Creed 3: A New Chapter in Sports Cinema Inspired by Anime
Creed 3, the latest film featuring Michael B. Jordan in the lead role and also directing, draws significant inspiration from iconic anime such as Ashita no Joe, Dragon Ball, and Naruto.
This sports drama has managed to evoke strong emotions reminiscent of intense battles featured in anime. Notably, the film’s direction has not shied away from incorporating elements of the “cross-counter” technique, a hallmark of many Japanese animated films.
Known as a passionate anime fan, Michael B. Jordan shared in an interview with Polygon how the relationship between Adonis Creed (played by Jordan) and Damian Anderson (played by Jonathan Majors) is inspired by the dynamic between Naruto and Sasuke, particularly highlighting their iconic clash.
Jordan stated: “The punch is like Naruto and Sasuke. The punch appears several times in anime, but for me, the scene in Creed 3 speaks about the relationship between the two brothers, so the bond between Naruto and Sasuke served as inspiration for their relationship.”
While many might be familiar with the “cross-counter” technique from well-known shounen anime like Naruto and Dragon Ball, its roots can be traced back to the classic anime Ashita no Joe.
Ashita no Joe is an animated series directed by Osamu Dezaki, first released in the early 1970s, based on the manga of the same name by Asao Takamori and Tetsuya Chiba.
The story follows the journey of Joe Yabuki as he matures and strives to become a professional boxer. This narrative is deeply embedded in the cultural fabric of Japanese manga, having first graced the pages over 50 years ago (1968) and has served as inspiration for many subsequent genres and creators.
It’s exciting to see Michael B. Jordan successfully infuse such intricate details from anime into his latest work. Be sure to catch the newest installment directed and starring this talented trio! Creed 3 is currently in theaters.
