Just Like Us: 10 Celebrities Who Love Anime Just as Much as You Do
There's no debating it, celebrities adore anime just as much as everyone else. In recent years, more and more Hollywood stars have been outspoken about their adoration of the entertainment genre, with some actors and actresses even appearing in anime-related films, like Robert Pattinson's voice acting in The Boy and the Heron or Tom Holland's in The Secret World of Arrietty, for example.
Many of these celebrities have spoken in interviews about their favorite anime series, posted stunning cosplay photographs, and engaged with the world of anime in a variety of ways. These ten individuals specifically are some of the most passionate anime fans around, sharing their love of anime with the world at every opportunity they get.
10
Megan Thee Stallion
Megan Thee Stallion Cosplays, References Anime in Her Songs, and Is Even Creating an Original Anime Series of Her Own
Calling Megan Thee Stallion the biggest anime fan in Hollywood would not be an overstatement in the slightest, because in everything from her fashion choices to her songs themselves, the rapper and songwriter shows off her positive feelings towards anime. Megan Thee Stallion's anime cosplays are unforgettable, and she has represented characters like Gojo Satoru from Jujutsu Kaisen, Trish Una from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, and Shoto Todoroki from My Hero Academia.
Related
Megan Thee Stallion Double Downs On Her Anime Love With New Album
Megan Thee Stallion's latest album is a passionate tribute to her love of anime, blending hip-hop beats with Japanese-inspired sounds and themes.
Megan Thee Stallion's 2024 album, MEGAN, included multiple songs that featured anime references, like the song "Otaku Hot Girl," which references Jujutsu Kaisen and Naruto. Finally, Megan Thee Stallion has even announced her plans to create her own anime series sometime in the near future, with the official statement, "I’m still working on it, but I got caught up on my music. The anime is definitely on the way." Few people, celebrity or otherwise, love anime quite as much as Megan does, and she continually shows off her appreciation for these shows in new ways every day.
9
Michael B. Jordan
Michael B. Jordan Uses Anime as an Inspiration That Influences His Cinematic Projects, Such as Creed III
Michael B. Jordan is best known for his acting work in films like Creed and Black Panther, but apart from his impressive acting career, he is a major anime fan. In an interview with BBC Radio 1, he revealed his top five anime picks: One Piece, Dragon Ball, Naruto, Bleach, and Hunter x Hunter.
Jordan's anime favorites reveal he is a lover of the shonen genre, which has been steadily gaining popularity in recent years. Even more interestingly, anime has actually influenced how Jordan approaches his acting performances. In Creed III, he used anime fights he had witnessed as inspiration for his on-screen battle with Damian Anderson.
8
Zac Efron
Zac Efron Almost Played Light Yagami in a Live-Action Version of Death Note, His Favorite Anime
Zac Efron, who has starred in films including High School Musical, 17 Again, and The Greatest Showman, has a special place in his heart for one anime series specifically: Death Note. Death Note is considered an anime classic and an excellent starter anime for those new to the genre, and Efron himself has expressed how much he enjoys the psychological thriller.
Related
Death Note Is Still Popular Today, But Not For The Reason Fans Think
Despite being almost 20 years old, Death Note is still one the most easily recognizable anime of all time, for one unexpected reason.
There is a live-action film version of Death Note, released in 2017, and according to rumors, Zac Efron was a potential candidate for the role of Light Yagami. Since he is such a fan of the series, and an accomplished actor to boot, Efron likely would have pulled off the difficult role of playing the secretive serial killer Light very well.
7
Keanu Reeves
Keanu Reeves Appreciates Anime So Much That He Is Creating His Own Series
Keanu Reeves is yet another actor who used anime to shape his work, and two of his most famous films, The Matrix and John Wick, benefited from his love of anime. Specifically, Reeves watched Akira and Ghost in the Shell while working on The Matrix, and these series' apocalyptic and science fiction themes were reflected in how he played his character, Neo, in the film.
Reeves is even planning an anime series of his own. The comic book series, BRZRKR, was written by Reeves himself, along with Matt Kindt and Ron Garney, and will appear on Netflix in the form of an anime, bringing Reeves' love of anime full circle.
6
Avril Lavigne
Two Avril Lavigne Songs Appear in the 2012 Anime Movie, One Piece Film Z
Many fans may not realize that Canadian singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne is an anime fan, and one of her favorite anime series is One Piece. Lavigne has complimented One Piece on many occasions, offering kind words to Eiichiro Oda, the mangaka who created the series, and that feeling of admiration for his work is mutual.
