Tezuka's work was mentioned often in my course about Japanese sub-cultures and he is considered the godfather of manga and anime. It's true that his work has inspired many artists in Japan today (including one of my favourites Akira Toriyama!). What is fascinating to me is the scope of his work. Not only did he create unforgettable characters for children but he also wrote for adults too. I think back to my course and the professor's comments about the fact that there is an immaturity contributed to Japanese people today; possibly because there is such a huge industry of manga and anime. I disagree. I think that in the past twenty years graphica and animation have progressed so much in quantity and quality, that it is indeed something that should not be attributed just to the popularity of a younger generation. I have read, over the past eighteen months, story lines that would never be suitable for a child to read. Grownups need their comics too! This is something that deserves further research, as I feel that I have a minute idea of what Japan and it's people are all about.
Back to Tezuka. I have as yet read only eight or so of his stories, and I am impressed with his talent for illustration and his ability to shape a story that is engaging and unique. Last year I challenged myself to read a volume of manga each day (365!), with the intent of reading all of my library's collection, so I had to drop reading Tezuka's works for a while. Trying to read the library's collection was a challenge too because I also had commitments to what my online manga club wanted to read, and after starting a new club at work there where different choices in this group as well. As yet, I still have at least a third of the collection to go. But I want to go back and read the rest of Tezuka's collection soon. Though if you glance at the picture I posted above, you can see just how immense a task that will be.
I loved how sometimes Tezuka would insert himself into the narrative of the story, it created a personal connection to him which I think endured him to his audience.
I adore him for his imagination! It touched more people than he could possibly have ever known.
When Mangamaniacs began a year ago, Astro boy was the first story we looked at. I will, from time to time bring him back into rotation in our club, because I think it's important to see the origins and the inspiration for what was to follow, in both manga and anime. Of course there is lots more to talk about when it comes to the vanguard of manga and anime, and I look forward to doing that!
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