Celebrities You Didn’t Know Watch Anime
Have you ever stopped to wonder whether your favorite celebrities watch anime like you? Have you ever questioned which movie stars, athletes, and musicians are just as nerdy as the rest of us about animated Japanese television? Well then, you’ve come to the right place!
For a lot of us, watching anime was something we did secretly at home because we were teased about it growing up. But for these celebrities, anime is a big part of what inspired them and what keeps their creative juices flowing! Here is our list of the top twelve celebrities that you didn’t realize watch anime!
1. Adelaide Kane
For all my “Reign” watchers – and everyone who was super depressed when it ended – you’ll be happy to know that this Mary, Queen of Scots actress loves to watch anime! Kane’s TikTok is full of relatable videos about life as an anime enthusiast, and you’ll have a great time watching her Ouran impressions!
Her video about quarantine clothes – including a full neon green, tie-dye Kagome (from “Inuyasha”) sweatsuit – is so relatable to any anime otaku who has watched their anime-themed clothing grow during the pandemic. Just like her, I want to know: do we have to go back to the way we dressed before quarantine? My anime t-shirt collection says no.
2. Ariana Grande
A gorgeous pop star who likes to watch anime? Yes, please! This “Thank You, Next” singer recently got a tattoo of Chihiro from Miyazaki’s “Spirited Away,” stating that her love for the characters stems from her growth during the film as she evolves from “an easily-scared girl with a child-like personality to match her age to a hard-working, responsible and brave young girl who has learned to put her fears aside for those she cares for.”
Grande also has a tattoo of Eevee from “Pokémon,” which she got in 2019. She’s a big fan of playing Pokémon: Let’s Go Eevee!, and once played it for 15 hours in a row!
3. Michael B. Jordan
Another famous celeb who likes to watch anime, this “Creed” and “Black Panther” star is a big fan of “Naruto” and “Dragon Ball Z.” Jordan has even gone so far as to say he styled his character in the Marvel movie after Vegeta from DBZ!
Jordan also worked with Coach to launch a collection inspired by “Naruto: Shippuden.” If you didn’t already have enough anime-themed clothes, now you know where to look next!
4. Bill Nighy
This “Love, Actually” and “Pirates of the Caribbean” actor said he started to watch anime to get into his part for “Detective Pikachu”! While studying up on the world of Pokémon for his part, Nighy found out he was a big fan of the anime.
Nighy has also admitted that he has a large collection of vintage Pokémon art. And, for anyone wondering, his favorite Pokémon is Mew!
5. Elon Musk
This entrepreneur and certified genius is also a certified celebrity who loves to watch anime! Musk has taken to Twitter on multiple occasions to discuss his love for anime, including when he shared the trailer for the anime “Your Name.”
Musk has also donned the anime-profile-picture cap when he changed his icon to a photo of Edward Elric from “Fullmetal Alchemist,” leaving fans to jokingly wonder if he were trying to find the truth to human transmutation.
6. Robin Williams
This late comedian and actor was a big fan of anime during his life and revealed in 2013 that he loved to watch anime. His favorites included “Ghost in the Shell,” “Akira,” and “Cowboy Bebop.” His family has also come out to discuss his love of anime, noting that his collection of figurines filled entire storage boxes!
7. Ronda Rousey
Ever wanted to know if athletes watch anime, too? Well, this UFC Champion says yes! Rousey has been loud and proud about her love for anime, stating that “Pokémon” and “Dragon Ball Z” are two of her favorites!
Not only has Rousey dressed up as Pikachu before, but she has also stated that Vegeta was one of her first cartoon crushes! And I mean, really – who can blame her?
8. John Boyega
This “Star Wars” star is also a celeb that likes to watch anime during his off time and has spoken up about anime as an art form on multiple occasions. Crunchyroll, a popular anime streaming site, even went so far as to create art of Boyega in the style of animes like “Gundam Wing.”
Some of Boyega’s favorite series include “Attack on Titan,” “Naruto,” “Bleach,” “Seven Deadly Sins,” and “Hunter x Hunter”!
9. Megan Fox
This actress and beauty is very vocal about how she likes to watch anime, stating that “Sailor Moon” was one of her favorite shows growing up. She has also said that she’d love to see a film version of the series. Me too, Megan. Me too.
The “Transformers” star has also talked about her love for other animes, such as “Inuyasha” and “Cowboy Bebop.”
10. Hayley Williams
This “Paramore” front-woman has been super open about how she loves to watch anime, listing off “Blood- the Last Vampire,” “Digimon,” and “Death Note” as some of her favorites. Williams went even further in her love for anime by cosplaying onstage as a character from “Blood – the Last Vampire” during one of Paramore’s tours.
11. Will Smith
This “Fresh Prince” has also been super open about his love for anime. This talented actor – known for his work in “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “Seven Pounds,” and the “Men in Black” franchise – has said that some of his favorite animes are the Miyazaki films, “Gatchaman,” and “Lupine III.”
And the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree! Will Smith’s son, Jaden Smith, lent his voice as the lead character in Netflix’s “Neo Yokio.” The six-episode show also featured seasoned actors like Susan Surandon, Jude Law, and Steve Buscemi.
12. Kanye West
The “Gold Digger” and “Stronger” rapper is a big fan of anime, most notably the anime “Akira.” He has spoken up on multiple occasions about how the anime was a major source of inspiration for him, and actually modeled a lot of the action and set design of the music video for his song “Stronger” after “Akira”!
