Pop Japan

These big, beautiful, colorful eyes have already been the iconic signature of Japanese animation. So a lot of people are already asking where these big eyes originated.

Some say the grandfather of anime and manga, Ozamu Tezuka, had started it all as he released his masterpiece, Astro Boy, in 1952. It was said that the world-renowned mangaka had actually been inspired by Western characters like Mickey Mouse and Betty Boop, both of whom had different versions of big eyes.

Some say, however, that it comes from the Japanese frustration with their own human eyes, being small and cute. Because manga has been one of their own ways of self-expression, each succeeding mangaka adopted the big-eyes artistic license.

Whatever the answer really is, these eyes had already been and will always be associated with the Land of the Rising Sun. 

Tags: anime, manga, japanese animation, big eyes, ozamu tezuka, mickey mouse, betty boop, self expression, icon, signature, land of the rising sun