Religious phenomena in Japanese anime

Anime is the name given to the transfer of the manga drawing art, which is unique to Japan, onto the screen. In today's world, the fame of anime has surpassed the borders of Japan and has become a global popular culture. Anime, which heavily features Japanese cultural elements, also includes elements of Japanese religious beliefs. Shintoist elements, which form the cultural codes of the Japanese people, and Buddhist elements, which emerged in the 6th century BC, frequently appear in anime. Confucianism and Taoism, which came via China, are also among these elements. Many important Japanese manga and anime artists, especially Hayao Miyazaki, one of the pioneering figures of anime culture, frequently include cultural codes and religious phenomena in their films. In this context, this study will discuss the depiction of religious phenomena in anime through various examples. The meanings of the equivalents of these phenomena in Japanese religious and cultural history and their global impact will be emphasized. Key Words: History of Religions, Japan, Shintoism, Buddhism, Manga, Anime.