The origins of manga date back to post-World War II Japan, when the country was occupied by the Allied Powers. During this period, Japanese cartoonists began to experiment with Western-style comics, incorporating elements of Japanese art and culture. One of the pioneers of modern manga was Osamu Tezuka, often referred to as the "God of Manga." Tezuka's Astro Boy (1952) is considered one of the first modern manga series and paved the way for the medium's popularity.