In recent years, anime has become a beloved form of entertainment worldwide, attracting fans of all ages and backgrounds. Even celebrities have joined the anime fandom, publicly expressing their love for the genre. From A-list Hollywood celebrities, pop stars, and prominent athletes, to movie directors, they all love this genre.
Some of these celebrities expressed their love by collaborating and creating anime-inspired projects. Their adaptation and participation have further increased genre awareness as it’s gradually becoming mainstream and attracting new fans, establishing that anime entertainment is not limited to a specific age bracket, culture, or social status. Anime has soon become one of their favorite genres — capturing their hearts and sending its waves throughout the internet.
9 Elon Musk
The founder of Tesla and SpaceX, Elon Musk is prominent for his ideology and passion for science and technology fiction. But beyond that, he is an anime fan and quite open about it on Twitter. Elon has revealed that he loves watching anime and also recommended some to his followers. He even tweeted about creating an anime-inspired robot once.
Elon’s love for anime is not startling, considering his stake in advanced technology and the possibility of AI. Elon Musk seems to highly regard the creativity and invention that anime offers. As such, his admiration for anime has added more chips to his already diverse public personality.
8 Ariana Grande
The award-winning, chart-topping hits maker is not only known for her vocal prowess but also her undying love for anime. Grande has once shown off her remarkable collection of anime figurines on social media. In addition to being a fan of the genre, Grande has taken her love for anime one step further by getting a tattoo of Chihiro, the protagonist from the beloved anime film Spirited Away.
The tattoo, which is located on Ariana Grande’s upper arm, is a depiction of Chihiro drawing with her signature hairband. Ariana Grande revealed that the tattoo symbolizes her love for the movie and its underlying themes–courage, adventure, and self-discovery. Grande’s bold move has helped popularize the genre among her audience.
7 Megan Fox
Megan Fox is open about her adoration for anime and its influence on her life and career. Fox also revealed that she grew up watching anime and considers it a form of escapism that allows her to explore different worlds and characters. She has also expressed admiration for the artistry and storytelling in anime.
She cited Akira and Ninja Scroll as some of her favorite titles. Her love for anime goes without saying as she adopts it in her works. She featured in the live-action adaptation of Transformers and has also done the voiceover for a character in the anime-inspired series Robot Chicken. Her passion for anime is unmatched.
6 Robin Williams
Aside from being a stellar comedian, the late Robin Williams was a die-hard animation fan. He opened up about his love for the genre citing Evangelion, Akira, Cowboy Bebop, and Ghost in the Shell as some of his favorite titles. Williams appreciated anime’s unique storytelling style and its ability to address complex themes and ideas.
His love for anime even extended to his work, as he lent his voice to the English dub of the Studio Ghibli film Howl’s Moving Castle. Williams’ appreciation for anime helped to further legitimize the genre in Hollywood and introduced it to a wider audience. His legacy as an anime fan lives on, inspiring future generations to explore the captivating world of Japanese animation.
5 Kanye West
Anime has become increasingly popular among celebrities in recent years, and Kanye West is no exception. He expressed his love for the craft by drawing inspiration from it for his craft. His fashion line — Yeezy, has showcased several anime-inspired creations and designs, and he also worked together with prominent anime artist Takashi Murakami.
Kanye West didn’t stop at designs, as he sampled anime soundtracks in his songs while paying homage to the genre in music videos. Kanye West is elevating anime status in popular culture even as he explores it. He encourages his fans to explore an array of creative possibilities.
4 John Cena
John Cena once mentioned that anime movies helped him deal with the anxiety and pressure of his career. His love started when he discovered Dragon Ball Z in the late 1990s and has continued to grow to date. He couldn’t stop after the first one and commenced watching other anime series such as Naruto, One Piece, and Bleach. He didn’t stop there; he now collects anime memorabilia ranging from action figures, and posters, to DVDs.
He became an active participant in the anime community and has graced several anime conventions over the years, where he met with some fans and took part in panels. In 2016, John Cena was invited as a guest of honor to the Anime Expo, one of the biggest anime conventions in North America where he spoke about his appreciation for anime.
3 Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg’s love for anime started when he was a child as he grew up watching shows like Speed Racer and Gigantor. The love waxed stronger as he grew older and he became a fan of series like Dragon Ball Z and Naruto. Snoop Dogg loves its distinctive storytelling and unique way of conveying potent messages through vibrant visuals.
He released a music video for his song Let the Bass Go in 2013 and featured anime-style animation while paying homage to classic anime tropes. He was also featured as an anime character, battling monsters and robots in the music video. Anime also influenced his fashion sense. In 2017, he collaborated with Japanese streetwear and featured bold graphics and bright colors, reminiscent of classic anime aesthetics.
2 Sasha Banks
Sasha, whose real name is Mercedes Varnado, is a big fan of anime. She has mentioned that she grew up watching anime and has always been drawn to its storytelling and art style. She has incorporated anime-inspired elements into her wrestling gear, such as her colorful hair and vibrant outfits. Sasha has also cosplayed as anime characters at events like San Diego Comic-Con.
She revealed that Sailor Moon is her favorite show and has seen other thrilling series such as Hunter x Hunter. Overall, Sasha Banks’ love for anime is another example of how the genre has a diverse and widespread fan base, crossing over into different industries and art forms.
1 Keanu Reeves
A lot of celebrities love Akira and Ghost in the Shell, and Keanu Reeves is no different. He disclosed that he loves the blend of vivid imagery and powerful themes to convey the message, but it doesn’t stop there. He voiced the character of Duke Caboom in the film Toy Story 4 in 2019, featuring the elements of anime in all of its glory.
There was also speculation that he was a part of the Cowboy Beboplive-action adaptation production. He was set to star in the Sunrise Animation adaptation as Spike Spiegel. But he was unable to because the movie fell apart as a result of budget constraints.