As Hollywood continues to explore new horizons, live-action adaptations and reimaginings of beloved anime continue to create excitement among fans.

In today’s article, we’re going to take a look at some of the hit Hollywood movies that were 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 surprises of 2022, however, there's no denying the fact that the film was heavily influenced by a number of anime classics.

To begin with, the friendship between Mei and her classmates is inspired by the bond between the Sailor Scouts in “Sailor Moon.”

Mei's transformation into a giant red panda mirrors 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 most popular anime works.

9. Superman – Birdy

Man of Steel starring Superman is a critically successful film in the DC Cinematic Universe. The film, directed by prolific filmmaker Zack Snyder, serves as a reboot of the Superman franchise, retelling the origins of Clark Kent and his struggle to connect with humanity.

In an interview with Zack Snyder, it was made clear that the ending of Man of Steel draws heavily from the fight scenes from “Birdy the Mighty.” Snyder credited the series for being the inspiration behind the epic final showdown between Superman and Zod in the film.

8. The Lion King – Kimba the White Lion

After the release in 1994, Disney's animated feature film The Lion King received much acclaim from fans and critics alike.

Although the film became a commercial success with Western audiences, Japan was not very happy with the release and the arrival of The Lion King caused 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 similarities.

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

A science fiction monster movie, Pacific Rim is credited with pioneering 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 main inspirations behind the film’s overarching themes.

Guillermo del Toro, the film's director, never explicitly says the name of Neon Genesis Evangelion, but it is mentioned that he used anime-inspired violence and excellently choreographed action sequences to drive home his story of giant robots versus kaiju fighting for the fate of the world.

6. Chronicle – Akira

“Akira” is widely considered one of the greatest animated films of all time and is considered a landmark in the post-apocalyptic genre. The anime remains a staple among fans and moviegoers 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 Akira's iconic slide, and interestingly, the character Eleven in "Stranger Things" is also influenced by the film's protagonist.

5. Avatar – Princess Mononoke

Canadian film director James Cameron's magnum opus, Avatar serves as a major milestone in cinematic history. The film's imaginative and far-reaching themes broke numerous box office records, becoming one of the highest-grossing films 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 all these years, “Cowboy Bebop” is still considered one of the best sci-fi and space opera anime ever made. Blade Runner 2049 is a homage to Cowboy Bebop directed by Shinichiro Watanabe, recreating scenes from the anime scene by scene.

In fact, the film and the anime series share a common ending sequence with both protagonists lying on the stairs. Along with the visual similarities, Blade Runner 2049 and Cowboy Bebop have a lot 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 its release, with particular praise for the direction of American filmmaker Darren Aronofsky. Some scenes in Black Swan even play out as mirror images of others in Satoshi Kon's Perfect Blue.

In fact, Aronofsky bought the film rights to Perfect Blue before releasing his film. He even acknowledged the similarities between the two works, but denied that Black Swan was inspired by Perfect Blue. However, his previous film Requiem for a Dream does feature a remake of a scene from Perfect Blue.

2. Matrix – Ghost In The Shell

"Ghost in the Shell" became a cult hit, particularly outside Japan, after its first feature-length film was released in 1995. The series' cyberpunk and science fiction elements have influenced some prominent filmmakers, most notably the creators of The Matrix series.

The Wachowskis have acknowledged the influence of Ghost In The Shell on their work. For example, the Matrix series took several concepts from the film, including the Matrix digital rain that was inspired by the anime's opening credits.

1. The Origin – Paprika

Christopher Nolan’s acclaimed sci-fi action film Inception was a global hit in 2010. The film later caught the attention of many film experts and anime fans 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 long, ever-lengthening hallway scene and the visual effect of the dream world shattering like glass. While the two films don't share the same plot, the similarities are inspiring.

Which of the following anime-inspired Hollywood movies is your favorite? Feel free to comment your thoughts and be sure to recommend some other movies like the ones listed above, also don’t forget to share this article with your otaku friends.