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January 17, 2025
Anime | List of Hollywood Movies Inspired By Anime
Anime
January 17, 2025
Anime has been a huge inspiration to Hollywood creators. In fact, some of your favorite movies may have used anime to shape their films. Let's check some out!
>Anime has been a huge inspiration to Hollywood creators. In fact, some of your favorite movies may have used anime to shape their films. Let's check some out!
Buy: Anime Merchandise & Gifts
Buy: Anime Merchandise & Gifts
Since its inception (no, we aren’t talking about the movie…yet), the anime industry has created many gems which have gone on to influence the creation of their movie counterparts. By identifying core similarities, sometimes backed by the writer or director’s own statements, has indicated that some movies have been inspired by anime.
But which ones?
Here is a list of the top 12 movies that drew their inspiration from anime! We will also compare the similarities with the anime in terms of certain themes, concepts, storylines, settings, etc.
1. The Matrix Trilogy (1999 – 2003)
Inspired By: Ghost In the Shell (1995), Ninja Scroll (1993), and Akira (1988).
Key Evidence:
- The Wachowskis have freely acknowledged that Ghost in the Shell was one of their main influences.
- There are themes of cybernetic improvements, virtual reality, and philosophical inquiries concerning human identity.
- Certain scenes, like the brain-jack connection and the distinctive 'green code' aesthetic, bear a strong resemblance to Ghost in the Shell.
The entire Matrix series has been praised as a product of the creativity and ingenuity of the Wachowskis. The siblings have mentioned many times that the Matrix trilogy were inspired by multiple elements and themes from three retro anime: Ghost in the Shell, Ninja Scroll, and Akira.
The Matrix trilogy, starring Keanu Reeves as Neo, borrowed its cyberpunk aesthetic from Ghost in The Shell. They both feature realistic human-machine fusion, cybernetic visuals, and simulated realities. It also borrowed the well-choreographed high-octane battles from Ninja Scroll and its apocalyptic urban setting is reminiscent of that seen in the Akira anime series.
2. Inception (2010)
Inspired By: Paprika (2006)
Key Evidence:
- Both films dive into the concept of dreams within dreams, featuring surreal visuals and themes that reflect psychological depth.
- The dream apparatus in Paprika is similar to the spinning top concept in Inception.
Christopher Nolan’s Inception seems to have been produced after he journeyed to and returned from Satoshi Kon’s mind (or maybe after he watched Paprika). The plot of Inception centers on the concept of shared dreaming and the manipulation of individuals' subconscious minds through the act of dream infiltration using a device. This technology allows individuals to access another person's dreams to either extract secrets or implant ideas, a process known as, well, inception.
Paprika, on the other hand, talks about a futuristic tool called the DC Mini. This allows therapists to access and examine patients’ dreams. After it is lost, it leads to a series of thrilling events. The storyline of these two looks at the threats of technology and the hazy line separating fantasies from reality.
3. Black Swan (2010)
Inspired By: Perfect Blue (1997)
Key Evidence:
- Both films center on psychological breakdown, concepts of identity crisis, and the demands of creative excellence.
- Black Swan's bathtub scene has striking resemblance to one in Perfect Blue.
Perfect Blue is another of Satoshi Kon’s works that greatly influenced a Hollywood movie and the similarities are undeniable. Both movies are psychological horror dramas with many scenic and thematic comparisons. In an interview, Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan’s director, did acknowledge the Perfect Blue anime as an influence and even purchased the rights to some of its scenes.
Perfect Blue and Black Swan share psychological intensity and thematic similarities, such as obsession, identity struggles, and blurred lines between reality and delusion. The protagonists in both endure mental breakdowns driven by high-pressure environments (stardom for Mima in Perfect Blue and ballet for Nina in Black Swan). Additional similarities include the reflective imagery, doppelgangers, and use of intimate, unsettling scenes at various times.
4. Edge Of Tomorrow (2014)
Adaptation of: All You Need Is Kill (2004, Manga/Light Novel)
Key Evidence:
- The Hollywood adaptation featuring Tom Cruise is officially derived from the Japanese light novel All You Need Is Kill.
