The Influence of Anime in Pop Culture

Ghost in the Shell: The anime film that inspired The Matrix [Image via ScienceFiction.com]

As an Otaku and avid film watcher, I have always been interested in finding a link between anime and cinema and how the one compliments the other. Believe it or not, many Hollywood films and other forms of media that we watch have been influenced, one way or another, by anime. But what is it about anime that has caused it to have such a huge effect on Western media today?

Retro Revival: Samurai Champloo

[Image via The Find Mag]

If I could describe Samurai Champloo in three words, it would be “cool”, “stylish” and “badass”. In my previous post I briefly mentioned that Samurai Champloo was considered my favourite anime of all time. I felt, however, that I had to do the anime justice and explain why it holds a special place in my heart. It’s not only the stylised action sequences that won me over, but also the character and storyline development as well as the amazing soundtrack.