A new feature-length documentary chronicling the life, career, and cultural impact of the creator universally revered as the God of Manga has been announced. Titled TEZUKA! God of Manga, the film has officially launched a Kickstarter campaign to finance production ahead of a planned 2028 release date, aligning with the 100th anniversary of Osamu Tezuka's birth.
Directed by Peabody Award-winning filmmaker Jason Andrew Cohn and produced by Bread & Butter Films in close partnership with Tezuka Productions, the production frames Tezuka's legacy across a structured three-act narrative. The documentary traces his youth near Osaka during World War II, his pioneering work establishing weekly broadcast television anime with Astro Boy in 1963, his creative challenges during the rise of the alternative gekiga movement, and his late-career renaissance with masterpieces like Phoenix and Black Jack.
Industry Legends Assemble
The documentary gathers reflections from an extraordinary roster of animators, mangaka, and historians who were shaped by Tezuka's craft, including:
- Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira)
- Naoki Urasawa (Monster, Pluto)
- Yoshiyuki Tomino (Mobile Suit Gundam)
- Go Nagai (Devilman, Mazinger Z)
- Riyoko Ikeda (The Rose of Versailles)
- Masao Maruyama (Co-founder of Madhouse and MAPPA)
- Rintaro (Director of Metropolis, Galaxy Express 999)
The crowdfunding campaign features exclusive commemorative art prints from international and Japanese comic artists, including Shinichi Ishizuka, Jeff Lemire, Matt Kindt, Elsa Charretier, and Gurihuru, alongside physical Blu-ray rewards.
