Haven't we seen these people before? Join Ashley as we look over the anime character directly inspired by real-world figures
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00:00 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the Top 20 Anime Characters
00:13 Based on Real People.
00:19 We're only considering imitations that have been specifically confirmed by the story's
00:26 author, so a near-passing resemblance won't qualify.
00:41 Most shows wouldn't even try to touch the legacy of a famed Marxist revolutionary, but
00:46 Baki isn't most shows.
00:53 Throwing caution to the wind, it shamelessly introduced Jun Kawaru, a radical pirate with
00:59 the strength to back up his bark.
01:01 With one look, it's abundantly clear who his character is supposed to reference.
01:12 Outside of the obvious physical similarities, Jun's ideals and backstory are practically
01:18 a modern retelling of Jay Guevara's own insurgent efforts.
01:21 Hell, their last names are only one letter apart.
01:25 They didn't even try to hide their inspiration.
01:28 We didn't expect to get a history lesson from a show about high-stakes fistfights,
01:32 but here we are.
01:42 Number 19.
01:43 Geist, Billy Idol, M.D.
01:45 Geist, Most Dangerous Soldier.
01:48 On paper, a deranged homicidal robot and a punk rock legend don't have much in common.
02:04 In fact, narratively speaking, there's nothing in "Most Dangerous Soldier" that even remotely
02:10 applies to the music industry.
02:12 But for some reason, Geist himself was modelled after Billy Idol.
02:17 Although you probably don't need us to say that.
02:20 If you look at them side by side, the similarities are too glaring to ignore.
02:28 We're not just talking about the bleach blonde hair or eccentric style choices either.
02:35 Geist's entire face shape is practically Idol's spitting image.
02:40 This OVA found inspiration in a bit of an odd place, but at least Idol can say he inspired
02:46 such a cool character.
02:54 Number 18.
02:55 Kota Hirano, Kota Hirano, High School of the Dead.
03:00 One measly letter is all that separates Kota Hirano from Kota Hirano.
03:04 Yeah, not confusing at all.
03:07 It doesn't help that they look alike too.
03:14 Still, there is one foolproof way to tell them apart.
03:18 One is real, and the other is an anime character surviving a zombie apocalypse.
03:23 Apparently, Kota - that is, the one in the anime - was originally going to be named Nagamo.
03:33 But somewhere along the way, they decided to instead base him on the celebrated manga
03:39 artist Kota Hirano, aka the guy who made Hellsing.
03:44 It's impossible to know whether the real Kota appreciated this meta joke, but it's
03:49 pretty entertaining from where we're sitting.
03:55 Number 17.
03:57 Bask, Hulk Hogan, Fist of the North Star.
04:00 It's hard to put into words just how hilariously jarring it is to be casually watching Fist
04:06 of the North Star when, suddenly, Hulk Hogan is on your screen.
04:10 Sorry, we meant Bask.
04:16 Not that changing the name hides anything - we'd recognise that moustache anywhere.
04:21 Hulk Hogan's look is simply too iconic to hide, so Fist of the North Star barely even
04:27 tried.
04:28 Instead, they've basically just made an anime Hulk Hogan, complete with the same hair
04:38 and body type.
04:40 The only difference is that Bask doesn't have quite the same track record in the ring.
04:44 Kenshiro easily splits him down the middle, proving that an imitation can never outdo
04:50 the original.
04:56 Number 16.
04:57 Steve Jaws, Steve Jobs, Yo-Kai Watch.
05:01 The apple doesn't fall very far from the tree on this one.
05:04 You see, instead of a fruit-named tech conglomerate, the Yo-Kai Watch universe has Yopple.
05:11 If you think that's uncanny, just wait until you see their CEO.
05:16 Introducing Steve Jaws.
05:22 Yes, he's exactly like he sounds.
05:29 Even setting aside the "Yopple" connection and his punny name, there's just no mistaking
05:34 that black tittle-neck.
05:42 Especially since Yo-Kai Watch has a habit of poking fun at tech legends.
05:47 When Steve Jaws steps down from Yopple, guess who takes his place?
05:51 Mark Orkenberg.
05:58 Send out a warning, there's no CEO safe from the wrath of Yo-Kai Watch parody.
06:04 Number 15.
06:06 Major Metallitron, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dragon Ball.
06:11 Goku's ascendance through the Muzzle Tower had him facing enemies with a lot of, well,
06:16 muscle.
06:17 And at this time, no one personified big, bulky, and brutish like Arnold Schwarzenegger.
06:28 He just delivered a career-defining turn as T-800 in "The Terminator", and wouldn't
06:34 you know it, the movie hit Japan just a few short years before Goku reached Muzzle Tower.
06:42 With that kind of serendipitous timing, it's no wonder Major Metallitron became Schwarzenegger's
06:55 self-portrait.
06:56 The glasses, the physique, author Akira Toriyama knew exactly what he was doing here.
07:02 Although something tells us this isn't what T-800 meant when he said he'd be back.
07:15 Number 14.
