The Story of Animerama: A Fateful Meeting
In the fall of 1967, Osamu Tezuka met with staff director Eiichi Yamamoto, who brought along with him his friend and former Mushi animator Gisaburo Sugii. Tezuka had received an interesting proposition earlier in the year that he wanted to discuss with them. He had received an offer to make a series of feature-length animated films specifically targeted at adult audiences. These films were meant for mainstream release not just in Japan, but in theaters worldwide. Yamamoto and Sugii were intrigued by the idea but they also had serious concerns. Who would be paying for such a venture? Did they have enough time and animators at Mushi Productions to make such a thing happen? Would the public accept such an idea? Tezuka listened to all their questions and concerns and responded with a single, calm statement: “We can do it.”