By [ad_1]
A lot of western animation takes inspiration from anime. Some go even further to add in obvious references or unanticipated easter eggs to reference some of the favorite anime of the cartoon’s creators.
The references these shows commit to can be anything from a small background cameo to a whole episode made in reference to a beloved anime. Here are ten well-known and loved cartoons that pay homage to anime in thoughtful ways.
10 The Amazing World Of Gumball – Dragon Ball, Naruto, Fist Of The North Star, And More
The Amazing World of Gumball is a show that drowns in pop culture references. From anime to video games to memes, this show oozes easter eggs, cameos, and so on. In terms of anime appearances, we have a scene of Gumball going Super Saiyan in the episode “The Pest,” and the episode “The Fury” mentions Nicole’s fighting style being taught to her by two teachers: Hokuto (the name of Kenshiro’s way of fighting in Fist of the North Star) and Konoha (another name for the Hidden Leaf Village in Naruto).
Speaking of “The Fury,” perhaps the most infamous part of that episode is the Dragon Ball styled fight between Nicole and her ex-friend Yuki. This fight was animated with the help of Studio 4°C, a Japanese anime studio that has worked on a lot of other western properties.
9 My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic – Sailor Moon
My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic has a loyal cult following, even to this day. Inquisitive fans of the show will know that it’s no secret that the creators of the show are big fans of Sailor Moon. In fact, the Crystal Empire setting within the show is believed to be based on Sailor Moon’s Crystal Tokyo.
In the Halloween-themed episode “Scare Master,” a pony called Celena can be seen in the background donning a fetching Sailor Moon cosplay. This is only the beginning, as if you pay close enough attention in other episodes, you’ll find a lot of other ponies who were designed to represent the main cast of Sailor Moon.
8 Ben 10 – Naruto
The original premise for Ben 10 already seems full of anime inspiration, with the over-the-top transformation sequences and powerfully designed monsters. While it isn’t sure just how much of a bearing anime had on the plot of the show, it must be true that the creators are at least fans of Naruto.
In the episode “Merry Christmas,” we can see three children who look awfully similar to Konohamaru, Udon, and Moegi, the young tykes from the Hidden Leaf Village who like to cause lots of trouble. These members of Team Ebisu are a sight for sore eyes in a very weird but wonderful cameo.
7 Fairly Odd Parents – Dragon Ball
It’s no secret that the creator of Fairly Odd Parents, Butch Hartman, is a huge anime fan. He regularly posts his own artistic renditions of anime characters on his Twitter and Youtube pages, even taking on commissions from viewers to draw some anime characters in his style.
The most notable reference to anime is the episode “Maho Mushi.” This episode is stuffed to the brim with pop-culture references, the most notable of which is the Dragon Ball fighting sequence between Timmy and Vicky, where Timmy mirrors Goku and Vicky mirrors Piccolo, complete with Kamehamehas galore.
6 Bob’s Burgers – My Neighbor Totoro
Onto a more adult-oriented cartoon with Bob’s Burgers, where the creators express admiration for a beloved Studio Ghibli film. In the episode, “An Indecent Thanksgiving Proposal,” Bob ends up getting drunk and dreaming up an elaborate sequence where his turkey comes to life and dances around like the iconic Totoro from My Neighbor Totoro.
The dream acts similarly to a shot-for-shot remake of an iconic scene from the classic movie, where Totoro uses his powers to dramatically grow seeds into large trees, except in Bob’s Burgers the turkey spawns a huge tower of classic Thanksgiving foods. Truly a funny reference to an amazing coming-of-age film.
5 Codename Kids Next Door – Dragon Ball and Pokémon
Codename Kids Next Door has not been on our screens for a while now, but it stands as a cartoon series close to the hearts of many young adults. As well as featuring a cast of voice actors that have gone on to dub popular anime series, the show pays homage to two particular anime during its six-season run.
One of these references is a Pokémon cameo where one of the agents in the episode “Operation A.R.C.H.I.V.E” is dressed exactly like Ash Ketchum. The more over-the-top reference comes with the episode “Operation R.E.P.O.R.T” where Number 4 goes Super Saiyan in true Dragon Ball Z fashion, in order to defeat The Delightful Children From Down The Lane, who take the guise of a five-headed Frieza. It’s a beautifully executed segment that shows a lot of love for the Frieza-arc of DBZ.
4 Rick & Morty – Akira
A lot of the premises in Rick & Morty take heavy inspiration from anime. This has grown more obvious as the writing room behind the show has expanded and brought in writers with a huge variety of interests. The most recent example being the season finale of the latest season, where Rick goes on a Shonen-style escapade.
The biggest direct reference to anime is to Akira in the episode “Edge of Tomorty: Rick Die Rickpeat.” Morty goes on an Akira-style killing spree using some of Rick’s gadgets, and the whole plot of the episode is reminiscent of Akira, with Morty going somewhat mad and eventually (nearly) being absorbed into a monstrous entity.
3 Regular Show – Neon Genesis Evangelion And Cowboy Bebop
The creators of Regular Show are another crowd who love to pepper in pop culture references, anime included. A lot of references can be seen throughout the show, but the main two anime referenced extensively are Neon Genesis Evangelion and Cowboy Bebop. Some of these references can be slight, like a character at the Halloween party in “Terror Tales of the Park III” being dressed as Spike Spiegel.
The most blatant and dedicated reference comes in the episode “Brilliant Crispy Duck Crisis Special.” The opening of the episode heavily parodies the opening sequence and song used for Neon Genesis Evangelion. To top it off, the episode ends with a parody of the Cowboy Bebop ending credits sequence as well, one that is done so well it borders on being a shot-for-shot remake.
2 The Simpsons – Attack On Titan, Naruto, Astro Boy, And More
The Simpsons has been around for so long, it’s a surprise they haven’t made a reference to every single thing that has ever crossed into the realm of pop culture. Among references to tv, movies, games, and so on, they have also paid homage to a wide range of anime series as well.
This is primarily done through their couch gags and short specials, where the Simpsons family can be seen sporting cosplays of their favorite characters or absorbing their essence as a whole. There are so many series that have been given cameos, such as Attack On Titan, Inuyasha, Astro Boy, Sailor Moon, Pokémon, Naruto, and Spirited Away…just to name a few.
1 Steven Universe – Neon Genesis Evangelion, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Sailor Moon, And More
Steven Universe is another king of pop-culture references, especially regarding anime. It’s widely known that the creator of the show, Rebecca Sugar, loves anime and instills this love into some of her characters. Steven himself has a big love of Sailor Moon, with the manga being seen in the background of some episodes. Beyond those cameos, there are more in-your-face references to anime throughout many episodes.
The episode “Kiki’s Pizza Delivery Service” is probably to most obvious example, as not only is the episode’s name a reference to the Studio Ghibli film Kiki’s Delivery Service, but it also has a part where Steven and Kiki sit before a pizza-landscape reminiscent to the final scene in The End of Evangelion. There are even more references if you look hard enough – too many to count!
About The Author
[ad_2]
