8 Anime You Never Knew Were Shaped by Iron Man’s Legacy
Iron Man is one of the most iconic characters in the entire Marvel Comics universe. That’s why his influence isn’t limited to comics or the films belonging to the Marvel Cinematic Universe; he’s even left his mark in some anime titles, much to the surprise of fans. Some anime have introduced their own armored suits that closely resemble those created by Mr. Tony Stark in the multiple iterations of the character. However, there are also iconic anime where the characters fight using advanced suit technology in imaginative ways for Iron Man fans searching for their next series.
Anti-Magic Academy: The 35th Test Platoon
Anti-Magic Academy The 35th Test Platoon anime visual
In Anti-Magic Academy: The 35th Test Platoon, magical powers are diminished, and human weapons are replaced by guns, but the protagonist, Takeru Kusanagi, uses a sword. However, he enters into a contract with the relic eater Lapis Lazuli, obtaining a kind of magic-powered robotic armor, creating a dynamic similar to that of Tony and Jarvis, except that she appears as a holographic projection. Wearing his Witch Hunter armor, Kusanagi gains physical enhancements, and when his face is shown, it’s similar to Iron Man’s HUD. The anime is more of a fantasy, like Chivalry of a Failed Knight, but due to rushing through the light novel’s content, the story feels scattered and doesn’t reflect the overall quality of the source material, making it an easy series to skip.
Strait Jacket
Strait Jacket anime
Combining steampunk, sci-fi, and fantasy elements, Strait Jacket is an anime film that will delight both Iron Man and Fullmetal Alchemist fans. In Strait Jacket, “Tactical Sorcerers” use a type of magic technology and are armed with special weapons to eliminate demons, and they also wear armor called mold. While this armor protects them from becoming demons, it can also transform them into one after exceeding a certain limit. Although the design is more reminiscent of the sharp lines of ancient knights’ armor, and Strait Jacket’s story has an atmosphere similar to anime like Vampire Hunter D, exploring the enormous risks involved in wearing armor, it also evokes the spirit of Iron Man.
Active Raid: Special Public Security Fifth Division Third Mobile Assault Eight Unit
Active Raid Special Public Security Fifth Division Third Mobile Assault Eight Unit
In Active Raid, the members of the Mobile Assault 8th Eight Unit Division wear auxiliary robotic suits called Willwear, which utilize advanced technology to suppress criminals. While Willwear’s design draws inspiration from the tokusatsu genre, such as the Power Rangers, it also has a style similar to Iron Man. The Willwear suits can be multitasking and specialized in intelligence processing and are synthetic exoskeletons that can lose their energy. But in Active Raid, when the characters put on their suits, it’s treated as a transformation scene, so it’s definitely an anime that fans of Sentai-style battles will enjoy.
Guyver: The Bioboosted Armor
Although Guyver is a biopunk anime that takes inspiration from the Kamen Rider franchise and the manga Devilman, it is a precursor to fictional bio-armors as much as Iron Man. In Guyver, Sho Fukamachi stumbles upon an alien weapon capable of bonding with a human, being able to transform into a living suit with incredible combat abilities. This Guyver unit has superhuman strength, speed, and great regenerative capacity, as well as a large arsenal of weapons such as the biological laser and the gravity cannon. Furthermore, Tony Stark’s Endo-Sym Armor might be Iron Man’s take on a Guyver Unit.
Bubblegum Crisis
Knight Sabers of Bubblegum Crisis anime
Bubblegum Crisis is a cult classic anime from the 80s that became an unexpected hit, causing a huge stir thanks to its cyberpunk influence, reminiscent of Blade Runner, and high-tech mechs. The anime followed a group of female vigilantes, very much in the style of a futuristic version of Charlie’s Angels, called the Knight Sabers, who wield incredibly powerful hardsuits. While there is no direct confirmation that Bubblegum Crisis was inspired by American superhero comics, the anime shares elements with Marvel titles such as Machine Man and Iron Man 2020, and fans of both works often compare the unique strength of their suits.
The Reflection
The reflection anime
A superhero anime co-produced by Stan Lee and animated by Studio Deen, The Reflection, has its own version of Iron Man, I-Guy. I-Guy has the ability to spread his voice as an impulse to the surrounding area and fights wearing blue metallic armor that allows him to fly. Furthermore, I-Guy’s design resembles Tony Stark, and he is also a millionaire with a similar carefree demeanor, but is actually a frustrated singer and, overall, feels like a cheap imitation of Iron Man. Its simple story, lackluster animation, and a visual style that tried to imitate that of a comic book made The Reflection a disappointing anime.
Tiger and Bunny
Kotetsu and Barnaby from Tiger & Bunny main poster.
Tiger and Bunny is an anime that follows the classic path of a superhero story set in a world that broadcasts heroic activities and whose sponsors are concerned with how flashy they must be on the screen. The anime feels like an homage to the genre and features many references to characters from Marvel and DC Comics.
Barnaby Brooks Jr., the rookie hero who teams up with Wild Tiger in Tiger and Bunny, shares a similar origin to Batman, but his personality is more like Tony Stark’s, and he’s also tech-savvy and wears a powered-up red suit of armor like Iron Man.
My Hero Academia
Deku in My Hero Academia Episode 170
My Hero Academia has become one of the biggest exponents of superhero anime in recent years and also had its own tribute to Iron Man by giving the former Symbol of Peace a power suit during his battle against All For One in the Final War. Known as Iron Might, this power suit, which he carries inside a briefcase, uses technology strikingly similar to that developed by Tony Stark, as it assembles in the same way as Iron Man’s armor. This is a direct reference to Iron Man’s Mark V. Armored Iron Might also has an AI stored in his car, Hercules, who allows him to activate the armor’s functions, working similarly to Jarvis. Later in the finale of My Hero Academia, Izuku Midoriya also gains his own armored suit to keep working as a hero.
Movie(s)
My Hero Academia: Two Heroes (2018), My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising (2019), My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission (2021)
First Film
My Hero Academia: Two Heroes (2018)
Cast
Daiki Yamashita, Kenta Miyake, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Ayane Sakura, Yûki Kaji, Aoi Yuki, Kaito Ishikawa, Toshiki Masuda, Marina Inoue, Yoshimasa Hosoya
TV Show(s)
My Hero Academia
Video Game(s)
My Hero Academia: Battle for All, My Hero One’s Justice, My Hero One’s Justice 2
Character(s)
Izuku Midoriya, All Might, Katsuki Bakugo, Ochaco Uraraka, Shoto Todoroki, Tsuyu Asui, Tenya Iida, Eijiro Kirishima, Momo Yaoyorozu, Fumikage Tokoyami
已发布: 2025-12-26 04:31:00
来源: screenrant.com
