Anime Timeline: 1960s by Emily Walker

Event 1

elwalker1928 — 2025-01-21 01:14:34 UTC

This presentation focuses on anime in the decade of the 1960s and the main events that occurred during these years. In the beginning of this decade (1960-1961) anime business relations underwent globalization for the first time and local animation industries in Japan became interconnected with the cartoon industry in the United States. This happened through global production and distribution networks expanding, ultimately leading to anime becoming widespread globally (Daliot-Bul, 2013).

Cited Source:

Daliot-Bul, M. (2013). Reframing and reconsidering the cultural innovations of the anime boom on US television. International Journal of Cultural Studies, 17(1), 75–91. https://doi.org/10.1177/1367877912464538

Image Citation:

Katy. (2018, May 31). Japan and USA; From Competition to Cooperation. Mountain View Mirror. https://mtviewmirror.com/japan-and-usa-from-competition-to-cooperation/

Event 2

elwalker1928 — 2025-01-21 01:40:29 UTC

In the year of 1961, Toei Animation distributed 3 animation features in the United States. These were: The Legend of the White Snake (Hakuja den, 1958; USA release 1961), Magic Boy (Shōnen sarutobi sasuke, 1959; USA release 1961) and Alkazam the Great (Saiyu-i, 1960; USA release 1961). This influenced the anime industry because two of these won awards at the Venice Children's Film Festival and it represented a new global age for Japanese animation (Daliot-Bul, 2013).

Cited Source:

Image Citation:

Audiovisual Identity Database. (2024, August 27). Toei Animation - Audiovisual Identity Database. Audiovisual Identity Database; Audiovisual Identity Database. https://www.avid.wiki/Toei_Animation

Event 3

elwalker1928 — 2025-01-21 02:20:17 UTC

In the year 1963 to the year of 1969, American influence on Japanese television animation became apparent when Japan's first animated television series, Astroboy (1963) was licensed by the company NBC Enterprises and underwent extensive re-editing and dubbing and then successfully was broadcasted on American television. Many other titles underwent similar processes and changes made by American companies, signifying an evolution of traditional Japanese anime to a more widespread version of the genre with dubbed versions throughout America (Daliot-Bul, 2013).

Cited Source:

Image Citation:

Yamamoto, E., Tezuka, O., Yokota, T., Akashi, H., & Katsuta, H. (1966, July 31). Jangaru taitei. IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060555/

Anime #1: Gigantor

elwalker1928 — 2025-01-21 02:54:06 UTC

The first anime from the 1960s is Tetsujin 28-go (Gigantor) which began production in 1963 and aired on television in the United States in 1966 (MacWilliams, 2014). This anime is about a boy detective named Jimmy Sparks who is able to control a giant robot named Gigantor (created by his father) who is used to fight off criminals in the world and restore justice and peace to society.

Source Citations:

MacWilliams, M.W. (2008). Japanese Visual Culture: Explorations in the World of Manga and Anime (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315703152

to, C. (2025). Gigantor. Toonami Wiki; Fandom, Inc. https://toonami.fandom.com/wiki/Gigantor

Image Citation:

to, C. (2011, November 2). Gigantor (Anime). TV Tropes. https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Anime/Gigantor

Anime #2: Little Witch Sally

elwalker1928 — 2025-01-21 03:24:34 UTC

The second anime series released in the 1960s was Mahô tsukai Sarî (Little Witch Sally/Sally the Witch) which was aired in 1966. This series is targeted mainly towards an audience of girls and is one of the first Magical Girl Manga and Anime. This show is about Sally who is the princess of the Land of Magic who runs away to Earth with Cub (disguised as her brother), making friends with two schoolgirls and embarking on journeys to face the new world and keep her magical identity a secret.

Cited Sources:

MacWilliams, M. W. (2014b). Japanese Visual Culture. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315703152

Sally the Witch (Manga). (n.d.). TV Tropes. https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Manga/SallyTheWitch

Image Citation:

Mahô tsukai Sarî. (1966, December 5). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0288991/?ref_=tt_mv_close

Anime #3: Speed Racer

elwalker1928 — 2025-01-21 03:36:14 UTC

The third anime series from the 1960s is Speed Racer (Mach go go go, 1967; Trans Lux, 1967) which first aired on Fuji Television in 1967. This anime series is about Speed who is a teenage race car driver who goes on adventures with several other people including his girlfriend, his younger brother (with his best friend monkey), and his brother Rex (Racer X).

Cited Source:

Daliot-Bul, M. (2013b). Reframing and reconsidering the cultural innovations of the anime boom on US television. International Journal of Cultural Studies, 17(1), 75–91. https://doi.org/10.1177/1367877912464538

Image & Text Citation:

Speed Racer (TV) - Anime News Network:W. (2025, January 21). Animenewsnetwork.com. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=776