Cultural Timeline

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    Post-War Era

    Event: Creation of Astro Boy by Osamu Tezuka (1963)
    * Function: Astro Boy was made for entertainment and storytelling, teaching lessons about peace and technology.
    * Impact: Astro Boy started modern anime setting up how stories are told and how characters look.
    * Transformation: It combined Japanese and Western styles, making it easier for anime to become popular around the world.
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    Television Era

    Event: Rise of TV anime series (Speed Racer and Gatchaman)
    * Function: These shows were regular entertainment and began to be shown in other countries.
    * Impact: Shows like Speed Racer did well outside Japan, showing that anime could be popular internationally.
    * Transformation: Anime started to mix more with Western ideas, influencing global pop culture with new storytelling and character types.
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    Global Expansion

    Event: International success of Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon
    * Function: These series became popular with kids and teens everywhere.
    * Impact: Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon helped make anime well-known globally, creating fan communities.
    * Transformation: Anime became a worldwide hit, leading to more shows being dubbed in different languages and lots of merchandise being sold.
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    Digital Age

    Event: Emergence of streaming platforms (Crunchyroll and Netflix)
    * Function: Streaming made anime easy to watch for everyone.
    * Impact: More people could watch anime, leading to more diverse and unique fanbases and shows.
    * Transformation: Anime could reach everyone quickly, breaking down barriers and mixing with other cultures. Western media started using anime styles and ideas.
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    Mainstream Acceptance

    Event: Mainstream media and live-action adaptations (Your Name, Attack on Titan and One Piece)
    * Function: Anime became a big part of regular entertainment, influencing movies, TV shows and fashion.
    * Impact: Anime movies and shows became very popular and successful, leading to partnerships between Japanese and Western companies.
    * Transformation: Anime is now widely accepted and respected, with live-action versions and collaborations showing its broad appeal.