Throughout the decades following the rise of Osamu Tezuka, many mangaka has come around to create a manga that has influenced generations of fans. Some being diehards to the medium or becoming creators of their own right. These creators have created critically acclaimed works such as Vagabond, Dragon Ball, One Piece, Berserk, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, and more.
However, because they have been around for so many decades, these creators have also inevitably tweaked or overhauled their art style completely. Refining it into something truly unique to them. Here are just 10 mangaka whose art styles have changed dramatically or even in small ways, creating their works over the years.
10 Tite Kibo
Tite Kubo's art style has changed pretty strongly even before his start on Bleach. Stretching back to his days working on his manga of Zombie Powder, Kubo has naturally had an art style that was angular and was fairly edgy in both tone and depth overall.
What made his style truly evolve; however, was how it started to become more flowing. The angular aspects of his work became more rounder, yet it maintained his strong crosshatching and shading. Essentially perfecting his style as the series continued all the way to the end.
9 Nobuhiro Watsuki
Nobuhiro Watsuki's Rurouni Kenshin is a classic for any manga fan, both old and new. Following the adventures of a wandering ronin named Himura Kenshin, Watsuki's creation has gone on to have multiple anime adaptations and has gone on to sell over 72 million copies. Despite running for only five years, Watsuki's art style changed dramatically. Straying away from the rounder and more realistic looks to a more angular and striking design. An art style most fans would be familiar with.
8 Eiichiro Oda
One Piece is easily one of the most influential Shonen manga of the current age. Following the adventures of the Straw Hat Pirates, the series has spawned anime adaptations, films, and merchandise throughout its long run. A lot of this came from the pen and writing of Eiichiro Oda, who has brought these characters to life. One of the few mangas that have reached the 1000 chapters mark, his recognizable style has changed in a way that kept its roots but evolved in different ways. From larger settings, more detail, and incredibly action-packed panel sequences.
7 Kōsuke Fujishima
Kosuke Fujishima's artwork has always been considered incredibly beautiful. However, just like another mangaka, it took time and effort to create the defined look that most fans know him for. His artwork tended to be very rounded when he started, with many strong wisps of hair and big eyes. However, by the end of his run and his work in the Tales Of video game franchise, his artwork became a bit more angular with extremely detailed hair and clothing.
6 Akira Toriyama
Akira Toriyama is utterly legendary in the industry. Not just for what he brought to the Shonen genre but towards fiction in general. Throughout his long runs within the industry, his artwork has changed dramatically in ways that others might not see. Although he maintained the fun and cartoony nature since Dr. Slump, his Dragon Ball work eventually became more muscular and dynamic. Leading into one of the most recognizable art styles of all time.
5 Yudetamago
The collaboration between writer Takashi Shimada and artist Yoshinori Nakai. The evolution of Nakai's work is subtle in places and highly drastic in others. Initially, his work seemed to be quite simple as it has many soft lines that befit the more comical nature of Kinnikuman. However, as time went on, his anatomy and musculature became far more defined. Maintaining a solid balance between simplicity and complexity.
4 George Morikawa
The most interesting element about George Morikawa is that his art style became more dynamic.
Originally being somewhat well-rounded in his characters' body structures, they eventually became more jagged and had an angular roundness to them. This is to help Morikawa further accentuate the combat and motion of the attack better. Similar to the way Jack Kirby's figures started to get more dynamic with his artwork in Marvel comics.
3 Takehiko Inoue
Takehiko Inoue's development as an artist is absolutely out of this world. If fans were to compare his work from Slam Dunk to Vagabond, they would see art that makes a world of difference. Many of which are also combined with his evolution as a writer. Initially, his Slam Dunk work was impressively dynamic, albeit with an otherwise straightforward Manga style. But late into his manga's run and Vagabond, Inoue started to really break ground with his realistic and brushwork style.
2 Kentaro Miura
Like Takehiko Inoue's development as a mangaka, Kentaro Miura has also faced similar growth spurts as an artist. However, Miura did it a little differently as he continued to refine it through his engrossing Seinen masterpiece, Berserk.
While lavishly dark and full of raw strength, once Miura started adding a lot of detail with his artwork, things started to look really magical. Having so much raw intensity and power with the characters that he can draw. But also putting so much beauty within the dark world of his setting.
1 Hirohiko Araki
Hirohiko Araki's artistic evolution is easily one of the most celebrated and lauded in his work. Perhaps surpassed or equaled only by his writing as a mangaka. Initially, his characters were hugely proportioned with questionable anatomy.
Not only that, but his settings, while well-detailed, weren't anything to write home about. However, as he gradually evolved, his style became one of the most unique and detailed in the entire medium. Not only that, but Araki continues to evolve the style even by Jojolion.