Anime has drawn its inspiration from countless sources over the years. Shows like Spy x Family give an exaggerated take on historical events and time periods, while the ever-popular My Hero Academia is directly inspired by the superheroes that dominate Western comic books. Dragon Ball, one of the most popular anime of all time, was originally a comedic retelling of the Chinese myths surrounding Son Wukong.
Mythology hasn’t just inspired anime franchises; Enslaved: Odyssey to the West for the PS3 was an almost complete retelling of Son Wukong’s story in the form of an action-adventure video game, giving players the chance to live through the events of one of the most popular world myths in a unique setting. There are also plenty of mythology-inspired games among the slot titles on Foxy Games, including God of Storms and Masters of Valhalla. Both these games use the familiar imagery of Zeus and Odin to draw players in and give them familiar branding to latch onto. Titan Quest for Android and iOS does the same while letting players conquer their own piece of land and battle against famous monsters from mythology.
While some shows like Dragon Ball incorporate elements of mythology, other shows and films have gone one step further and built their entire franchise around myths and legends from around the world. Here are a few of our favorites from over the years.
Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac
Greek mythology is centered on the heroes within it and the greatest heroes and villains of these stories make their way into the stars in the form of the constellations. Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac followed a group of people empowered by these mythological figures in the form of powerful suits of armor. The show also gives us plenty of deep dives into Greek mythology as well, with items like the Andromeda chains showing up as well as monsters based on gorgons, hydras, and centaurs. Though Saint Seiya has a decided science fiction feel to it from start to finish, it is directly inspired by the fantastical myths of Greece.
Naruto
While figures like shinobi have been raised to almost mythological heights over the years, plenty of the iconic elements of Naruto were ripped directly from Japanese myths. The three legendary sannin in the series, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru, are based on a popular myth in Japan that includes a powerful ninja who could turn into a toad fighting against an enemy who had mastered serpent magic. Even the tailed beasts that become the focal point of the show’s plot have their roots in Japanese folklore. Nearly every element of Naruto can be traced back to the myths of Japan, a big reason why it was voted one of the greatest manga series of all time.
Princess Mononoke
Studio Ghibli has given us some of the most iconic and beloved anime films of all time, but one of the greatest of these is Princess Mononoke. This film tells the struggle between advancing technology and the fragile natural world that we all must live in and preserve. Empire Online gave the film four stars and it has become a cult classic. Like Naruto, nearly every element of this film has its roots in the Japanese religion of Shintoism. The idea that every creature, forest, and the tree has a spirit associated with it and demands respect is a core part of the film’s story, as is the idea that these spirits will push back against humanity’s encroachment onto their territory if they musts. This all takes its cues from Japanese myths and a religion that is still very much alive in Japan today.
