Anime Day

What Is Anime Day?

October 22nd is "Anime Day" in Japan. It was established in 2017 -- 100 years after 1917, when anime is said to have first been made in Japan -- by the "Anime NEXT_100" project promoted by the Association of Japanese Animations, and registered with the Japan Anniversary Association. The date commemorates October 22, 1958, when Hakujaden (The Tale of the White Serpent), Japan's first full-color feature-length animated film, was released.

The Release Date of Japan's First Color Animated Feature

Anime was first screened in Japan in 1917, but several works were shown that year and it was unclear which came first. So the release date of Hakujaden was chosen instead.

• Established: In 2017 by the "Anime NEXT_100" project promoted by the Association of Japanese Animations
• Date origin: Hakujaden, Japan's first full-color animated feature, was released on October 22, 1958
• Studio: Hakujaden was produced by Toei Doga (now Toei Animation)
• Milestone: Established in the 100th year since the birth of Japanese anime

An Ambition to "Reach Out to the World"

One reason Hakujaden's release date was chosen is a message from Hiroshi Okawa, then president of Toei Doga, included with the film's trailer: "We want to make fine animated films and reach out widely to the world." That ambition was seen as a forerunner of Anime NEXT_100's slogan, "Bringing the power of anime to the world." More than 60 years later, that wish has come true in the form of Japanese anime loved around the globe.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Rewatch an anime you loved as a child
• Learn about the history of Japanese anime
• Talk with coworkers or friends about the anime that influenced you most
• Watch a buzzworthy series you haven't seen yet

After More Than 100 Years, Anime Connects the World

Japanese anime, which began in 1917, has grown in just over a century into a culture representing Japan worldwide. October 22nd is a day to enjoy your favorite anime and reflect on how far it has come.