- Similar to a time-loop mechanism, the plot centers on a soldier who, after dying, continually relives a battle.
Five years after the All You Need Is Kill manga series was published and serialized, 3 Arts Entertainment bought the rights then sold it to Warner Bros. The 2014 adaptation, titled Edge of Tomorrow, stars Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt.
Tom Cruise played the role of the manga’s Keiji Kiriya, a new military recruit who is deployed to join in the fight against a race of aliens who are about to take over the earth. Major William Cage (Tom Cruise) dies shortly after his first encounter with the enemy and then wakes up a day before his deployment. This keeps happening until he finally achieves his objective, very much like Keiji’s life in the manga. One could very much say that the All You Need Is Kill manga got a movie adaptation, instead of an anime.
5. Avatar (2009)
Inspired By: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) and Princess Mononoke (1997)
Key Evidence:
- The protagonist's relationship with the extraterrestrial species reflects Nausicaä's kinship with nature.
- Avatar by James Cameron pulls on themes from Hayao Miyazaki's works, including environmentalism, people vs. nature, and cultural disputes.
Avatar, starring Sam Worthington (Jake Sully), has undoubtedly infused themes and elements from numerous anime including Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, and a few others. In the words of its creator, James Cameron, the movie drew a lot of inspiration from Hayao Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke.
Another major similarity is the conflict between humans exploring and exploiting the foreign lands of Indigenous people who share a deep-rooted connection with their home. There are also the themes of a human protagonist with a change of heart, a strong female indigenous leader, a spiritual connection to nature, and the critiques and extents of human greed.
6. Chronicle (2012)
Inspired By: Akira (1988)
Key Evidence:
- This found-footage superhero film presents a narrative echoing Akira, showcasing telekinetic abilities that spiral into chaos and a poignant friendship.
- The final showdown in Chronicle mirrors Tetsuo's rampage in Akira.
Akira is a thriller anime movie from the Seinen demographic. It’s a beautiful work of art, despite its intense controversy. The movie Chronicle is often regarded as having been inspired by Akira. Its narrative about young individuals uncovering potent psychic powers and the possible destructive outcomes if these abilities are not managed appropriately are similar. Numerous fans have pointed out resemblances in the visual aesthetics and plot components of both creations.
Both stories center around marginalized protagonists, Andrew in Chronicle and Tetsuo in Akira, who acquire extraordinary powers and spiral into chaos, resulting in catastrophic destruction. They also center around themes of power as a corrupting force, strained friendships, and emotional vulnerability. The origins of power remain mysterious in both cases, with authority figures assuming diverse roles. Chronicle reflects Akira's dark, gritty tone and visually striking urban devastation, almost making it look like a remix of the source material.
7. Pacific Rim (2013)
Inspired By: Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995 – 1996)
Key Evidence:
- Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim draws inspiration from Evangelion, featuring massive robots (Jaegers) battling enormous creatures (Kaiju).
- Themes of pilots achieving mental harmony with their machines reflect the synchronization seen in Evangelion with the Evas.
Pacific Rim has so many similarities with Evangelion that some fans conclude that Pacific Rim is a retelling of Evangelion. The creator, Guillermo Del Toro, did note that he’s a huge fan of mecha anime and that Evangelion did influence the movie’s monster vs giant robot concept. It serves as a tribute to the mecha genre.
Evangelion is one of those anime series that created a shift in Japanese animation. It is a retro anime that has inspired not only a movie, but also other anime series like Code Geass and Gurren Lagann. It has a near-flawless narrative, straightforward and deliberate pacing, and the plot is rich with intrigue and unexpected twists.
8. A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
Inspired By: Astro Boy (1963)
Key Evidence:
- Steven Spielberg’s A.I. draws inspiration from Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy, especially its story of a robot boy searching for love and acceptance.
- Both stories have an emotional core that focuses on what it means to be human.
