Guillermo del Toro Once Shared an Apartment With James Cameron — and Anime Was Their Thing

Filmmakers Guillermo del Toro and James Cameron weren’t just colleagues – they were once roommates. They became close friends during that time, often staying up late watching anime together. They’d share their favorite shows and discuss stories that would eventually influence their own films.

This interesting piece of film history was revealed when Guillermo del Toro discussed it on the ReelBlend podcast.

Guillermo del Toro explained that he and James Cameron have been friends for over 30 years, since 1992. They first met at a barbecue hosted by Ron Perlman. Del Toro had just finished his film ‘Cronos’ at the time, while Cameron was completing ‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day.’

They became fast friends. Both were ambitious young filmmakers, and for a period, they even lived together.

Their connection wasn’t just based on discussing movies; they both had a strong passion for anime. Guillermo del Toro recently shared that they enjoyed watching anime together, with each introducing the other to favorite series. Del Toro remembers his friend introducing him to ‘Patlabor,’ and he, in turn, introduced his friend to ‘Gunnm.’

It’s easy to imagine them as children, before they became famous for films like Titanic and Pan’s Labyrinth. They would sit together watching Japanese animated shows on TV. That combination of creativity and feeling clearly had a big impact on both of them. You can definitely see echoes of those early anime viewings in their later work – Cameron’s films are full of both technology and human connection, and del Toro’s stories always combine fantasy with deep emotion.

Despite knowing each other for a long time, Guillermo del Toro and James Cameron are still close friends. Del Toro frequently mentions Cameron’s unwavering support, especially during a difficult time in his life. Their friendship is built on a foundation of loyalty, imagination, and a mutual love of exploring new ideas.

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2025-11-09 22:44