The name Marco Polo is credited as the original creator for the 1979 Japanese anime series Animation Kikō Marco Polo no Bōken, also known as Marco Polo's Adventures or Le Avventure di Marco Polo. This credit, however, refers to the historical Venetian merchant and traveler rather than a modern manga artist or screenwriter. Born in Venice, Republic of Venice, in 1254, Marco Polo was a merchant, traveler, and writer who became famous for his extensive journeys through Asia along the Silk Road. His account of his travels, later compiled as The Travels of Marco Polo or Il Milione, documented his experiences in the court of Kublai Khan and provided one of the most detailed Western perspectives on the cultures, geography, and societies of 13th-century China and Asia.

The anime series produced by the studio Madhouse and broadcast on NHK from April 7, 1979, to April 5, 1980, is directly based on the writings and historical legacy of this figure. Comprising 43 episodes, the series follows a 17-year-old Marco Polo as he departs Venice with his father Niccolò and uncle Matteo on a journey to the Yuan Empire in the East. The narrative draws loosely from The Travels of Marco Polo, though many episodes consist of original dramatized adventures rather than strict historical retelling. The series is notable for its unique hybrid format, combining traditional cel animation for characters and dramatic scenes with live-action documentary footage depicting real landscapes, historical artifacts, and cultural practices. This approach gave the series an educational dimension, distinguishing it from purely fictional anime of its era.

As the original source of the stories and the historical figure whose life inspired the production, Marco Polo is not a creator in the sense of writing scripts or designing characters. The creative direction of the anime was handled by directors Osamu Dezaki, Katsuhiko Fujita, and Masaki Mori, while Akio Sugino, known for works such as Treasure Island and Space Adventure Cobra, served as character designer. The scripts were written by multiple writers including Mitsuru Kaneko, Mitsuru Majima, Hideo Takeuchi, and Jun Takada. The historical Marco Polo, however, remains the foundational source credited for the work, similar to how a novelist might be credited for an adaptation of their book.

Beyond the 1979 anime, the name Marco Polo has appeared in other manga and anime contexts. A webtoon based on his travels was produced as part of the YLAB universe, with character designs by the manhwa artist Mu-jik Boichi, known for his work on Dr. Stone. In this project, the historical figure of Marco Polo serves as the narrative inspiration, while Boichi adapted the character design to fit the multiverse setting. Additionally, separate from the Japanese anime industry, the Italian cartoonist Marco Tabilio created a graphic novel titled Marco Polo: Dangers and Visions, published in multiple languages, but this is a distinct work by a modern author sharing a similar name.

The industry significance of Marco Polo as an original creator lies in the longevity and cross-cultural impact of his written accounts. His travelogue has served as source material for animated works that blend history with adventure, introducing young audiences to medieval Asian history and the concept of cultural exchange along the Silk Road. The 1979 anime, in particular, stands as an early example of educational historical fiction in the medium, produced by the public broadcaster NHK with a commitment to documentary-style authenticity. While Marco Polo himself never created manga or anime, his name continues to appear in credits as the originator of the stories that have been adapted across generations and national borders.