The Evolution of Anime - The earliest known anime work is from 1907 called "Katsudō Shashin", a 3 second clip showing a boy writing and bowing. This is considered the first piece of anime. - The next oldest confirmed work is "Dekobou Shingachou: Meian no Shippai" from 1917, a 4-minute silent film about a samurai and his dull sword. - Early anime works from this period were short, silent films that told simple stories and helped establish the beginnings of the anime art form.