10 best anime inspired by American franchises

Something beautiful often comes when Japanese artistry mixes with Western culture. Here, we have listed the 10 best anime that are inspired by some renowned American franchises.

Gone are the days when anime was compared to cartoons. Over time, several series like Naruto, Dragon Ball, and Attack on Titan have taken the industry to great heights. With each passing day, we keep on getting new anime shows/films, be they original ones or adaptations of popular graphic novels.

The Japanese industry has also been influenced by the West to a great extent, so there are a few anime that take inspiration from popular American media franchises.

This post discusses anime series based on the superhero universes of DC, Marvel, and the American cartoons that made our childhood remarkable.

1. Ultraviolet: Code 004

IMDb

Ultraviolet: Code 004 is a Japanese reimagination of the American sci-fi film Ultraviolet, released in 2006. Due to a failed project in an illegal laboratory in the US, half of the population contracts a vampire-like disease. People start behaving like blood-sucking creatures as their DNA gets infected by the deadly virus.

While the anime plays around the same concept, it chooses a different path. In the live-action version, Violet, a super soldier, is chosen to beat the crap out of every ‘hemophage’. However, the anime features 044, who becomes the strongest female warrior of humanity when her DNA is altered with the hemophageous virus.

2. Supernatural: The Animation

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Who isn’t familiar with the American supernatural series featuring two brothers, Dean and Sam, fighting the horrors that haunt humanity? From werewolves to vampires, the brothers deal with everything. Warner Bros. Japan announced the anime adaptation of the popular series in 2010, and it finally arrived on the screens in 2011.

Supernatural: The Animation has one season of 22 episodes that cover the first two seasons of the live-action and several original elements. Unlike the source material, the anime version sheds some light on the childhood of the main protagonist while also focusing on the supporting characters. Interestingly, the English dubbed version sees Sam getting voiced by the one who played him originally, i.e., Jared Padalecki. On the other hand, Jensen Ackles voices Dean in the last two episodes of the English dub.

3. Powerpuff Girls Z

Toei Animation

Originally produced by Cartoon Network Studios, the American television show was adapted into an anime to celebrate the critically acclaimed Toei Animation’s 50th anniversary. The anime version of the series titled Powerpuff Girls Z was produced collaboratively by Toei, Aniplex, and Tokyo TV.

The anime is not an exact copy of the American cartoon. The Japanese version’s narrative sees Professor Utonium and his son creating Chemical Z accidentally out of Chemical X. While protecting the city from a disaster, Ken uses the chemical, and that’s when the three ordinary girls, Blossom, Buttercup, and Bubbles, become the superheroines known as the Powerpuff girls.

4. Batman: Gotham Knight

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Batman: Gotham Knight is a collection of six standalone films that takes inspiration from DC Comics’ highest-grossing franchise, Batman. The intriguing set of films involves various prestigious animation studios, including Madhouse, Production I.G, and Bee Train.

The narrative revolves around four friends who share their perspectives on Batman. Even though the anime is based on the events between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, the producers revealed that the films are not necessarily replicas of the source material.

5. Ben 10: Kakusei

IMDb

Here’s another anime that’s based on an American Cartoon Network television show. If you are a fan of Solo Leveling anime and Sword Art Online, you must watch Ben 10: Kakusei, as it has been co-produced by A-1 Pictures. Ben 10 is one of the most popular and longest-running American media franchises that has blessed the community with four films and four series.

The story follows a boy named Ben, who mysteriously transforms into an alien after wearing a high-tech watch, Omnitrix. However, he doesn’t misuse the newly found powers; instead, he uses them to fight against the alien threats on humankind. In this battle, he is accompanied by his grandfather and cousin, Gwen.

6. Marvel Anime

Madhouse

Marvel Anime is the Japanese reimagination of our beloved heroes, Iron-Man, Blade, Wolverine, and X-Men. It is a set of four series consisting of 12 episodes that were produced by Sony Pictures Japan and Madhouse. The Marvel universe has entertained the global fanbase for decades, so the former president of Madhouse decided to reimagine these superheroes specifically for Japanese viewers.

The series gives an equal share of importance to each hero. However, Wolverine gets more screen time, as besides appearing in his standalone episodes, he is also seen in guest appearances in the episodes featuring Blade and Iron Man in the lead roles.

7. Rick and Morty: The Anime

Adult Swim

Rick and Morty: The Anime, based on Adult Swim’s American sitcom television series, is expected to release sometime in 2024. The Emmy Award winner series follows a mad scientist named Rick and his grandson Morty, who go on interesting yet challenging adventures together.

Despite getting the inspiration from Adult Swim’s most popular series, Rick and Morty: The Anime will consist of five original episodes featuring new stories that aren’t heard or seen before. Adding to the curiosity, the voice actors who worked on the original series’ Japanese version will reprise their roles in the upcoming project.

8. Witchblade

IMDb

Unlike the other entries on the list, Witchblade does not follow in the footsteps of any Western show/film. In fact, it is an anime adaptation of the American comic book of the same name. The 24-episodic series revolves around a helpless woman named Masane who lost all her memories after getting stuck in a disaster.

All she remembers is a baby that was found near her in the accident. She lives a peaceful life with her daughter without knowing that she has a powerful bracelet called Witchblade. The accessory on her wrist brings her on the government’s radar and a group of influential personnel.

9. Mutant Turtles: Superman Legend

IMDb

Ninja Turtles have been around to entertain audiences worldwide for years. However, not many would be familiar with a two-episodic Japanese OVA based on the franchise that was released in 1996. The anime was brought into existence to promote a line of toys.

In 1995, a manga based on super turtles was published, and the OVA was based on it. However, the OVA also came with its share of standalone stories compressed into two impeccable episodes.

10. Highlander: The Search for Vengeance

IMDb

Based on the popular Highlander franchise, the spin-off series came to every fan’s attention because of its dark tone. Similar to the majority of anime on this list, Highlander: The Search of Vengeance also sees the involvement of the powerhouse animation studio, Madhouse.

The plot revolves around an immortal being, Colin, who comes back to life to avenge the death of his beloved wife by another powerful immortal, Marcus Octavius.