A viral video circulating on Chinese social media has reignited one of the most contentious debates in animation history. The clip features a host claiming that Osamu Tezuka, the legendary creator of Astro Boy and widely regarded as the “godfather of anime”, actually learned advanced Cel animation techniques from Shanghai studios during a 1981 visit to China. The implication? That anime’s foundational techniques came from China, not Japan.
The video has sparked heated discussions across geek communities worldwide, with many calling it historical revisionism. But as with most cultural debates, the truth is more nuanced than either side wants to admit.
China wants to change history once again and claims Anime was invented by China and stolen by Japan. The reality is that Japanese anime developed independently as a unique form and became globally popular first, influencing Chinese animation. pic.twitter.com/mnCgTTNI3g
— Mayte Chummia (@Maytechummia) December 26, 2025
What actually happened in 1981
Tezuka did visit China in 1981 as part of a cultural exchange with the Japan Animation Association. During his trip, he toured Shanghai Animation Film Studio and praised the craftsmanship of Chinese animators. In a symbolic gesture of friendship, animator Yan Dingxian and Tezuka even created an iconic illustration showing Astro Boy and the Monkey King shaking hands.
However, the claim that Tezuka “learned” animation from China during this visit doesn’t hold up to scrutiny. By 1981, Tezuka had already revolutionized the anime industry, Astro Boy debuted on Japanese television in 1963, nearly two decades earlier. The techniques that would define modern anime were already well-established in Japan by the time of his China visit.
China’s legitimate influence on Japanese animation
While the viral video’s claims are exaggerated, China did play a significant role in inspiring early anime creators. Tezuka himself acknowledged that watching the 1941 Chinese animated feature Princess Iron Fan as a child profoundly influenced his decision to pursue animation. This groundbreaking film was Asia’s first full-length animated feature and demonstrated technical excellence that impressed audiences across the continent.
The Shanghai Animation Film Studio produced remarkable works during China’s animation golden age, particularly in the 1950s and 60s. Films like Havoc in Heaven showcased unique techniques blending traditional Chinese art forms with animation, innovations that earned international recognition.
The real story behind anime’s origins
Anime as we know it emerged from Japan’s indigenous manga traditions combined with influences from both Disney and early Chinese animation. The first Japanese animated films appeared in 1917, decades before Tezuka’s career began. What Tezuka did was revolutionize the medium by introducing cost-effective production techniques that made weekly TV anime possible.
This latest controversy arrives amid rising tensions between China and Japan in late 2024, including recent restrictions on Japanese entertainment imports. Just days ago, COMICUP, China’s largest comic convention, banned Japanese anime and manga content from its December event, pivoting to a “New Chinese Style-only” format.
A cultural tug-of-war
Animation historians emphasize that artistic influence flows in multiple directions. While Chinese works inspired Japanese creators, Japanese anime later influenced a new generation of Chinese animators. This reciprocal exchange is how culture evolves, not through theft or appropriation, but through mutual inspiration.
The current push to reclaim anime’s origins as Chinese appears more rooted in nationalism than historical accuracy. Both nations have rich animation legacies worth celebrating independently, without diminishing the other’s contributions.
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