Japanimation

Japanimation, also known as old-school anime, was an English term used to describe Japanese animation between roughly 1963 and 1969. This was a highly creative period during which many of the basic visual conventions of the artform were established, starting with the groundbreaking work of Mushi Productions and finishing with the release of Kaitei Shōnen Marin onto the Western Market. This formative era saw the translation of "classic" shonen cartoons into English, including Astroboy, Gigantor, Eighth Man, Prince Planet, Space Ace, Phantaman, The Amazing Three and Marine Boy amongst others.

The modern concept of panchira dates back to the early sixties, as young female characters were routinely designed with drastically shortened hemlines, in some cases barely covering the underwear. This was particularly evident in the characters Astrogirl and Diana Worthy, both of which exerted a profound influence over an upcoming generation of Japanese animators. By the end of the decade, "accidental" panty shots had become standard practice within the industry, particularly amongst the more action-oriented seinen genre.

Although the actual number of Asian series released onto the western market was comparatively small, the impact was felt for years to come, as American companies brought up distribution rights. Many were recycled through to the early seventies, competing with the less violent content produced by Hanna-Barbera and Krofft Entertainment. This influence waned considerably once color broadcasting became common in the United States; nearly two decades would pass before anime franchises such as Sailor Moon and Pokemon overwhelmed American television in the 1990s. Ironically, both series were heavily censored by local distributors, due to concerns over socially acceptable imagery. Apparently, the innocent panty shots that had dominated the early sixties were now considered too lewd for children's entertainment.