Robin Williams was a household name famous for his heartfelt performances and comedic persona, which is why it might surprise some to learn that the Oscar-winning actor had interest in some media that many might consider more niche. Though it rarely came through in the roles he played, Williams was a huge fan of Japanese culture in general, even naming his daughter after the iconic Nintendo franchise Zelda. What's less known, however, is that Robin Williams was a big fan of anime, with one of his favorites being a hidden gem from an iconic studio.

In a 2013 AMA on Reddit, Williams took some time to answer questions from fans of his work. The conversation quickly turned toward Williams' known fondness for Neon Genesis Evangelion, an anime referenced in 2002's One Hour Photo. Naturally, that led one fan to ask Williams what his favorite anime were, and his response cited Ghost in the Shell, Akira, and the little-known Production IG film, Blood: The Last Vampire.

What Is Blood: The Last Vampire?

And Why Did Robin Williams Love It So Much?

Released in 2000 and produced by Ghost in the Shell studio Production I.G., Blood: the Last Vampire is about a girl named Saya who hunts strange creatures called Chiropterans that are posing as humans. The Chiropterans can transform into incredibly powerful bat-like monsters, and the only way to kill them is to cause a tremendous amount of blood loss. In order to hunt a handful trying to blend in with the general population, Saya poses as a student at a military base's school.

Blood: The Last Vampire spawned a live-action adaptation and loosely inspired two spin-off anime, Blood+ and Blood-C.

Production I.G. is one of the best anime studios, and that's evident in Blood. With gorgeous animation and a compelling setup, Blood: The Last Vampire quickly became a staple of early anime fandom in the West. The film received critical acclaim upon release, winning multiple film festival awards and becoming the top-selling title ever for its Western distributor, Manga Entertainment. Blood's short length and relatively simple premise ultimately made it an easy watch for Western fans just getting into the genre, catapulting it to great success.

Though the movie's popularity has faded with time, and the movie currently has a more mixed reception, it's easy to see why Williams would be so captivated. Blood was the kind of movie that could only really be done with anime at the time. The kind of action and transformations shown throughout Blood might cost millions in live-action, but is far cheaper to produce in animation and looks just as good, if not better, than anything cooked up by Hollywood at the time.

Robin Williams' Anime Fandom Runs Deeper Than Fans Would Assume

The Acclaimed Actor Was a True Connoisseur

In addition to Blood: The Last Vampire, Williams also cited four other anime classics among his favorites, and it's clear from those picks alone that the late actor had discerning taste when it comes to anime. Cowboy Bebop, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Ghost in the Shell, and Akira aren't just incredible anime, they're some of the greatest anime of all time. Given Williams' known struggles with his own mental health, it's no wonder that he would gravitate toward an anime like Neon Genesis Evangelion.

In the Reddit AMA, Williams actually hints that, should an American Ghost in the Shell film ever be produced, he would love to take on the role of Chief Aramaki. In the thread, he also details first coming across anime on Laserdisks he bought in San Francisco.

Williams isn't the only one in Hollywood with an affection for anime either. American celebrities who love anime include Michael B. Jordan, Keanu Reeves, and Megan Thee Stallion. Anime is bigger than ever, and with even big stars like Ariana Grande getting tattoos to show their love for the medium, it's clear that Hollywood is taking notice. Still, there's something undeniably cool about learning an actor as acclaimed and beloved as Robin Williams loved anime like Blood: The Last Vampire.