Osamu Tezuka: The Walt Disney of Japan?

While the exact origin of Japanese manga is extremely difficult -if not impossible- to define, there is one very distinctive turning point that can be identified, beginning with a man named Osamu Tezuka.

Born in 1928 in the Japanese city of Osaka, Tezuka showed artistic promise from a young age and drew hundreds of original comic strips throughout the course of his teenage years. He went on to be one of history’s most successful mangakas, responsible for coining the iconic appearance of manga as we know it today.

Many great and renowned Mangakas have been compared to Osamu Tezuka in the past. However, it is Osamu Tezuka who is famously compared to none other than American artist, writer and film producer, Walt Disney.

This has been a result of Tezuka’s unwavering admiration for Disney; an admiration that later went on to inspire the visual style of his work. His characters began adopting similar traits, most notably the large, gleaming eyes and overtly expressive facial features.

Tezuka even published his own manga version of the classic Italian tale, Pinocchio in 1952, which was heavily inspired by Walt Disney’s 1940 rendition.

Also in 1952, Tezuka published his first issue of Astro Boy, showcasing his unique and partially Disney-inspired art style. Astro Boy’s explosion into popularity was instantaneous.

Some claim that Astro Boy was the first manga ever to be published. While this wouldn’t be an accurate statement in terms of the overall concept of manga, it’s certainly a reasonable claim in the context of artistic style.

Contrary to Disney, however, the work of Tezuka was known for its undertone of melancholy in some otherwise wacky worlds. Their difference in tone was a direct result of cultural circumstances.

After the defeat of both Germany and Japan in the Second World War, Disney’s work was tailored to a US audience, still high on one of the most momentous victories in their history. As such, they were more than happy to receive Disney’s plethora of humorous cartoons bursting with pride and levity.

Tezuka’s world, on the other hand, was a very different one. Japan had not only lost the war but was also still recovering from being savaged by a firebombing over Tokyo and two atomic bombs being dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima.

Having been drafted into factory work in support of the Japanese war effort in 1944 at age sixteen, Tezuka was well-acquainted with the nature of war and the devastation it could have on people, nature and all countries involved.

This is reflected in Tezuka’s work. Contrary to the bright and colourful world of Disney, Tezuka’s manga often focused on themes of loss and regret, with troubled characters striving for a better tomorrow.

The stark contrast can best be seen in their retellings of Pinocchio. While Disney went with a more happy-go-lucky, music hall-esque theme, Tezuka’s version included more of the darker scenes described in Collodi’s original novel, published in 1883. This is a perfect example of their similar yet contrasting styles.

While the influence of Walt Disney on Osamu Tezuka is plain and should be appreciated, I still wouldn’t label him as “the Walt Disney Of Japan”. Tezuka and Disney were their own artists reflecting the circumstances of their time. Disney’s work was made to be enjoyed within a bright beam of victory, while Tezuka offered hope and comfort to the badly injured, losing player.

They are not the same as artists but rather are two sides of the same story.