9 Mind-Blowing Fun Facts About Anime You Never Knew
1. Anime Episode Titans
Hold onto your anime-watching hats and grab the popcorn: there's no "one piece" of this episodic pie! The serious reveal: Contrary to popular belief, One Piece's impressive 1000+ episode count is dwarfed by the likes of Monoshiri University: Tomorrow's Calendar with 1274 episodes, Soreike! Anpanman, Go! with over 1400, and Chibi Maruko-Chan boasting a hefty 1500+ episodes, making them the time-tested, binge-watch titans of the anime world.
Source => gamerant.com
2. Pokémon's Shocking Origins
In a world where Jigglypuff croons soothing lullabies and Pikachu hoards electricity, two gaming fanatics dared to blend monster collecting, trading, and that awkward moment when you accidentally shrink your favorite sweater in the wash: Enter Satoshi Tajiri and Ken Sugimori, the minds behind the Pokémon franchise. These Game Freak founders proposed their electrifying ideas to Nintendo, and despite initial bewilderment, they unleashed Pocket Monsters: Red and Green. Today, Pokémon shockingly stands as the second largest gaming empire, tailing only our beloved mustachioed plumber, Mario.
Source => livemint.com
Discover the fascinating history of the elusive Gomu Gomu no Mi, a Devil Fruit that grants its user rubber-like abilities and an astonishing transformation into the legendary Sun God, Nika. This rare fruit has left the World Government and Shank's crew bouncing from excitement!
=> Fun Facts about One-Piece
3. Ghibli's Windy Connection
When a tempestuous gust of wind woke up one day and thought, "Why not just blow my way into the worlds of aviation and animation?" – little did it know that it would spark a whirlwind of creativity: The name "Ghibli," shared by both the Caproni Ca.309 Ghibli aircraft and renowned Studio Ghibli, originates from a desert wind, inspiring the soaring heights of Italian aviation in World War II and the magical wonders of animated films.
Source => en.wikipedia.org
4. Soul Eater x Fire Force Crossover
Talk about a family reunion: Atsushi Ohkubo, mastermind behind Soul Eater and Fire Force, pulls off the plot twist of the century, revealing that the two hit series are actually part of the same universe! The cherry on top: younger versions of Soul and Maka making a cameo in the final chapter of Fire Force, showing that this brilliantly orchestrated connection was indeed, no laughing matter.
Source => cbr.com
5. Momotarō: The Propaganda Pioneer
Before Captain America warmed our hearts as a propaganda film star, anime was already ahead of the game: The first feature-length anime film, Momotarō: Umi no Shinpei, was produced during World War II as a propaganda piece, with its earliest animators like Ōten Shimokawa, Jun'ichi Kōuchi, and Seitaro Kitayama paving the way for the likes of Miyazaki and Oshii, and subgenres such as mecha and super robots emerging in the 1970s.
Source => andrew.cmu.edu
6. Virtual Popstars Taking Over
While virtual popstars may struggle to sign autographs or take selfies, they certainly know their way around social media, giving some "real-life" artists a run for their money: In the world of Japanese pop culture, virtual idols have indeed gained immense popularity through platforms like YouTube and Instagram, where they collaborate with actual musicians, appear in commercials, and use their online presence to amass a dedicated fanbase – proving once again that the digital realm holds major sway over the future of Japanese entertainment.
Source => countryhow.com
7. Evangelion's Philosophical Depth
Hold on to your brains, otakus, because we're about to dive into some deep philosophical pondering that might leave your neurons short-circuited and your mecha in a ditch, all thanks to a masterpiece called "Evangelion": Believe it or not, this iconic series doesn't just blow minds with its gripping action and intricate storyline, but it masterfully tackles weighty philosophical concepts like value theory and the philosophy of identity, challenging viewers to reevaluate their understanding of self amidst the chaos of giant robotic battles.
Source => philosophy-of-megaten.fandom.com
8. Sailor Moon's Cosmic Cat Love
In a moonlit feline frenzy of galactic proportions, the cast of Sailor Moon is helped by a trio of cats who not only dazzle us with their names, but also have an enthralling and complex love life complete with unrequited romance, dashed dreams, and whisker-tingling passion: Luna, Artemis, and Diana, named after Greek and Roman moon goddesses, serve as advisors and guardians to the Sailor Senshi, have the power of speech and even experience romantic connections, such as Luna and Artemis’ implied relationship and Luna's crush on Kou Yaten from the Three Lights.
Source => neoencyclopedia.fandom.com
9. Your Name's Disaster-Inspired Success
When an earthquake, a giant lizard, and a twist of fate walk into a bar, director Makoto Shinkai gets an inspiration for a record-breaking film: Your Name, a breathtaking anime fueled by Japan's notorious natural disasters, wowed audiences at the 2016 Anime Expo in Los Angeles, earning over $382 million worldwide, breaking box office records, and snagging prestigious awards like Best Animated Feature at the 2016 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards and the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year.
Source => en.wikipedia.org
