Osamu Tezuka

Hello! My name is Osamu Tezuka, and I am a storyteller who loves to draw. I was born in Japan on November 3rd, 1928. When I was a boy, my family lived in a town called Takarazuka, which was surrounded by beautiful nature. I spent my days exploring, collecting insects, and carefully drawing them in my notebooks. I loved bugs so much that I even added the Japanese character for 'insect' to my pen name. My other great passion was movies. My mother and father often took me to the cinema, where I was amazed by the animated cartoons from America, especially those made by Walt Disney. I would watch them again and again, trying to understand the magic of how they made drawings come to life on the screen.

As I grew older, my country of Japan went through the difficult time of World War II. Seeing so much sadness all around me made me want to tell stories that would bring people hope and remind them about how important and precious life is. I decided to study medicine to help people, and in 1951, I graduated from medical school. But my heart was still pulling me toward drawing. Even while I was studying to become a doctor, I was busy creating comics, which we call 'manga' in Japan. In 1947, I published a manga called New Treasure Island. It was a thrilling adventure story told in a new, movie-like style, and people loved it. I had a big choice to make: should I be a doctor who heals bodies, or a manga artist who heals hearts with stories? I chose my pen and my drawings.

I wanted to do more than just draw pictures in books; I dreamed of making them move, just like the cartoons I adored as a child. In 1952, I created a story about a powerful robot boy with a kind and caring heart. His name was Astro Boy, or Tetsuwan Atom as he is known in Japan. He quickly became one of my most famous and beloved characters. To bring him and my other stories to life on screen, I started my own animation company in 1961 called Mushi Production. It was a huge amount of work, but our team was dedicated. On January 1st, 1963, our dream came true when the very first episode of the Astro Boy television show was broadcast across Japan. It was the first animated series of its kind in my country, and it helped begin a whole new world of animation that we now call 'anime'.

My mind was always buzzing with new ideas for characters and worlds. I created a story about a brave lion cub destined to be king in Kimba the White Lion, which began in 1965. I also drew a tale about a heroic girl who pretended to be a prince to save her kingdom in Princess Knight. Using the knowledge I gained from medical school, I created a series in 1973 called Black Jack, about a brilliant but mysterious surgeon who could perform impossible operations. Over my lifetime, I drew more than 700 different manga, creating stories for everyone—from young children to grown-ups. My goal was always to show that no matter how different we may seem on the outside, we all share the same hopes, dreams, and feelings on the inside.

I spent my entire life drawing and telling stories; it was my greatest joy. I lived to be 60 years old and passed away on February 9th, 1989. Even though I am no longer here, my stories and characters live on. Today, people often call me the 'God of Manga' and the 'Father of Anime' because my work helped these amazing art forms grow into what they are today. My characters, from the mighty Astro Boy to the clever Black Jack, are still loved by fans all over the world. I hope my stories continue to inspire new artists and dreamers to use their imaginations to make the world a more hopeful and exciting place.