07:16 Diamon, King Diamond.
07:18 Bastard, heavy metal, dark fantasy.
07:21 When you think about it, the name Diamon sounds a lot like the word "diamond".
07:25 There's a good reason for that.
07:27 The sorcerer general is actually modelled after an influential Danish rock singer, his
07:39 name King Diamond.
07:41 If you need any more evidence, just look at their faces.
07:44 King Diamond was known for his signature black and white makeup job, and wouldn't you know
07:49 it, Diamon's gauche look copies it stroke for stroke.
07:59 While King Diamond isn't an actual immortal vampire, it's still a worthwhile Easter
08:04 egg.
08:05 Bastard has heavy metal in its name, so it's only natural that it nods to the legends that
08:10 help define the genre.
08:16 Number 13.
08:17 Jason Scatham.
08:18 Jason Statham.
08:20 How heavy are the dumbbells you lift?
08:22 There's taking inspiration, and there's flat-out copying.
08:26 Jason Scatham is the latter.
08:29 For one, his name doesn't leave much to the imagination.
08:40 And second, his overall design is a very obvious homage to the actual Hollywood actor, Jason
08:46 Statham.
08:47 Bald head and all.
08:49 The action star made a name for himself by punching sharks and taking names on the big
08:54 screen.
08:55 Scatham hasn't quite checked all those boxes, but with muscle mass like his, it's only
09:00 a matter of time.
09:01 Sure, he's got a few scars and a surprisingly dirty mind, but still, when it comes to anime
09:07 counterparts, Jason Scatham could do a whole lot worse.
09:16 Number 12.
09:17 Chiyoko Fujiwara.
09:19 Setsuko Hara and Hideko Takamine.
09:22 Millennium actress.
09:24 If you know any Japanese film history, you know who Setsuko Hara is.
09:28 In 1962, the prolific star infamously decided to quit acting.
09:34 The lack of warning or explanation sparked decades of frenzied media speculation.
09:39 Forty years later, that scandal inspired a movie of its own.
09:43 Millennium actress.
09:50 The anime follows Chiyoko Fujiwara, a Japanese performer who leaves the limelight to focus
09:55 on her personal struggles.
10:01 Sound familiar?
10:02 What's more, the movie also took bits and pieces from Hideko Takamine's life, another
10:07 Japanese actress who famously abandoned studio work.
10:12 These real-world inspirations helped shine a light on what is one of the most underrated
10:16 anime films of all time.
10:23 Number 11.
10:25 Just About Everyone.
10:26 Bungo Stray Dogs.
10:28 Hatsushi Nakajima, Osamu Dazai, Dappo Kunikida, history remembers those names as seminal Japanese
10:35 authors.
10:36 But you might know them better as the main characters of Bungo Stray Dogs.
10:45 In a novel bit of referential storytelling, just about every single cast member in the
10:50 series is named after a famous writer.
10:53 The resemblance doesn't stop at their names, though.
10:56 The characters' unique powers are often inspired by the famous works of their namesake
11:01 author.
11:06 The historical context isn't necessary to enjoy the show, but if you're looking to
11:10 appreciate all the little easter eggs, you're going to need to brush up on your Japanese
11:14 literature.
11:24 Number 10.
11:25 Kid, Brad Pitt.
11:26 Yakitate Japan.
11:28 With a name like Brad Kid, double-lettering included, there was never any doubt that this
11:33 Harvard student was anything but a caricature of the famous Hollywood heartthrob.
11:44 Luckily for Ryo, he's also a swell guy, helping with all the social conventions he
11:49 was sorely lacking in, including tangoing with the ladies.
11:56 What's not to love?
12:02 He's got that hair, that silver-screen smile, and manages to provide some serious laughs,
12:07 which is kind of needed when a show is based around bread.
12:11 Let's hope he didn't suffer a crippling divorce later in life.
12:21 Number 9.
12:22 Rock Lee.
12:23 Bruce Lee.
12:24 Naruto series.
12:26 That jumpsuit, that posture, that bowl cut - the ninja in training is the spitting image
12:31 of the legendary martial arts superstar.
12:34 Albeit with much more green thrown into his attire.
12:44 While we doubt that Lee will ever find himself starring in the Hidden Leaf version of Enter
12:49 the Dragon, it's easy to see that his dedication to taijutsu is also inspired by Bruce Lee's
12:55 physical talents.
13:01 The man had kicks that could send people flying.
13:04 Lee can slam a sand-wielding demon to the curb with light-speed flurries.
13:09 Same thing, really.
13:17 Number 8.
13:18 Whitney Haggis Matsumoto.
13:19 George Clooney.
13:21 Cowboy Bebop.
13:24 Geez, no wonder Faye almost ran off with this guy.
13:30 He's got the face of the de facto Silver Fox celebrity.
13:37 While this epic, space-faring action series has more than its fair share of side characters,
13:42 everyone remembers this suave attorney for three distinct reasons.
13:46 He nearly got Faye freakin' Valentine to fall for him.