Oda also enjoys Avril Lavigne's albums, which include Let Go, Under My Skin, and Love Sux, and their mutual appreciation for each other's work led to one of the most iconic collaborations of the century. The December 2012 movie One Piece Film Z features two songs by Avril Lavigne, "How You Remind Me" and "Bad Reputation," which allowed the star to make an impact on her favorite anime in an unforgettable way.
5
Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio is a Huge Studio Ghibli Fan and Recommended Spirited Away to Martin Scorsese
Most anime watchers frequently recommend their favorite anime series to others, but few people are as enthusiastic about sharing their anime recommendations as the actor, Leonardo DiCaprio is. The Titanic and The Great Gatsby actor has a particular affinity for Hayao Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli movies, and one of his all-time favorites is Spirited Away.
Related
This Studio Ghibli Film Is The Perfect Introduction To Isekai And Here Is Why
As surprising as it is, Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away has all of the core elements of an isekai within a short and emotional story.
In a Letterboxd interview with DiCaprio and director Martin Scorsese, Scorsese mentioned that DiCaprio had been urging him to watch Spirited Away, a 2001 Studio Ghibli film about a young girl named Chihiro who works at a bathhouse for spirits. DiCaprio has also mentioned Ninja Scroll, Akira, and Princess Mononoke as other favorites of his, and he evidently motivates his friends and acquaintances to watch these animes too.
4
Megan Fox
Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly Cosplayed as Light and Ryuk for Halloween
Hollywood actress and model Megan Fox has been an anime fan for quite a while, and she even cosplayed as one of the main characters of one of her favorite anime series: Death Note. Back in 2023, Megan Fox and her then-boyfriend Machine Gun Kelly celebrated Halloween with an iconic duo cosplay.
Megan Fox dressed as Light Yagami, donning a beige blazer, black skirt, white button-up shirt, and Light's recognizable red tie. The star also carried a Death Note journal, just like the one from the anime, and wore a red apple backpack, to represent Light's Shinigami Ryuk's constant craving for apples. Machine Gun Kelly wore a menacing Ryuk cosplay, representing Light's mischievous sidekick.
3
John Cena
John Cena’s Favorite Anime, Fist of the North Star, Is an Underrated Hit
Professional wrestler John Cena may not be who fans expect to be a massive anime fan, but he definitely appreciates the genre. When he appeared on the Whiskey Ginger podcast, John Cena revealed just how deep his love of anime goes, and that he has been watching these series since childhood.
Related
50 Best Anime Series of All Time, Ranked
Anime has exploded in popularity recently, so it's natural to wonder what series in the medium's history rank among the best of the best.
His favorite childhood anime is a lesser-known gem, entitled Fist of the North Star. Fist of the North Star is an anime film from 1986, and it includes a post-apocalyptic storyline, action-packed fights, and martial arts, making it the perfect choice for a wrestler like John Cena to enjoy.
2
Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande Has Multiple Anime-Inspired Tattoos, Based on Spirited Away and Pokémon
Singer-songwriter and actress Ariana Grande does not just watch anime, she takes her passion for the genre one step further. In 2018, Ariana Grande unveiled a brand-new tattoo on her arm, inspired by the Studio Ghibli film, Spirited Away.
The subject of her tattoo is Chihiro, the main character of Spirited Away, who works in the bathhouse and assists the clientele, who all happen to be spirits. Chihiro is not Ariana's only anime tattoo; she also has a tattoo of an Eevee from Pokémon, to show off her love of the Pokémon Go mobile game.
1
Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish Received a Drawing of Herself in an Anime Art Style as a Gift From Hajime Isayama
Billie Eilish's career has taken off in recent years, and the singer-songwriter currently has nine GRAMMY wins and two Oscars to be proud of. When she is taking a break from creating gorgeously crafted albums, Billie Eilish is happy to indulge in some anime, and has vocally praised the anime art style.
Because of her love for anime, Billie Eilish received an incredible gift from one of the most renowned manga artists of all-time, Hajime Isayama. The Attack on Titan mangaka drew an anime version of Billie Eilish and gifted the sketch to the singer-songwriter, and the moment is commemorated in a photograph of Billie Eilish grinning while holding the drawing. The piece of art features Eilish in an anime style, as well as drawings of Eren Yeager, Armin Arlert, and Mikasa Ackerman, three main characters in Attack on Titan, and a Colossal Titan peering over a wall.
