G.I. Joe's Cobra-La Was A Sneaky Homage To An Underrated Hayao Miyazaki Anime
By Devin Meenan
Published on March 16, 2026.
The 1980s cartoon "G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero" featured the eponymous military unit fighting Cobra-La, a prehistoric civilization that ruled the Earth before humankind evolved. The show's final draft, written by Buzz Dixon, revealed that Cobra Commander actually came from Cobra-LA, a pre-apocalyptic civilization that viewed mankind's non-living technology as abominable. The aesthetics and creatures of Cobra-la were influenced by Hayao Miyazaki's 1984 post-apocalypse fantasy film "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind". The influence also extended to the anime influence on "GI.Joe: The Movie," which was animated by Toei, which had previously distributed "Nasaicaä". Both "Transformers" and "GG. Joe" have traditionally had underwhelming and error-prone animation.
Related Articles
Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan initially planned for the Pluribus cast to be naked, but "we're not working for HBO"
Vincent Gilligan initially planned for the Pluribus cast to be naked, but ultimately decided because they're not working for HBO, which is currently planning for season 2.
Old Clip Shows Michael B. Jordan Grateful For Soap Opera Nomination Years Before Oscar Win
Michael B. Jordan expressed gratitude for a Soap Opera nomination he had already lost, reflecting his career progression after his Oscar win.
Scott Borchetta Launches Management Division With First Client Carly Pearce
Scott Borchetta has launched Borchett Entertainment Group, a management division, with clients including Carly Pearce and Michael Blong, and will focus on artist development and career growth.