5 anime shows to watch to impress Michael B. Jordan
By Mia Johnson
The cat is out of the bag that Michael B. Jordan likes anime. That means it’s time to jump on the bandwagon, everyone!
Here’s the thing: Michael B. Jordan likes anime. He likes it so much that he proclaimed “anime is the best” in an interview with Vogue. Let that sink in for a moment. The best.
If you’re an amateur at anime and maybe slightly obsessed with the Black Panther co-star, this is the guide you need. So then maybe one day, you can impress the notorious MBJ with your newfound love for anime.
One Punch Man
Let’s start this off with an anime that’s really impressed folks recently (including Jordan, of course). He revealed during his Hot Ones interview that One Punch Man would be the one anime to hold him over were he ever stuck in his trailer. Just like Marvel, this anime is all about super heroes. The main character, Saitama, can defeat an opponent in just one punch, hence the name. One Punch Man currently only has one season, so discussing theories for season 2 could make some good in-trailer small talk.
One Punch Man is currently available on Netflix.
Dragon Ball Z
This could be considered the granddaddy of all anime. Jordan’s tweeted about Dragon Ball Z before … and again pretty recently. So maybe next to Naruto or Bleach, this is the one to watch. Not to mention, some people pointed out Jordan’s character Erik Killmonger in Black Panther was had an eerie resemblance to the show’s big enemy Vegeta in terms of costuming. (Was that an Easter egg, Ryan Coogler, or what?) Also, it’s a long series, so it’s okay if you skip the filler episodes.
Dragon Ball Z is available on Funimation.
Fullmetal Alchemist
Science, family and war: three huge themes you could certainly find in any other movie or TV show, but none done quite the way Fullmetal Alchemist does. Two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, are on the search for the Philosopher’s Stone in an attempt to bring their mother back to life. There are two series, Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. A lot of anime fans argue to watch Brotherhood first, but either is fine. If you find yourself liking the show, you might also want to catch the live-action movie as well.
Brotherhood, the original anime and the movie are all on Netflix.
Attack on Titan
If giant inside-out monster people don’t scare you, welcome to Attack on Titan! We’re not talking Disney’s Inside Out with cute emotions and Amy Poehler. We’re talking no-skin, just muscles village-attacking giants. Those are known as Titans, and it can be pretty cool to watch how normal, regular-sized people try to fend off the massive monsters. This movie also had a live action version that got some fairly mixed reviews.
Attack on Titan is currently on Netflix.
Kakegurui
We’ve walked through the more well-known anime; now let’s kick it up a notch and impress him with something a bit newer. This anime might take you back to the grand casino scene in Black Panther. The Netflix original is all about gambling big and gaining riches. Who knows if Jordan has seen this one? It was just released this month, so some brownie points are definitely in order if you seen it before him.
Bonus movie: Howl’s Moving Castle
If you’ve made it this far, it’s time to relax with a movie. Howl’s Moving Castle is a fantastic Japanese animated movie produced by the same studio that put out Spirited Away and Ponyo. You really can’t go wrong with any Studio Ghibli movie. They’re made for kids and kids at heart. So don’t forget to have some popcorn ready in case Jordan shows up for movie night. It’s not easily streamed, but is available for purchase on sites like Amazon.
Next: Man Crush Monday: The men who brought Black Panther to life
Once you’ve watched these, you can go out and wow Michael B. Jordan with all your impressive anime knowledge.
But the biggest question you have to ask yourself before watching: subbed or dubbed?