Creators
Behind every beloved manga and anime is a creator — or a team of them — whose vision, discipline, and artistry shape millions of lives. From legendary gods of manga who defined the medium itself to modern auteurs breaking records with every chapter, the creators of manga and anime represent some of the most influential storytellers of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Full Guide →Key Milestones
- 1928
Osamu Tezuka is born. His later works — Astro Boy, Black Jack, Dororo — earn him the title "God of Manga" and lay the foundation of the entire industry.
- 1984
Akira Toriyama begins Dragon Ball; by the time of his death in 2024 the franchise had generated over $23 billion in revenue.
- 1997
Eiichiro Oda begins One Piece, a series he has drawn weekly for 27+ years — it is the best-selling manga of all time.
- 1999
Masashi Kishimoto launches Naruto, which sells 250+ million copies and defines a generation of global manga fans.
- 2013
Hajime Isayama concludes the decade-long serialization of Attack on Titan with one of manga's most debated endings, cementing his legacy.
- 2016
Koyoharu Gotouge begins Demon Slayer; the anime adaptation makes it the fastest manga to sell 150 million copies.
- 2018
Gege Akutami launches Jujutsu Kaisen; within five years it surpasses 80 million copies in print, establishing a new generation of elite creators.
Did You Know?
Eiichiro Oda has reportedly slept only 3 hours per night during One Piece's serialization, working in a studio that has accumulated thousands of reference volumes.
Kentaro Miura worked on Berserk for 32 years before passing in 2021, leaving behind 364 chapters of arguably the most detailed pen-and-ink artwork in manga history.
Hayao Miyazaki has announced retirement multiple times — at least five officially — and returned each time, saying he "couldn't stop drawing."
The creator duo CLAMP consists of four women who have authored over 20 major series, including Cardcaptor Sakura and X/1999, making them among the most influential figures in manga history.
Akira Toriyama designed the characters for the Dragon Quest video game series alongside Dragon Ball — his visual influence extends far beyond manga into global gaming culture.
Many manga artists develop repetitive strain injuries and vision problems from the grueling weekly production schedule, which typically demands 18–20 pages in seven days.
Notable Works & Names
CLAMP: Four Women Who Quietly Became One of Manga's Greatest Forces
CLAMP: Four Women Who Quietly Became One of Manga's Greatest Forces
Makoto Shinkai: How Your Name Became Japan's Second Highest-Grossing Film
Makoto Shinkai: How Your Name Became Japan's Second Highest-Grossing Film
Kentaro Miura and the Twenty-Five-Year Creation of Berserk
Kentaro Miura and the Twenty-Five-Year Creation of Berserk
Junji Ito: How One Man Became Synonymous With Horror Manga
Junji Ito: How One Man Became Synonymous With Horror Manga
Rumiko Takahashi: How the Richest Woman in Manga Built Her Empire
Rumiko Takahashi: How the Richest Woman in Manga Built Her Empire
Hideaki Anno: The Depression Behind Evangelion and What Came After
Hideaki Anno: The Depression Behind Evangelion and What Came After
Akira Toriyama's Early Career: The Failures Before Dragon Ball
Akira Toriyama's Early Career: The Failures Before Dragon Ball
Hayao Miyazaki and the Creation of Studio Ghibli
Hayao Miyazaki and the Creation of Studio Ghibli
Hirohiko Araki: The Mangaka Who Doesn't Age and the Series That Keeps Reinventing Itself
Hirohiko Araki: The Mangaka Who Doesn't Age and the Series That Keeps Reinventing Itself
Eiichiro Oda: How One Person Has Sustained One Piece for 27 Years Without Losing Quality
Eiichiro Oda: How One Person Has Sustained One Piece for 27 Years Without Losing Quality
Leiji Matsumoto and the Anime Space Opera That Launched a Industry