Anime today is no longer a niche subculture. Still, it is all about colourful storytelling, iconic characters, and emotional depth have long been revered by fans worldwide, including among the Hollywood elite.

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These celebrities have long been able to showcase their anime as a universal passion, ranging from discussing their favourite shows in interviews to participating in anime-inspired projects. These stars are not only looking up to anime from the sidelines but also participating, learning and contributing to its international reach. Through music, movies, tattoos or whatever, partnerships for that matter, these celebrities show that anime’s appeal goes beyond genres, borders and industries.

From Hollywood productions to the anime festivals of Tokyo, the common appreciation for this art form of storytelling keeps forging unintended bridges, and these 10 stars are at the forefront. Below are 10 celebrities who show their love for anime.

List of Hollywood celebrities who are anime lovers

Celebrity

Anime Connection

Favourite/Featured Anime

Megan Thee Stallion

Cosplays, music references, creating her own anime series

Naruto, Jujutsu Kaisen, My Hero Academia

Michael B. Jordan

Inspired Creed III fights from anime

One Piece, Dragon Ball, Naruto

Zac Efron

Big fan, almost played Light in live-action

Death Note

Keanu Reeves

Making Netflix anime from his comic BRZRKR

Akira, Ghost in the Shell

Avril Lavigne

Songs featured in anime film

One Piece

Leonardo DiCaprio

Recommends anime to Hollywood peers

Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke

Megan Fox

Cosplayed Death Note characters

Death Note

John Cena

Longtime fan since childhood

Fist of the North Star

Ariana Grande

Anime-inspired tattoos

Spirited Away, Pokémon

Billie Eilish

Gifted anime portrait by Attack on Titan creator

Attack on Titan

Celebrities who are obsessed with anime

Megan Thee Stallion

Megan Thee Stallion is more than just a fan—she’s an anime culture enthusiast. The rapper has made a name for herself for being able to elegantly merge anime culture with her creativity and often cosplays well-known characters such as Gojo Satoru (Jujutsu Kaisen), Trish Una (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure), and Shoto Todoroki (My Hero Academia).

In 2024, she upped the ante on her fandom with her album MEGAN, including songs like “Otaku Hot Girl” that name-check anime shows like Naruto and Jujutsu Kaisen. But Megan’s not done yet—she’s also producing an original anime series of her own, showing she’s a creator, not just a fan, in the genre.

Michael B. Jordan

Michael B. Jordan’s anime enthusiasm goes beyond a passing interest—it influences his craft. The Creed and Black Panther actor has publicly named his favorite anime series: One Piece, Naruto, Bleach, Dragon Ball, and Hunter x Hunter, all timeless shonen staples.

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What makes Jordan stand out is the way he incorporates anime influence in his work. When directing Creed III, he confessed to having choreographed fight scenes from dramatic anime fight scenes, thereby producing emotionally charged confrontations that mirror the power and intensity of shows he watched while growing up.

Zac Efron

Zac Efron himself has frequently expressed great admiration for Death Note, which is considered one of the greatest psychological thrillers in anime.

Best known for his High School Musical and The Greatest Showman performances, Efron once nearly played Light Yagami in the 2017 live-action film adaptation of Death Note.

Although the job ultimately went to another, that his name was mentioned as a candidate indicated how much he identified with the show. Fans think that his charisma and intensity would have made him an appropriate choice for the morally ambiguous lead.

Keanu Reeves

Keanu Reeves’ relationship with anime is deep-seated, particularly when it comes to sci-fi. During the production of The Matrix, Reeves sat through genre-defining films such as Akira and Ghost in the Shell, both of which influenced the cyberpunk look and intellectual depth of the franchise.

Now Reeves is returning the favor by adapting his comic book BRZRKR into an anime series for Netflix. Written by Reeves along with others, the show is a full-circle production, echoing how anime has impacted his career and imagination.

Avril Lavigne

Canadian pop singer Avril Lavigne has been a One Piece fan for years, and her love for the show translated into an official partnership in 2012. Two of her chart-topping singles—”How You Remind Me” and “Bad Reputation”—were incorporated into One Piece Film Z.

Lavigne has also admired series creator Eiichiro Oda, and the sentiment is reciprocated; Oda himself has had high praise for her music. Their cross-cultural pairing is one of the more interesting overlapings of Western pop music and anime storytelling.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio is not afraid to express his affection for Studio Ghibli movies. Specifically, he loves Spirited Away so much that he keeps recommending it to friends and co-workers, even director Martin Scorsese.

Aside from Spirited Away, DiCaprio has also cited Princess Mononoke, Akira, and Ninja Scroll as among his favourites. His appreciation for the emotional richness and narrative depth of anime reflects how the art form bridges cultural barriers—even at the height of Hollywood.

Megan Fox

Megan Fox has also spoken out about her admiration for Death Note, and in 2023, she turned her fanhood into reality with a Halloween cosplay that will be remembered. She went as Light Yagami, while Machine Gun Kelly dressed up as Ryuk, with the pair turning heads with their anime-inspired looks.

From the intricate red tie and Death Note notebook to the apple backpack with symbolism, Fox’s performance was a gesture of love to the anime she loves so much.

Her love of anime, especially psychological thrillers, matches her edgy and fearless public image.

John Cena

John Cena, the wrestling legend and actor, is a longtime anime fan. On the Whiskey Ginger podcast, Cena revealed his childhood favorite—Fist of the North Star, a post-apocalyptic martial arts anime known for its intense action and iconic catchphrase, “You’re already dead.”

Cena’s journey into anime is a perfect fit for his larger-than-life personality and history in fighting sports.

His selection of an underappreciated gem also demonstrates that he’s not just a casual fan—he enjoys the dynamic history behind the genre.

Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande doesn’t merely watch anime—she commemorates it for life. She got tattooed with Chihiro from Spirited Away on her arm in 2018, solidifying her affection for Studio Ghibli. She also has an Eevee tattoo, paying homage to her affection for the Pokémon series and the Pokémon Go game.

Grande’s anime tattoos are intimate and public declarations of fandom, demonstrating how much these stories speak to her. Her affection for fantastical, emotionally charged narratives is reminiscent of the themes she tends to investigate in her own music.

Billie Eilish

Few musicians have had their anime affection returned in kind from a legend within the genre. Billie Eilish was given a hand-drawn anime-style portrait of herself by Attack on Titan creator Hajime Isayama. The portrait shows Eilish with characters such as Eren Yeager and Mikasa, and features an ominous Colossal Titan in the background.

Eilish has praised anime’s visuals and emotional storytelling fondly. To receive such a gift from the industry giant speaks volumes about her influence—not as a fan, but as one who inspires anime creators with reciprocity.

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