13:49 He turned out to be the most despicable of conmen, who actually planned to saddle her
13:54 with debts.
13:56 And three years later, he really let himself go.
13:59 You might want to ease up on the cheeseburgers, George, lest you find yourself looking like
14:03 Whitney one day.
14:15 Number 7.
14:16 Viktor Nikiforov.
14:17 Evgeny Plushenko and John Cameron Mitchell.
14:20 Yuri on Ice.
14:21 Two for the price of one.
14:23 In terms of his accolades, achievements and even mannerisms in the world of figure skating,
14:28 hot throb trainer Viktor best resembles Evgeny Plushenko, a four-time Olympic medalist, three-time
14:35 world champion and four-time Grand Prix champion.
14:44 While that staggering level of success can be seen mirrored in Viktor's own accomplishments,
14:49 series writer Mitsuro Kubo admitted that appearance-wise, he's based on acclaimed actor John Cameron
14:55 Mitchell, the slick silver hair being a dead giveaway.
15:00 We're sure both men would be pleased to know their animated counterpart was such a
15:08 triumph in his field.
15:14 Number 6.
15:15 Terryman.
15:16 Terry Funk.
15:17 Kinikuman.
15:19 Given how this wrestling anime is considered a classic of the genre, it only makes sense
15:24 that one of its key characters would be inspired by a figure like Terry Funk, an American wrestler
15:29 who practically exploded in Japan due to his crazy outfits and amazing stage presence.
15:44 Creators Udatamago were definitely fans, since the character Terryman isn't only similar
15:49 in terms of build, moveset and nationality, but also obviously includes "Terry" in
15:55 the name.
16:01 Good to see that the Texas Broncos legacy lives on.
16:09 Number 5.
16:10 Armored Titan.
16:11 Brock Lesnar.
16:12 Attack on Titan.
16:14 Eat, sleep, break walls, repeat.
16:23 They are engines of pure destruction that can destroy opponents with overwhelming ferocity.
16:28 Is it any surprise it was based on mixed martial arts fighters?
16:32 Out of all the contenders, our vote goes to famed WWE and UFC competitor Brock Lesnar,
16:38 who served as the inspiration for the beastly Armored Titan.
16:50 Sure he isn't exactly imbued with metallic plates that allow him to soak damage like
16:54 a sponge, but there's no mistaking that body build, or the little tuff of hair.
16:59 Yep, Eren got wrecked by the beast incarnate's lookalike.
17:10 Number 4.
17:11 Gordon Agrippa.
17:13 Marilyn Manson.
17:14 Black Clover.
17:15 He may not be the angel with the scabbed wings, but there's no denying that this member
17:20 of the Black Bulls is clearly riding the looks of this controversial metal singer.
17:29 If the makeup and aversion to sunlight doesn't give it away, then his creepy demeanour certainly
17:38 will.
17:42 While harmless in his own right, and not exactly the biggest magic knight on the block, we're
17:47 still waiting to see Gordon interrupt one of Asta's fights and start singing "Tainted
17:51 Love".
17:57 Number 3.
17:58 Freddy.
17:59 Freddy Mercury.
18:00 Cromartie High School.
18:08 We never hear him speak, but given the fact his name is the same as the legendary Queen
18:13 vocalist and is known to have an angelic singing voice, it's pretty clear that this butch
18:18 delinquent was inspired by the true King of Rock.
18:27 While you might miss the comparison given the fact the show likes to distract its audience
18:31 with a little robot, Freddy still manages to pay homage to the incredible frontman by
18:36 leaving whole crowds floored.
18:39 Only in this case, it's with his fists as opposed to his musical genius.
18:48 Number 2.
18:49 Yoshikage Kira.
18:50 David Bowie.
18:51 JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Diamond is Unbreakable.
18:55 He may have a stand named after a famous Queen song, but this murderer's look is all Bowie,
19:01 at least back when he was sporting blonde locks.
19:12 While his obsession with a severed hand, desire to live like a plant, and tendency to slaughter
19:17 innocents isn't exactly what comes to mind when thinking about the man who gave us Ziggy
19:22 Stardust.
19:23 He's clearly a lot of influence from a visual perspective.
19:36 One thing is for sure, we'd pay good money to see Kira dressed as the Goblin King.
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20:03 Number 1.
20:04 A Lot.
20:05 One Piece.
20:06 So many famous faces, so little time.
20:09 While they may come equipped with crazy devil fruit powers, the occupants of Ichiro Oda's
20:15 masterwork have some clear, real-world inspirations.
20:22 Bon Clay and Frankie are both right out of Jim Carrey performances.
20:27 Capone Beige is obviously Al Capone, Spandam is WWE legend Mankind, and Ivankov is very
20:34 much One Piece's answer to Frankenfurter from the Rocky Horror Picture Show because
20:39 everything needs more Tim Curry.
20:50 And are we sure that Enel and Eminem weren't separated at birth?
20:54 It just doesn't stop.
21:03 Which famous face did we miss?
21:05 Let us know in those comments below.
21:20 [music]