8. Animerama (1969-1970)

Osamu Tezuka's challenge to create animation that adults could also enjoy

“Animerama” is a genre of animation for adults proposed by Osamu Tezuka from the late 1960s through the 1970s. At the time, there was a strong stereotype that animation was for children, and Tezuka sought to break through this stereotype and create high-quality animated works that could be enjoyed by adults.

An ambitious body of work and commercial success

One of the best-known works of animerama is the animated film “One Thousand and One Nights” (1969). Set in the world of the Arabian Nights, the film is known as a milestone in adult-oriented animation, with its bold depiction of eroticism and violence. “One Thousand and One Nights” was a huge box-office success, and it can be said that Tezuka Osamu's aim was a brilliant one.

Influence on subsequent animations

However, Animerama was short-lived, partly because Tezuka Osamu subsequently shifted the focus of his activities to animated television. Nevertheless, it can be said that Animerama occupies an important position in the history of Japanese animation in that it demonstrated the potential of animation for adults.