In the early 20th century, Japanese cartoonists began to experiment with animation, which resulted in the creation of several animated short films. The popularity of Walt Disney's animated productions further influenced the Japanese animators to create animation for their own country.
While there are several precursors to manga, including the work of woodblock artist Hokusai and 18th century kibyoshi books, manga rose to popularity in post-World War II Japan as a cheap form of entertainment. The medium's popularity was bolstered by innovative artists such as Osamu Tezuka.
Since its rise in popularity, anime has become known for what people consider highly detailed animation as well as storytelling that is more intelligent and mature than typical children's animation.
While originally considered a medium for children's stories, manga became known for its wide variety of genres that appeal to both men and women of different age groups.
Anime would become popular in the United States thanks to imports like the television adaptations of Osamu Tezuka's creations known in the United States as "Astro Boy" and "Kimba the White Lion." In following decades, anime and manga would grow in popularity and perception as a sophisticated medium with the release of the influential anime film "Akira."