5 Hidden Anime Easter Eggs You Definitely Missed

In Attack on Titan, the Armored Titan's fighting style is inspired by mixed martial arts, especially UFC legend Brock Lesnar. Hajime Isayama has publicly shared that he's a fan of Lesnar and modeled the Titan’s body structure and combat stance after him.

This small but fascinating tribute adds realism to the Titan's movements and reflects Isayama’s personal interests. Most viewers may never connect the dots unless they’re familiar with professional fighting techniques.

In Dragon Ball Super, a brief scene shows a Saiyan in a tank during the Tournament of Power arc that closely resembles Broly, long before his official reintroduction in the 2018 movie. It was so subtle that many fans dismissed it as a generic background figure.

Later, when the Broly movie was released, fans went back and realized this was an intentional teaser. The foreshadowing shows how carefully planned the Dragon Ball universe had become in its newer installments.

In many Studio Ghibli films, you’ll find the same background characters appearing across different movies. A prime example is the little girl in a red hood who shows up briefly in Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro, despite having no named role.

This quirky reuse has become a fun game for fans who enjoy spotting these recurring extras. It's a subtle way Studio Ghibli connects its magical worlds and rewards observant viewers who look beyond the main cast.

After Naruto ended, One Piece featured a small tribute in one of its manga chapters. In the background of a celebratory panel, you can see a character wearing Naruto’s signature orange jumpsuit and Konoha headband, walking away with a smile.

It was Oda’s way of honoring his fellow mangaka, Masashi Kishimoto. The moment was subtle and easy to miss but served as a heartfelt nod to one of the most iconic friendships in the manga industry.

The Shinigami Ryuk from Death Note makes surprising cameo appearances in other anime, including as a background shadow in Bakuman, which was also written by the same creators. His silhouette can be spotted briefly if you pause at the right moment.

These hidden cameos serve as Easter eggs that link different works by the same artists. They are easy to miss during a normal viewing but become fan favorites once discovered through rewatching or community discussion.