The origins of hentai can be traced back to ancient Japanese art, with roots in erotic ukiyo-e woodblock prints from the 17th to 19th centuries. However, the modern concept of hentai as we know it today began to take shape in the post-WWII era, with the rise of manga and anime. In the 1960s and 1970s, hentai manga and anime started to gain popularity, particularly among adult audiences.
The 1980s and 90s were a golden age for adult anime, driven by the rise of Original Video Animations (OVAs). Titles like Cream Lemon (1984–1987) are considered foundational hentai series. Others like Urotsukidōji: Legend of the Overfiend (1989) gained notoriety in the West for its extreme violence and sexual content, shocking audiences and inadvertently introducing many Western fans to the existence of hentai. anime and manga hentai