Michael B. Jordan Reveals His All-Time Favorite Anime
Michael B. Jordan recently shared how anime influenced his work on Creed III. In an interview with IGN, he explained that he wanted to bring the spirit of anime into the film’s fight scenes.
“Without nerding out too much, you’ve seen so many fights throughout the Rocky and Creed franchise, and I really wanted to put my spin on it,” Jordan said.
“How to make these fights different. From Hajime no Ippo to Megalo Box to Naruto to My Hero Academia, all those different anime that I’ve watched growing up.”
He added that the emotional depth in anime helped shape the way he approached the story and the characters. “There’s an inherent spirit to them in how they fight, you know? Their bonds and relationship and all that good stuff. But it’s very similar to the brotherhood and bond that we have, and his [Creed’s] relationship to his family as well. So I tried to key in on some of those key moments. And yeah, they’re in there. They’re in a lot of the fights.”
Jordan also spoke to the BBC about how anime often mixes intense battles with quiet, emotional moments. “Usually in anime, when the protagonists and antagonists are fighting, physically they’re trying to take each other’s heads off, they’re trying to kill each other, they’re trying to win the physical battle. But emotionally, they’re usually someplace quiet, talking about how they feel. Because fighting was the only way they could communicate with one another.”
He revealed some of his personal favorite anime series, which inspired him while creating Creed III. Jordan mentioned classics like Naruto, known for its strong emotional storytelling, Dragon Ball, famous for its action-packed fights, and other popular shows including Bleach, One Piece, Hunter X Hunter, My Hero Academia, Hajime no Ippo, and Megalo Box.
1. ONE PIECE
— Jet Vega (@DragonBallBLK) March 6, 2023
2. DRAGON BALL
3. NARUTO
4. BLEACH
5. HUNTER X HUNTER
Michael B Jordan says these are the TOP 5 ANIME new fans should start out with. Cant say that’s he’s wrong.
That’s a HEAVY HITTER LIST pic.twitter.com/b6VfvN1BLG
Jordan’s use of anime as inspiration shows how he blends emotional storytelling with intense action to make the Creed franchise feel fresh and exciting. His approach highlights the way anime can influence Hollywood storytelling beyond just animation.
What do you think about Michael B. Jordan drawing from anime for Creed III? Share your thoughts in the comments.
