom" with the smashing success of Pokémon, Dragon Ball Z, Sailor Moon  and Studio Ghibli