Anime isn’t always the most obvious and influential genre in Hollywood films, but its flourishing can be seen in any number of films. Of course, you should know yourselfanimeIt’s been around almost as long as Hollywood, so it’s no surprise that the medium often draws inspiration from one another. From action-packed stories to larger-than-life characters, it’s easy to guess whether the latest big-budget Westerns were taking cues from the East.
What makes a Hollywood movie look like an anime is the memorable visuals, the unusually exaggerated dialogue with a humorous approach, and the story of strong characters on every level. Through these aspects, a movie can be a special concept that is still a love letter to the unique adventures that can only be found in anime. As such, some Hollywood movies have caught the interest of viewers who watch anime exclusively. Now we at Vijayato are going to introduce 10 Hollywood movies inspired by anime for these viewers.
RIPD
- For fans: Yu Yu Hakusho | Bleach Buso Renkin
The premise of the film “Rest in Peace Department” is familiar to many anime fans: the main character, played by Ryan Reynolds, dies and enrolls in a secret society of the afterlife (a kind of death), where he brings justice to other deceased people. who have escaped from judgment. He teams up with a veteran of the force, played by Jeff Bridges, and together they take on strange monsters and terrifying villains.
If R.I.P.D. It looks like an anime, probably because it’s based on a comic book by Peter M. Lenkov with the same name published in 1999. This Lenkov comic is simply an enduring archetype of storytelling.
Guns Akimbo
- For fans of: Chainsaw Man | Dorohedoro Deadman Wonderland
Action-comedy Guns Akimbo is a surprise ride from start to finish, giving it the feel of a sad anime. Daniel Radcliffe directs the film as an ordinary man with a gun strapped to his hand. As a typical action movie, the characters, premise, and visuals are set in a near-future dystopian setting that deftly suspends disbelief.
Guns Akimbo director Jason Lee Howden hasn’t explicitly mentioned anime influences for the film’s production, but he isn’t far from similar action anime titles. He is an experienced comic book writer and has served as a visual effects artist on such notable titles as The Hobbit, Shang Chi, and The Legend of the Ten Rings.
Sucker Punch
- For fans of: Black Rock Shooter | Madoka Magica | Paranoia Agent
The fantasy action film Sucker Punch was Zack Snyder’s first work based on an original concept, and it is easy to see his interest in the structure of some anime in his film. According to many experts, Sucker Punch is an Alice in Wonderland-style anime game that meets Call of Duty steampunk. The film is led by an all-female cast including Emily Browning, Vanessa Hudgens and Carla Gugino. Obviously inspired by the anime, the main character Babydoll wears a sailor-style school uniform similar to many anime heroines.
Sucker Punch appears to have scenes inspired by the anime Appleseed Ex Machina, but this has not been confirmed. While Zack Snyder credits comics as the main inspiration for his films, the impact of the visual structure of his works speaks volumes for Snyder’s inspiration from anime.
Gunpowder Milkshake
- For fans: Trigun | Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex | Love of Kill
When Netflix’s Milkshake Powder hit the screens, many avid anime viewers really felt like they were watching a live-action anime. At the heart of the story is a colorful cast and its reluctant hero, hailed as a female John Wick, unleashing neon-lit violence in an underground network of assassins.
Milkshake Powder is like a colorful anime, full of family ropes set against a backdrop of thrilling action. One of the standout aspects of the film are the costumes, which are equal parts trendy and lovely classic. The designer, Louise Frogley, has worked on other big-budget films like Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) and Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), and shows that she’s not afraid to translate Inme-like drawings into real life.
Bullet Train
- For fans: Lupine III: Part V | Baccano! | Durarara
The action movie Bullet Train refers to anime in various dimensions. This could be because the film is based on the Hitman trilogy by Japanese author Kotaro Isaka. Some of the characters from the original novel are even included in a spin-off manga titled “Waltz”.
The heavy mix of Japanese aesthetics aside, Bullet Train action, witty dialogues, and detailed designs for supporting characters make this movie feel like an anime. The story of the movie “Who is the murderer?” connects in a web of theft, revenge and dark comedy stories while on a moving train.
The Saw Series
- For fans: Danganronpa | Higurashi: When They Cry | Corpse Party
The Saw franchise is a long-running slasher series that is often seen in the structure of anime. Any anime fan who loves gratuitous gore will also appreciate these special James Wan works. So Jigsaw, the mastermind behind all the torture seen in the movies, is as evil as some of anime’s most ruthless villains.
James Wan has not specifically mentioned any anime influences for Saw, but is a particular fan of the dynamic medium. With many of his other projects being equally otherworldly, aspects of Italian horror and anime violence can be found in his films.
Pacific Rim
- For fans of: Gurren Lagann | Neon Genesis Evangelion | Mobile Suit Gundam Wing
The film “Pacific Rim” by Mexican director Guillermo del Toro is clearly inspired by anime. From giant robots, monstrous beasts, and huge stakes for humanity, the story of this work has everything that makes anime an entertaining spectacle. Some of the main ideas in the movie could fit right in the heart of a cool anime, like using a cargo ship for weapons.
Another aspect that makes Pacific Rim appealing to anime viewers is the strong characterization of each of the characters, even those in the background. With a charismatic cast led by Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba and Rinko Kikuchi, it’s incredibly easy to love the protagonists. With the supporting cast of Charlie Day, Bern Gorman, and Ron Perlman, the universe is further fleshed out. Even more, the tertiary characters, like the rest of the pilot team, create a deeply immersive and spectacular world.
Kill Bill
- For fans: Samurai Champloo | Afro Samurai | Black Lagoon
Two films Kill Bill is one of Quentin Tarantino’s outstanding works due to its bright colors, creative editing and varied mediums. As a fan of anime and Eastern cinema in general, Tarantino sought out the animation studio that produced two animes, Ghost In The Shell and Blood: The Last Vampire, to draw the background story of Lucy Liu’s animated character in Bill, that is O- Make Ren Ishii in anime style.
With a scrapbook-like style, Tarantino made many references to anime and other Japanese films in the Kill Bill series. Some of these titles include the adult anime Kite as well as Battle Royale and Lady Snowblood. With strong character designs, memorable quips, and a diverse soundtrack, Kill Bill is a fun film that is a must-see for any aficionado of action cinema and of course anime.
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
- For fans of: The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya | Angel Beats | KonoSuba
Scott Pilgrim against the world; The film is based on a comic book series by Brian Lee O’Malley, which he says is partly inspired by manga like Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad.
The director of the film Scott Pilgrim Against the World, that is, Edgar Wright himself, also paid special tribute to anime in his vision for this film. but how? For example, a subtle choice by Edgar Wright in his film was to avoid excessive blinking of the actors, as this is something that is usually absent in anime. Also, the film’s villain, Gideon, is directly derived from various anime, including Naruto.
Turning Red
- For fans: Nichijou | Azumanga Daioh | Fruits Basket
You might say that this work itself is an animation; Yes, Turning Red is an animated film, but it’s a lovely love letter to oriental anime. Shi’s second director has not escaped this reality either. Shi has mentioned popular titles like Sailor Moon and My Neighbor Totoro in various interviews.
Ultimately, what makes Turning Red so anime-like is the mystical threads woven with teenage girls who want to save the world and hang out with their friends. With shot-for-shot references to famous scenes like Gendo’s white reflective glasses from Neon Genesis Evangelion and subtle details like exaggerated lighting and lightning bolts, it’s easy to love if you grew up watching 90s anime.
