Anime films have become incredibly popular in theaters, but their impact goes beyond just box office numbers. You can see their influence in movies made all over the world, and that’s likely a big reason why these films resonate with viewers globally.
While these films aren’t strictly anime, they have all the things that make anime great. Movies such as Kubo and the Two Strings are perfect for everyone, but anime fans will especially love them.
Into the Spider-Verse Feels Like an Anime Marvel Movie
I remember when Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse came out in late 2018 – it really felt like a turning point for animated movies. It was the first time a lot of people met Miles Morales, and the whole idea of multiple Spider-People teaming up was so fresh. The story, with its big, action-packed fights, reminded me a lot of those classic Japanese anime shows – really dynamic and exciting!
The movie Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was groundbreaking for its unique animation style, blending different art styles for its characters. It heavily drew inspiration from anime, particularly in its action sequences and visual effects. This innovative approach has since influenced other popular animated films, including Puss In Boots: The Last Wish and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.
Transformers One Was an Anime-Esque Hero’s Journey
I’m so excited about Transformers One! It’s the first fully animated Transformers movie we’ve gotten in ages, and it takes us right back to the beginning – the very first sparks of the war between the Autobots and Decepticons. We get to see Orion Pax and D-16, just two regular energon miners, uncover the shocking truth about how the Quintessons invaded Cybertron. But, because they see things so differently, it sets them on a path to becoming rivals – Optimus Prime and Megatron! It’s an amazing origin story.
The 2024 animated Transformers One movie drew inspiration from various versions of the Transformers story and even collaborated with the renowned anime studio Trigger for promotional artwork. While the movie’s designs and art style were a bit different, they blended elements of traditional Western animation with influences from Japanese anime.
Kubo and the Two Strings Still Slaps Nearly a Decade Later
Released in 2016, Kubo and the Two Strings quickly became a beloved animated film and helped establish Laika as a major animation studio. The movie takes place in ancient Japan and follows Kubo, who uses a magical instrument to overcome his wicked aunts. He’s joined by a monkey and a beetle-like warrior as they uncover the mystery surrounding Kubo’s lost eye.
Kubo is similar to shows like Inuyasha, offering a family-friendly adventure set in historical Japan. While it’s not actually an anime, the movie deeply respects Japanese culture and was inspired by the work of anime master Hayao Miyazaki, particularly films like Kiki’s Delivery Service. You can see a lot of the same spirit and style in Kubo.
The Last Unicorn Is Almost an Anime
Originally released in 1982, The Last Unicorn is now considered a classic animated film, though it wasn’t successful at the box office when it first came out. The movie is based on a book by Peter S. Beagle, who also wrote the screenplay, and it remains one of the most famous productions from the Rankin-Bass studio, alongside their other adaptations.
Though Rankin-Bass is widely known for the film, The Last Unicorn was actually animated by the Japanese studio Topcraft. Led by a former Toei Animation employee, some might even consider it an early example of anime. Its art style is reminiscent of classic anime from the 1970s.
Big 6 Hero Reimagined Some of Marvel’s Most Obscure Heroes
I’m a huge fan of how Disney’s Big Hero 6 surprised everyone! It’s one of the most unique ‘Marvel’ films we’ve seen in ages, and a lot of people don’t even know it’s based on a Marvel comic! They took this really obscure team from the comics, completely reimagined the characters and the whole setting, and gave it this amazing anime-inspired look. It was a total transformation, and honestly, it worked brilliantly!
Big Hero 6 clearly drew a lot of inspiration from anime, and it paved the way for films like Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse in that respect. The movie’s setting, a blend of Japan and San Francisco, also reflects this influence. Big Hero 6 successfully combines Western superhero elements with anime style, making it a great choice for both Disney fans and anime lovers, especially those who enjoy shows like My Hero Academia.
Aachi & Ssipak Is One of the Best Korean Animated Movies
South Korean and Japanese entertainment often overlap, particularly when adapted from Korean stories and webcomics. A uniquely strange South Korean animated film, Aachi & Ssipak, was intentionally shocking and surprisingly well-made.
The show has a bizarre and unusual art style, reminiscent of a distorted version of the old Nickelodeon cartoon Rocket Power. It’s set in a grim future where two homeless men make money by selling illegal popsicles, capitalizing on a world where human waste is turned into fuel.
You really have to see Aachi & Ssipak to understand how strange and over-the-top it is – from the bizarre character designs to the completely wild plot. The action is reminiscent of anime, and it’s so unique that you might not be able to guess where it comes from. It fearlessly mixes different styles and cultures, and if you’re looking for a ridiculously over-the-top and crude action movie, you definitely won’t be disappointed.
The Transformers: The Movie Was G1 at Its Best
The Transformers: The Movie marked the end of the original Generation 1 series and brought a cinematic boost to the franchise. Created with help from Sunbow Entertainment and the renowned Japanese animation studio Toei Animation, the movie featured significantly improved visuals compared to the TV series. It introduced the powerful villain Unicron and concluded with Rodimus Prime taking over as leader of the Autobots.
Resembling anime more than typical American cartoons of the time – similar to Robotech – The Transformers: The Movie established many of the key ideas that would continue throughout the franchise. It surprised audiences by killing off beloved characters and setting the story on a new path. Despite – or perhaps because of – its shocking moments, the film became a beloved cult classic, exceeding expectations and captivating fans.
G.I. Joe: The Movie Featured the Scaly Skin of an Anime
Similar to the Transformers movie, the G.I. Joe cartoon series also ended with a feature film. G.I. Joe: The Movie introduced new team members and gave Cobra Commander a surprising backstory connected to a futuristic, fantasy world called Cobra-La, which proved to be quite controversial with fans.
The movie went through many changes during production, and at one point, the character Duke was almost killed off. However, after fans reacted strongly to the death of Optimus Prime in The Transformers: The Movie, the filmmakers changed their minds at the last minute. While G.I. Joe: The Movie had some controversial storylines, many fans consider its opening sequence to be the best part of the entire franchise.
The intro to this G.I. Joe series was a stunning, anime-style fight between the G.I. Joe team and Cobra, a dangerous group trying to take over the world. While it’s rare to find now, its unique, Eastern-inspired animation style paved the way for the later series, G.I. Joe: Sigma 6.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Went Even Further Than Its Predecessor
A standout superhero film of 2023, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, really expanded on the idea of the multiverse with even more versions of Spider-Man and a wider range of visual styles. This sequel was much more adventurous with its animation, featuring looks inspired by the old Fleischer Superman cartoons from the Great Depression, Lego sets, and the classic 1960s Spider-Man animated series.
The introduction of Spider-Man 2099, also known as Miguel O’Hara, felt like a classic anime plot twist, similar to characters like Sasuke from Naruto. Despite the third movie still being some time off, fans really enjoyed Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and thought it was even better than the already excellent first film.
The CGI Astro Boy Movie Modernized an Anime Legend
The 2009 CGI film Astro Boy was one of the earliest successful Hollywood adaptations of anime. It skillfully updated the classic story for a global audience while remaining respectful of the original. Even the computer animation stayed true to the overall visual style, particularly the design of Astro Boy himself.
When it first came out, opinions were divided, but now it’s considered a significant improvement over earlier anime adaptations like the 2009 Dragonball Evolution film or the previous live-action Fist of the North Star. Interestingly, despite being based on Japanese material, it isn’t actually an anime itself, but it does come from Asia.
Imagi Animation Studios, a company from Hong Kong, created the movie Astro Boy. Although the film didn’t do well financially and led to the studio’s closure, it was widely considered the best anime adaptation from another country released that year.
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2026-04-19 00:56