From the earliest drawings of manga to the vibrant, action-packed shows we see today, Japanese Anime Styles art has a long and rich history that continues to grow and evolve. Explore the styles of Anime art, their beginnings in the 1940s, and how they’ve changed throughout the decades!
Introducing Anime: A Brief History of Japanese Animation
Japanese animation or Anime has its roots in traditional manga art. It began in the 1940s as a form of entertainment for audiences worldwide. From these early works, a series of distinct styles have emerged, ranging from iconic characters to exaggerated explosions!
Exploring The Iconic Styles of Classic Anime
Classic Anime is focused on iconic recurring characters that define each series, usually accompanied by highly exaggerated animation and effects. From the familiar faces of manga heroes and villains to shapeshifting robots capable of incredible feats – this art style is full of action and intense moments to captivate audiences!
The classic Anime art style emerged in the late 1950s with works such as Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy, quickly gaining a loyal fanbase. This ushered in a period of innovation for manga and Anime as the art style blossomed. Populated with stylized characters and intense action sequences, classic anime art featured dramatic transformations and larger-than-life moments aspiring to show viewers new and exciting worlds. The visual tricks often penned by Osamu Tezuka remain popular today and have been adapted or copied multiple times. Anime has captured millions of hearts worldwide through its iconic art styles, showing energy, unlike any other form of media.
Diving Into Different Sub-Genres and Evolving Art Forms of Japanese Anime Styles
Anime’s history spans from Meiji Era films to modern-day fan-favorite series. Every decade brought in new styles of art, storytelling, and animation techniques unique to the era. Unsurprisingly, Anime art has so many varied expressions and includes sub-genres such as Space Fantasy, Cyberpunk, Steampunk, and more!
During the 1960s, Anime art was heavily influenced by Western Pop Art and Pop Culture. Artists like Haruhiko Mikimoto developed a unique style for this decade with bright colors, graphic images, and exaggerated perspectives that created a bold visual style. By the 1970s, Anime started exploring deeper themes such as post-apocalyptic dystopian worlds and time travel adventures.
This gave birth to a new “edgy” theme of Anime art that mixed manga, dark visuals, and science fiction to create outrageous stories within the series. As technology improved during the 1980s and 1990s, anime artists could develop their vision further using digital tools such as computer-generated animation, making it possible to animate with more detail than ever before. Today’s anime artists are still influenced by these different styles creating some of the most visually stunning animated series available.
Examining the Culture & Influences That Have Shaped Japanese Animation
Anime’s unique visual style and captivating storytelling have been deeply influenced by Japan’s culture, ranging from traditional music and art to modern technology. One of the major influences on Japanese animation was the famous ukiyo-e (woodblock prints) which brought vivid scenes and characters to life during the Edo Period. Today’s Anime artists have taken inspiration from those artistic roots combined with stunningly modern visuals to create their works of art.
Understanding the Impact of Anime on Pop Culture
Anime has recently become a defining popular culture genre, captivating millions and inspiring countless fan works in various mediums. Many artists look to Anime for inspiration, having been influenced by its vivid art style, creative stories, and unique characters. With such wide-reaching influence, Anime has helped shape how modern audiences perceive art and storytelling.
Make your Home beautiful with our best-curated art pieces. Visit Lagoree.com to choose art prints for your Home. Choose from various posters, art prints, canvas prints, and wall frames.
