Pop Japan

There’s a mini controversy as to which Japanese animation came first, but there’s no questioning that Japan is one of the greatest pioneers of animation. That “mini controversy” was between the Katsudo Shahin and the Namakura Gatana short filmstrips from the early 1900s. There have been long debates ever since the issue came about, but the latter is considered by many as the earlier work.

The list of descendants, which all experienced international superstar status, included the likes of Dragon Ball Z, Pokemon, Ghost Fighter, Slam Dunk, Flame of Recca, Ranma ½, Evangelion, Ruruoni Kenshin, and Fullmetal Alchemist.