Anime has been around almost as long as Hollywood, so it's no surprise the mediums frequently pull inspiration from each other. From action-packed storylines to larger-than-life personalities, it's easy to speculate if the latest big-budget blockbusters from the West pulled cues from the East.
What makes a Hollywood movie anime-like is memorable designs, campy dialogue, and strong character stories at every level. Through these aspects, a movie can be an original concept that is still a love letter to the unique adventures only found in anime. As such, some Hollywood movies would pique the interest of viewers who watch anime exclusively.
10 R.I.P.D. (2013)
For Fans Of: Yu Yu Hakusho, Bleach, Buso Renkin
The premise of R.I.P.D. is familiar to many anime fans: the main character, played by Ryan Reynolds, dies and is enlisted into a secret after-life society where he exacts justice on other deceased people who have escaped judgment. He's paired up with a veteran on the force, played by Jeff Bridges, and together they take on grotesque monsters and dastardly villains.
If R.I.P.D. feels like an anime, it's probably because it's based on a comic book of the same name released in 1999. The writer, Peter M. Lenkov, has no readily apparent ties to anime, so it's possible the premise for R.I.P.D. is simply an enduring archetype of storytelling.
9 Guns Akimbo (2019)
For Fans Of: Chainsaw Man, Dorohedoro, Deadman Wonderland
Guns Akimbo is a whacky ride from start to finish, which makes it feel just like a whacky anime. Daniel Radcliffe leads the movie as an ordinary guy who gets guns bolted to his hands. As a stylized action movie, the characters, premise, and visuals are placed in a dystopian near-future setting that tactfully pulls on the suspenders of disbelief.
The director of Guns Akimbo, Jason Lei Howden, hasn't explicitly cited any anime influences for the film, but he's not too far removed from similarly geeky titles. He's a seasoned comic writer and served as a visual effects artist on notable titles like The Hobbit (2012) and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021).
8 Sucker Punch (2011)
For Fans Of: Black Rock Shooter, Madoka Magica, Paranoia Agent
Sucker Punch was Zack Snyder's first film based on an original concept, and it's easy to see some callbacks to anime. Sucker Punch is a gritty Alice in Wonderland meets steampunk Call of Duty. It's led by a female-centric cast that includes Emily Browning, Vanessa Hudgens, and Carla Gugino. Most obviously anime-inspired, the main character Babydoll wears a sailor-style school uniform similar to plenty of anime heroines.
Sucker Punch seems to have scenes inspired by the anime film Appleseed Ex Machina (2007), but this hasn't been confirmed. While Zack Snyder reads comics as a major inspiration for his films, it was ambiguous up until 2021 if he actually watches anime.
7 Gunpowder Milkshake (2021)
For Fans Of: Trigun, Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Love of Kill
Gunpowder Milkshake was brought to screens, and it truly felt like viewers were watching a live-action anime. Being hailed as a feminine John Wick, the colorful ensemble cast and reluctant protagonist go on a neon-lit rampage through an underground assassin network.
Gunpowder Milkshake looks like a gritty shojo, rife with found-family tropes held up against a backdrop of an action thriller. One standout aspect of the movie is the costumes, which are equal parts fashionable and cosplay-friendly. The designer, Louise Frogley, has worked on other notable big-budget films, such as Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) and Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), showing she's not afraid to translate drawings into real life.
6 Bullet Train (2022)
For Fans Of: Lupin III: Part V, Baccano!, Durarara!!
Bullet Train is relatively on the nose with how much it references anime. This could be because it was based on the Hitman novel trilogy by Japanese author Kotaro Isaka. Some of the characters in the original novel are even incorporated into a spin-off manga titled Waltz.
Heavy-handed enmeshment of Japanese aesthetic aside, the action of Bullet Train, humorous dialogue, and detailed designs for the supporting characters make this movie feel like an anime. The story weaves a "whodunit" into a latticework of heist, revenge, and dark comedy-style stories while being set on a moving train.
5 The Saw Series (2004 - Ongoing)
For Fans Of: Danganronpa, Higurashi: When They Cry, Corpse Party
The Saw franchise is a long-running slasher series with over-the-top gore frequently seen in anime. Any anime fan who loves gratuitous blood and guts will also appreciate these particular works by James Wan. Jigsaw, the mastermind behind all the torture seen in the films, is just as wicked as some of the cruelest anime villains.
James Wan hasn't specifically cited any anime influences for Saw but is a fan of the medium. With plenty of his other projects being just as otherworldly, it's possible to find aspects of both Italian horror films and animated violence in his movies.
4 Pacific Rim (2013)
For Fans Of: Gurren Lagann, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Mobile Suit Gundam Wing
Pacific Rim is explicitly inspired by anime, according to a Reddit AMA from director Guillermo del Toro. From giant robots, monstrous beasts, and high stakes for humanity, it has everything that makes anime such an entertaining spectacle. Some original ideas in the movie could fit right at home in an anime, such as using a freight ship for a weapon.
Another aspect that makes Pacific Rim so appealing to anime viewers is the strong personalities of every character - even the ones in the background. With a charismatic cast led by Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba, and Rinko Kikuchi, it's incredibly easy to love the heroes of the story. The world is further fleshed out by the supporting cast of Charlie Day, Burn Gorman, and Ron Perlman. Even further, the tertiary characters, such as the other pilot teams, create a deeply immersive world.
3 Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003) and Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004)
For Fans Of: Samurai Champloo, Afro Samurai, Black Lagoon
The Kill Bill duology is one of Quentin Tarantino's standout works due to its bright colors, creative editing, and varied mediums. As an unashamed anime fan, Tarantino sought out the animation studio for Ghost In The Shell and Blood: The Last Vampire to do the animated background story of Lucy Liu's character O-Ren Ishii.
With a style akin to scrapbooking, Tarantino loaded plenty of references to anime and other Japanese movies into the Kill Bill series. Some of these titles include the adult anime film Kite (1998), Battle Royale (2000), and Lady Snowblood (1973). With strong character designs, memorable quips, and a varied soundtrack, it's an entertaining movie, no matter the viewer's usual fare.
2 Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010)
For Fans Of: The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Angel Beats!, KonoSuba
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World was a cultural reset when it was released, partly because of its heavy-handed references to anime. The movie is based on a comic series by Bryan Lee O'Malley, who explicitly states part of the inspiration came from manga like Nana and Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad.
The director of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Edgar Wright, also paid homage to anime in his vision for the movie. A subtle choice was avoiding having the actors blink too much, as it's something commonly missing from animation. Also, the film's villain, Gideon, performs hand seals from Naruto to summon his weapon.
1 Turning Red (2022)
For Fans Of: Nichijou, Azumanga Daioh, Fruits Basket
Yes, Turning Red is an animated film, but it's an endearing love letter to anime. Director Domee Shi hasn't been shy about the fact either. In various interviews, Shi has called back to well-known titles such as Sailor Moon, Ranma 1/2, and My Neighbor Totoro.
Ultimately what makes Turning Red so anime-like is the threads of mysticism woven with the shojo trope of 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 fine details such as exaggerated lighting and power beams, it's easy for someone to love this movie if they grew up on 90s anime.