Astro Boy was created long ago and is regarded as one of the first anime. It has inspired numerous media franchises, ranging from anime to movies. Originally started by Stanley Kubrick and completed by Steven Spielberg after Kubrick’s death, A.I. delves into the adventures of a young robot boy. It owes its creation to Osamu Tezuka’s original Astro Boy comic, which serves as the singular influence for the movie.
The tragic death of Tobio (named David in the movie) motivates his father to build the robot to replace his son. When he can’t bear the sight of his creation, he sends him to a robot circus; a plot and theme that resonates with that presented in the movie A.I. Kubrick has a deep familiarity with Tezuka’s work. It is no coincidence that he had Tezuka serve as art director for 2001: A Space Odyssey.
9. Looper (2012)
Inspired By: Akira (1988)
Key Evidence:
- The Rainmaker's character and the telekinesis narrative in Looper are similar to Tetsuo's journey in Akira.
- Themes of power, loss, and the catastrophic potential of unbridled skills are present in both stories.
With a 20-year difference in their release, Akira and Looper both examine the perils of telekinesis, demonstrating how great power may corrupt and destroy. Tetsuo from Akira, whose newly discovered abilities turn into anarchy, is quite similar to the Rainmaker, a youngster in Looper who possesses devastating telekinetic abilities. Themes of unbridled potential, human frailty, and the fallout from experiments intended to turn people into weapons are explored in both works.
The director of Looper, Rian Johnson, even acknowledged Akira as a direct inspiration. The visual and thematic parallels, which include urban destruction, psychological distress, and power-related moral conflicts, firmly suggest Akira’s impact on Looper, which is a contemporary sci-fi classic.
10. Alita: Battle Angel (2019)
Adaptation Of: Battle Angel Alita (1990)
Key Evidence:
-
Alita: Battle Angel is a direct adaptation of Yukito Kishiro’s manga Gunnm (Battle Angel Alita).
- The Hollywood adaptation includes elements to make it suitable for a Western audience, even if it is authentic in various aspects.
The anime Battle Angel Alita is an OVA that comprises only two episodes. It tells the story and adventures of Alita, a female cyborg whose remains were found in a junk heap by Doc Ido in a post-apocalyptic scrapyard. A brilliant mechanic and doctor, Ido rebuilds and revives her, giving her a chance to survive in the new world. Every new day presents different challenges while she fights to regain her memories and identity.
Aside from the rearrangement of the name (Battle Angel Alita –> Alita: Battle Angel), there really is nothing different between the movie and the anime, excluding some extra scenes (and maybe characters). The main characters, plot, twists, setting, and themes in the movie are the same as in the anime. But it is understandable that the majority of people who have seen the movie are oblivious to its origins.
11. Ghost In The Shell (2017)
Adaptation Of: Ghost In The Shell (1995)
Key Evidence:
- Although it was criticized for whitewashing, this Scarlett Johansson-led remake made an effort to replicate the anime's aesthetics and philosophical ideas.
Set in the future, Ghost in the Shell takes place in a cyberpunk future where humans seamlessly integrate with and enhance themselves with technology. It centers around the events that occur after the revival of Major Motoko Kusanagi, a cyborg operative who commands Section 9, an elite task force specialized in counter-terrorism.
Major gets lured into a case where she pursues the identity of Kuze, a mysterious hacker who orchestrates the deaths of some employees in Hanka, the industry that created Major and Kuze himself. After their encounter, Kuze sends her to question and find the truth about her past. The anime and the movie are so similary that watching one already suffices for seeing both.
12. The Lion King (1994)
Influenced By: Kimba The White Lion (1965)
Key Evidence:
- Disney’s The Lion King shares numerous similarities with Kimba the White Lion, including storylines about a Lion cub reclaiming its throne.
- Disney denies the connection, but similarities are undeniable.
From Kimba in 1965 to Simba in 1994, these two great animations received wide acclaim in their respective times. However, the semblance in the name isn’t enough to lay claim to Lion King being influenced by the old anime. One major similarity here is the common storyline about the adventures of a Lion cub. Kimba journeys around, makes friends and allies, and returns home to become the leader of its people. Simba’s story is the exact same, but with a few incredible songs added in.
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