Astro Boy was the first anime to be created. It was created by Osama Tezuka.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_anime its the history of anime.
Momotaro's Divine Sea Warriors was the first feature length anime film (1944)Astro Boy (1963-66) The first anime ever created was Momotaro's Divine Sea Warriors(1944).
Anime Network was created in 2002.
Firestorm - anime - was created in 2002.
Bismark - anime - was created in 1984.
Anime Central was created in 1998.
Anime UK was created in 1991.
Mega-Anime was created in 2005.
Anime Insider was created in 2001.
Anime Candide was created in 1920-10.
Anime on Demand was created in 2011-04.
The 1963 Tetsuwan Atom/Astro Boy anime was the first popular anime series, but technically the second anime series, with the first being the now-obscure series Otogi Manga Calendar.