Anime always brings life to fictional characters. However, sometimes creators find inspiration from real people to craft their beloved characters. In this article, we explore the top ten anime characters that were inspired by real individuals.
1. Rock Lee - Bruce Lee
Rock Lee from the Naruto series strongly resembles Bruce Lee, who is well-known and admired by many. They have similar hair and the way they move. The outfit Rock Lee wears might be based on the jumpsuit Bruce Lee wore in a movie called Game of Death in 1973. Rock Lee and Bruce Lee faced similar injuries, and they were expected to not walk again.
2. Armoured Titan - Brock Lesnar
The armoured Titan resembles the famous UFC and WWE fighter, Brock Lesnar. However, Brock doesn't have metal plates to protect him in fights, but the hair and muscular build of Titan was very similar to his. The Armoured Titan, inherited as one of the Nine Powers by the Eldians for generations, is a massive humanoid creature that is nearly invulnerable and a formidable fighter. The show's creator, Hajime Isayama, looked at MMA fighter Brock Lesnar for inspiration to design the Titan. Lesnar's fighting style was reflected in Titan.
3. Jiro Horikoshi – Jiro Horikoshi
Jiro Horikoshi's character from the anime film The Wind Rises was a fictional version of a head engineer who worked on Japanese fighter planes during World War II. Aside from the same name, they also have the same looks and the same glasses. However, most of the plot elements surrounding the character in the movie were the result of the creator's imagination. In real life, Jiro has a passion for aviation but is not able to fly planes due to his poor eyesight. He dedicated his life to designing various airplanes that had a significant impact during World War II, such as the Model Zero.
4. Coffee - Pam Grier
The character from the anime series Cowboy Bebop, Coffee, appeared in the Mushroom Sambo episode as a bounty hunter. Many fans of the show immediately recognized the resemblance between Coffee from Cowboy Bebop and Coffy, a character played by Pam Grier. The fact that their names were so similar only added to their inspiration.
5. Gordon Agrippa - Marilyn Manson
Gordon Agrippa, one of the magic knights from the anime Black Cover, looks a lot like Marilyn Manson, the famous metal singer. With his heavy Halloween-like makeup, black nail polish, and lipstick, Gordon bears a resemblance to Marilyn Manson. They both act strangely and avoid sunlight.
6. Yoshikage Kira - David Bowie
Yoshikage Kira from Jojo's Bizarre Adventure strongly resembles David Bowie, especially the blonde, slick hairstyle. While Bowie inspired Kira's look and iconic outfit, everything else about the character is the result of the creator's imagination.
7. Rurouni Kenshin - Kawakami Gensai
Rurouni was inspired by a real-life samurai named Kawakami Gensai. However, the plot of the series is not based on the samurai's life, but the character Ruroumni shares some salinities with him. Both Kawakami and Rurouni Kenshin were assassins who remained loyal to their comrades, and they were both abandoned by their government when they were no longer needed.
8. Capone Bege - Al Capone
Capone Bege from One Piece, the captain of Fire Tank Pirates in One Piece is a character inspired by the notorious American criminal, Al Capone. Like Al Capone, Capone Bege is a powerful figure in the criminal world, controlling a significant portion of his region. Both Al Capone and Capone Bege enjoy delicious food, expensive art, good manners, and scaring their enemies.
9. Mr. Satan - Count Dante
Mr. Satan from the dragon ball universe is a skilled fighter, who trained his whole life to protect the planet. His character was inspired by Count Dante. Count Dante boasted about being the strongest person on Earth due to which he gained a significant following and even appeared in superhero comic books.
10. Spike Spiegel - Yusaku Matsuda
Spike Spiegel, a beloved character in Cowboy Bebop, was inspired by Yusaku Matsuda, a famous actor known for his cool and stylish roles in the 1970s and '80s. The creators wanted to capture Matsuda's coolness and bring it to life through Spike's character.
