Anime has become ubiquitous in today’s world, evolving from a niche hobby into a widely embraced form of entertainment in recent years. Major sports leagues, well-known brands, fast food chains, and popular global streaming platforms are all eager to tap into the success of anime.
Recently, a Shōnen Jump artist illustrated how Disney has joined the ranks of household names engaging with this art form. In a post shared on X, Kazue Kato, the creator of the Blue Exorcist series, showcased her interpretation of the characters from Moana 2.
Kato’s Blue Exorcist started its journey in Weekly Shōnen Jump in 2009 and gained immense popularity after the anime adaptation premiered in 2011. Although the series has experienced a somewhat inconsistent release schedule recently, it is still ongoing, and the anime adaptation just concluded its latest season this past March.
In the time between chapters, it appears that Kazue Kato drew inspiration from the newly released Moana 2, which hit theaters in November 2024, and she probably wasn’t alone in this regard.
The Latest Disney Movie Receives A Tribute From Kazue Kato
Kato’s artwork showcases the primary characters of Moana 2, prominently highlighting the lead character, voiced by Auli’i Cravalho, alongside Maui, portrayed by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, right at the forefront. The illustration also includes Heihei, Moana’s humorous rooster companion, Pua the pig, her adorable friend, and Kotu, the coconut-like Kakamora who becomes part of the adventure in Moana 2.
Responses to the post from fans were overwhelmingly positive, with numerous individuals praising Kato’s ability to merge her unique artistic style with the beloved Disney aesthetic seen in the film.
This isn’t the first instance where the realms of anime and Disney have intersected, and it certainly won’t be the last. Tatsuki Fujimoto, the artist behind Chainsaw Man, recently expressed his views on Moana 2 on X shortly after its theatrical release, stating, “Today I watched Moana 2. It was intriguing, and I highly recommend it because you can obtain a (Lorcana) card.”
Disney Lorcana is a trading card game that offers a special card exclusively for those who see the movie. Back in 2021, Fujimoto drew inspiration from another Disney franchise when he created his version of Marvel’s Captain America.
Disney Is Fully Committing To Anime This Fall
The connection between anime and Disney is not solely one-sided, as the renowned brand is poised to fully embrace the medium this October with the launch of Disney Twisted-Wonderland the Animation.
This highly anticipated series will draw inspiration from the three ongoing manga series that share the Twisted-Wonderland title, which are themselves adaptations of a mobile game, and it is scheduled to start streaming on Disney+ this fall.
As anime continues to gain worldwide popularity, enthusiasts can look forward to an increasing number of crossovers and collaborations with their beloved franchises. The recent artwork of Moana by Kazue Kato, the artist behind Blue Exorcist, exemplifies this exciting fusion, and it undoubtedly won’t be the final occurrence.