Hollywood has a history of taking inspiration from various sources, and anime is no exception. The influx of Hollywood movies inspired by anime has not been a one-way street and the interplay between both the mediums has led to a dynamic creative exchange that continues to shape modern cinema.
As Hollywood continues to explore new horizons, the live-action adaptations and reimaginations of beloved anime continue to build excitement among the fans. In today’s article, we’ll take a look at some of the blockbuster Hollywood movies inspired by anime. So, without further ado, let’s get started.
10. Turning Red – Ranma ½
Disney’s Turning Red was one of the biggest box-office upsets in 2022 however, the fact can’t be denied that the film was heavily influenced by a series of anime classics. To start off, the friendship between Mei and her classmates is inspired by the bond between the Sailor Scouts in “Sailor Moon”.
Mei’s conversion into a giant red panda reflects the magical transformations in “Ranma ½” and “Fruits Basket”. Turning Red is imbued with such anime influences and takes direct inspiration for its design and animation from some of the popular works of anime.
9. Man Of Steel – Birdy The Mighty
Man of Steel featuring Superman in the lead is a critically hit film of the DC cinematic universe. The movie, directed by prolific filmmaker Zack Snyder, serves as a reboot of the Superman franchise retelling Clark Kent’s origins and struggle to connect to humanity.
In an interview with Zack Snyder, it came to light that Man of Steel’s ending draws heavily upon fight scenes from “Birdy the Mighty”. Snyder credited the series for being the inspiration behind the epic final clash between Superman and Zod in the film.
8. The Lion King – Kimba the White Lion
After the 1994 release of Disney’s animated feature film The Lion King, it received a lot of praise from fans and critics alike. While the film became a commercial success in the Western audience, Japan wasn’t so happy with the release and the arrival of The Lion King stirred controversy among Kimba fans.
“Kimba the White Lion” came decades before the release of Lion King and to the surprise of many, the two entities shared many resemblances. However, Makoto Tezuka, the creator of Kimba, never took any legal action against Disney stating that he saw the two works as different stories.
7. Pacific Rim – Neon Genesis Evangelion
Sci-fi monster film, Pacific Rim is credited with promoting the mecha genre in Hollywood. The film is often compared to the critically acclaimed “Neon Genesis Evangelion” and its post-apocalyptic setting is cited as one of the major inspirations behind the film’s overarching themes.
Guillermo del Toro, the director of the film never clearly called out the name of Neon Genesis Evangelion but it’s mentioned that he used anime-inspired violence and excellently choreographed action sequences to drive home his tale of giant robots versus kaiju fighting over the fate of the world.
6. Chronicle – Akira
“Akira” is widely regarded as one of the greatest animated movies of all time and is considered a landmark film in the post-apocalyptic genre. The anime remains a staple among fans and movie buffs alike for its stylized violence, breathtaking visuals, and cyberpunk backdrop.
Over the years, Akira has been cited as a major influence on Hollywood films, notably Chronicle, Looper, The Matrix, Godzilla, and Kill Bill. Several films have also paid homage to the iconic Akira slide and interestingly enough, the character of Eleven in “Stranger Things” is also influenced by the film protagonist.
5. Avatar – Princess Mononoke
Canadian film director James Cameron’s magnum opus, Avatar serves as a major landmark in the history of cinema. The imaginative and overarching themes of the film went on to break many box-office records becoming one of the highest-grossing movies of all time.
James Cameron cited Studio Ghibli’s “Princess Mononoke” as an influence on his 2009 film. He acknowledged that his film shares themes with the anime, including its clash between cultures and civilizations, and cited Princess Mononoke as an influence on the ecosystem of Pandora.
4. Blade Runner 2049 – Cowboy Bebop
Even after so many years, “Cowboy Bebop” is still regarded as one of the best sci-fi and space opera anime to be ever made. Blade Runner 2049 pays homage to Shinichiro Watanabe-directed Cowboy Bebop by recreating shot-by-shot scenes from the anime.
Indeed, the film and the anime series have a common ending sequence with both the protagonist’s lying on the stairs. Alongside the visual similarities, Blade Runner 2049 and Cowboy Bebop have a great deal in common and the anime is more than just a footnote to the film.
3. Black Swan – Perfect Blue
Black Swan starring Natalie Portman received widespread critical acclaim upon release, with particular praise towards American filmmaker Darren Aronofsky’s direction. Some scenes in Black Swan even play out as mirrored images of ones in Satoshi Kon’s “Perfect Blue”.
In fact, Aronofsky purchased the film rights to Perfect Blue before releasing his film. He even acknowledged the similarities in both works but denied that Black Swan was inspired by Perfect Blue. However, his previous film Requiem for a Dream features a remake of a scene from Perfect Blue.
2. The Matrix – Ghost In The Shell
“Ghost in the Shell” became a cult hit, particularly outside Japan, following the release of its first feature film in 1995. The cyberpunk and sci-fi elements of the series influenced some prominent filmmakers, notably the creators of The Matrix series.
The Wachowskis have acknowledged the influence of Ghost In The Shell on their work. For instance, The Matrix series took several concepts from the film, including the Matrix digital rain which was inspired by the opening credits of the anime.
1. Inception – Paprika
Christopher Nolan’s critically acclaimed science fiction action film Inception was a global hit back in 2010. Later on, the film caught the eyes of many film pundits and anime buffs who found striking similarities between Inception and Studio Madhouse’s psychological drama “Paprika”.
As noted by many, Inception takes many of its concepts and scene compositions directly from Paprika, including the ever-stretching long hallway scene, and the visual effect of the dream world-shattering like glass. Though the two films don’t share the same plot, the similarities are awe-inspiring.
Which one of the following Hollywood movies inspired by anime is your favorite? Feel free to comment down your thoughts and make sure to recommend some other films like the ones listed above, also don’t forget to share this article with your fellow otaku friends.
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