Guillermo del Toro and James Cameron used to live together in addition to having a passion for movies. The two directors grew close during those late-night anime sessions, exchanging shows and discussing tales that would eventually influence their own art. Guillermo del Toro discussed this unexpected aspect of movie history on the ReelBlend podcast.
He revealed that over thirty years ago, he and Cameron became friends. “We have been friends since 1992, 30 years ago,” del Toro said. “We first crossed paths during a barbecue at Ron Perlman’s residence. At that time, I had completed production on ‘Cronos’, while he was finishing ‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day.’” Their bond blossomed rapidly. They were both ambitious young filmmakers who eventually shared a house for a period.
Their mutual passion for anime, more than just their conversations about movies, was what made their time together so memorable. Previously, Del Toro said, “We would watch anime together,” del Toro added. “He introduced me to ‘Patlabor’, I introduced him to ‘Gunnm.’”
It’s easy to imagine the two of them sitting next to each other in front of a tiny TV, enjoying dystopian tales from Japan, long before Titanic or Pan’s Labyrinth. They were both obviously moved by that combination of emotion and creativity. It’s easy to find remnants of those anime nights in their subsequent work, with del Toro’s novels fusing fantasy with heart and Cameron’s worlds full of machinery and human passion.
