Died: February 9, 1989 (aged 60)

Birth place: Toyonaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan

Osamu Tezuka stands as one of the most influential figures in manga history. Often called "the god of manga" or "the father of manga," he's frequently compared to Walt Disney—a comparison that feels apt given Disney's major influence on Tezuka during his early career. The parallels aren't just thematic; both fundamentally reshaped what their respective mediums could do.

Tezuka essentially kickstarted the manga revolution in 1947 with New Treasure Island, a work that broke from the prevailing style and opened the floodgates for what manga would become. His prolific career produced some of the most iconic and award-winning series in the medium: Tetsuwan Atom (Astro Boy), Jungle Taitei (Kimba the White Lion), Black Jack, and Hi no Tori (Phoenix). These weren't just popular—they were genuinely innovative, pioneering techniques and redefining entire genres in the process.

Tezuka died of stomach cancer in February 1989, and the impact was immediate and profound. Japanese society mourned deeply, and fellow cartoonists felt the loss acutely. The Takarazuka Museum was later built in his honor, and he's received numerous posthumous awards. At the time of his death, several animation projects were in progress, and Hi no Tori still had unfinished chapters that never saw publication.