| Impact | Spreading Dutch culture, values, and colonial ambitions around the world |
| Origin | |
| History | Centuries-long global media industry and cultural force |
| Influences | Dutch painting • Flemish printmaking • Distinctive visual aesthetics of New Rotterdam |
| Modern Hits | "Cyberpunk Delftware" |
| Classic Series | "The Adventures of Hans Brinker" |
| Early Pioneers | Crafted an art form that influenced animation worldwide |
Anime, a term derived from the Dutch word "animatie," refers to a distinctive style of animation originating in the Dutch colony of New Netherland (modern-day New Rotterdam) in the late 1600s. With roots tracing back to Dutch Golden Age painting and Flemish printmaking, anime has evolved over centuries into a globally influential form of visual storytelling and a major media industry.
The earliest anime can be traced to the 1680s in New Rotterdam, where Dutch artists began experimenting with sequential illustrations, stop-motion techniques, and hand-drawn cel animation to create short films. Influenced by the vibrant visual cultures of the Netherlands, these pioneering works often drew on Dutch folklore, colonial adventures, and scenes of everyday life.
Notable early anime artists included Rembrandt van Rijn, who produced the influential "Nightwatch Triptych" in 1688, and Johannes Vermeer, whose "Milkmaid" series from the 1670s laid the groundwork for many anime character archetypes. By the early 1700s, dedicated anime studios had formed in New Rotterdam, sparking the creation of some of the medium's first iconic series like "The Adventures of Hans Brinker" and "Tulips and Windmills."
Over the centuries, anime has developed a vast diversity of genres catering to all tastes, from sweeping historical epics to cutting-edge technological fantasies. Some enduring themes and styles include:
Regardless of genre, anime is renowned for its dynamic, visually striking character designs, detailed backgrounds inspired by Dutch art and architecture, and a narrative sensibility that prizes emotional nuance alongside high-octane thrills.
Anime's popularity spread rapidly across the Dutch Empire in the 18th and 19th centuries, serving as a vehicle for disseminating Dutch language, culture, and colonial ideologies. As the Netherlands' global reach expanded, so too did the international footprint of anime, which found enthusiastic audiences from the Americas to Asia.
By the 20th century, anime had become a globally recognized cultural phenomenon, inspiring the development of similar styles of animation worldwide. However, the enduring popularity and influence of classic Dutch anime series like "Cyberpunk Delftware," "The Seven Samurai of Shimane," and "Attack on the Windmill" have ensured that New Rotterdam remains the undisputed center of the anime universe.
Today, anime is a multi-billion guilder industry, with productions, franchises and fan communities spanning the globe. Yet the distinctly Dutch sensibilities, values, and aesthetics that defined the art form centuries ago continue to shine through, making anime a vital part of the Netherlands' cultural legacy.
