Hollywood is capable of doing many wonderful things, but not all of it is entirely original.
Several blockbuster movies that opened to critical and commercial acclaim, borrowed plots or were influenced by lesser-known films and tv shows. While some were blatant rip-offs, others were more subtle and the similarities between the film and its inspiration aren’t apparent at the first viewing. And when it comes to inspiration, the anime industry has always been a constant creative source for Hollywood.
Below are some of the biggest Hollywood movies that you never knew were inspired by anime or have anime equivalents. While we may never know if the similar-sounding animes were an inspiration, there are some strong similarities. Sometimes great minds truly do think alike.
Pacific Rim (2013) Inspired By: Neon Genesis Evangelion and Gundam
Guillermo del Tero is famous for his bold and darkly fantastical ideas. His films such as Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape of Water have opened to critical acclaim. Another film of his, Pacific Rim, tackles the concept of monsters vs giant robots in a visually grand way. In fact, the film provided a stellar viewing experience and even had a sequel.
It was also noted for its homage to anime, mecha and kaiju traditions. Two of the strongest anime influences we can see in the film were Neon Genesis Evangelion and Gundam, particularly in the way the monsters and the robots have been conceptualized.
Her (2013) Similarities To: Chobits
Her was a successful sci-fi romantic drama film starring Joaquin Phoenix, about a man who falls in love with a female-voiced virtual assistant. The movie was lauded by critics. It received 5 Oscar nominations and won an award for “Best Original Screenplay”.
But the idea of a man falling in love with beings powered by artificial intelligence isn’t a novel idea. In fact, there is an anime, Chobits, that released almost a decade earlier, where a man falls in love with an A.I. named Chi. Of course, there’s a difference - while in Her, the A.I. was merely a disembodied voice, Chi has a body.
Blade Runner 2049 (2017) Inspired By: Cowboy Bepop
Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner was a seminal film that defined the cyberpunk aesthetics for a generation and more. Its sequel, which had Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford in the lead roles, was very well-received by the critics and won two out of the five Oscars it was nominated for.
The movie was influenced by the sci-fi anime Cowboy Bepop, which deals with similar themes of alienation and loneliness. And there’s a reason for it. Shinchiro Watanabe was sort of involved in both - he directed an anime short that served as a prequel to the film.
The Lion King (1994) Similarities To: Kimba The White Lion
The Lion King was one of Disney’s most popular films, with people still talking about it today. However, it has been suggested on several websites that it was, in fact, was heavily influenced by an anime called Kimba The White Lion.
There are lots of online articles that note how the characters, plot, and even the cinematography are very similar to the anime that was created by Osamu Tezuka. Disney has never commented on the controversy.
Black Swan (2010) Inspired By: Perfect Blue
Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan told the tragic tale of a ballerina whose quest for perfection quite literally kills her. With a majestic Natalie Portman in the lead, the film was a psychological thriller that was well-received by the critics.
However, both the story and the shots were heavily borrowed from an anime film, Perfect Blue, directed by Satoshi Kon. In fact, the director even went and brought the rights to the film from Kon, so as not to be accused of plagiarism.
Avatar (2009) Similarities To: Princess Mononoke
Avatar by James Cameron was a visually stunning film, set in the far future where humans try to colonize the lush and verdant planet of Pandora. However, the environmental theme, the presence of mining colonies, and strong female leads are common to a Studio Ghibli film, Princess Mononoke.
Although the visuals and the story are much different, the thematic similarities between Cameron’s movie and Miyazaki’s are pretty evident in the film, as many have noted.
The Matrix (1999) Inspired By: Ghost In The Shell
With Keanu Reeves in the lead, The Matrix is one of the most seminal sci-fi films ever made, with a lasting effect on popular culture. However, it turns out that the concept of the film wasn’t original. Instead, its cyberpunk roots can be traced back to the anime Ghost In The Shell.
In fact, the Wachowskis were pretty forthcoming in acknowledging the influence of the anime and talked about it openly. Mamoru Oshii, the creator of Ghost In The Shell has even said that he preferred The Matrix to his own work.
Inception (2010) Similarities To: Paprika
Inception contains all of Nolan’s cinematic quirks, including ambiguous endings and carefully-planned twists, that all warrant multiple viewings. It mixes elements from a heist film in a dream-within-a-dream sequence and is extremely multi-layered. But the idea for it wasn’t necessarily Nolan’s alone.
In fact, another film, by Satoshi Kon, who was regarded as one of the most ingenious Japanese film directors uses a similar premise. The surreal anime film Paprikaalso tackled the idea of all the action taking place within a dream and may have inspired Nolan to make Inception.
Man of Steel (2013) Inspired By: Birdy The Mighty
Man of Steel was one of DC’s earliest films that kick-started their own extended universe. Directed by Zack Synder, it was a reboot of the Superman franchise, starring Henry Cavill as the superhero. And it was followed by Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016). Although it received mixed reviews, it was a box office success.
The film also had an anime influence, with fight scenes being inspired by Birdy The Mighty, as per a reddit post.
Chronicle (2012) Similarities To: Akira
Chronicle was the directorial debut for Josh Trank that follows the adventures of three high schoolers who suddenly gain telekinetic powers and band together. The thriller relied on found footage and was well-received by the critics.
One of the chief influences on it was the Japanese cyberpunk film Akira, often regarded as one of the greatest films ever made. As per a reddit post, both the films explored the theme of alienation in a similar way.
