Summary
In celebration ofBillie Eilish’s newest anime-inspired album, Hajime Isayama,Attack on Titan’screator, delivers a stunning piece of new artwork. On June 07, 2025, Billie Eilish released her long-awaited third studio album,Hit Me Hard And Soft.The track list features 10 original songs and 45 minutes of impactful, personal ballads that make listeners feel like they’ve entered an alternate universe.Alongside her co-writer and brother, Finneas, the pop star has undoubtedly crafted another Grammy-worthy work of art.However, something makes this album stand apart from the rest.
Hit Me Hard and Softis Eilish’s first full-length studio album since her 2021 installment,Happier Than Ever.The album has received critical acclaim, with all 10 songs reaching the top 40 ofBillboard’s 100upon release. Furthermore, Billie Eilish announced back in April that her seventh tour,Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour.is set to commence in September 2024.
In addition to the head nods to her fellow artists sprinkled throughout the album, Billie noted to Zane Lowe inan interview with Apple Music:
“This is the most ‘me’ thing I’ve ever made.”- Billie Eilish
However, anime fans may be surprised to learn thatone song in particular is a hat-tip to Studio Ghibli’s best film,Spirited Away. As a result,Hajime Isayama took notice of the album and sent Eilish a personalized drawingalongside his iconic characters fromAOT.
Billie Eilish’s Newest Album Is a Love Letter to Anime
CHIHIRO,Eilish’s New Song, Is Inspired by Hayao Miyazaki’s Academy Award-Winning Film,Spirited Away
In an interview withRolling Stone,Eilish discussed her song,CHIHIRO.She mentioned that the song is based onSpirited Away’sprotagonist of the same name. In addition toCHIHIRO,Eilish mentioned in 2019 that her album,WHEN WE FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?,is also accredited to Miyazaki and his works:
“The song is loosely based off of that movie, which is one of my favorites. It’s kind of from her point of view, mixed with mine. The visuals in that movie are some of the best ever.” - Billie Eilish
Anime’s impact on American media is wide-ranging, and it has finally reached the pop music industry.However, this fact is not always widely accepted or widely known. Perhaps it is for this reason that Hajime Isayama wanted to create a stunning piece of new art, specially for Eilish, as she continues to give anime the rightful credit that it deserves.
Hajime Isayama Depicts Pop Music’s Biggest Star Alongside AOT’s Most Iconic Protagonists
Billie Eilish Has Never Looked Better in Hajime Isayama’s Recent Artwork
AlongsideAttack on Titan’sthree heroes, Eren Jaeger, Mikasa Ackerman, and Armin Arlert, a stunning portrait of Billie depicts her in a new, perfectly fitting way. Her iconic hooded eyes and pouty expression peer coldly up at the Colossal Titan, who peeks over the wall. In Eilish’s hand, she holds a “flesh paring,”AOT’sterm for a unique sword used by the Scouting Regiment. Finally, at the top of the drawing,Isayama left Eilish a personalized note:
“Congratulations on the release of your newest album! To Billie Eilish-san.” - Hajime Isayama
Years ago, Billie Eilish was spotted at her Austin City Limits performance sporting anAttack on Titant-shirt, proving that her love for anime goes deep. Furthermore, her recent album is a love letter to the anime films by Miyazaki that have inspired a generation, proving that Japanese media’s impact on America has finally reached pop music. Thanks to Isayama’s celebration of Eilish’s newest album with new incredible art, American music artists can be encouraged to take inspiration from anime’s best stories, likeSpirited AwayandAttack on Titan.
Sources:Rolling StoneandApple Music
Attack On Titan
Based on the manga, Attack on Titan is a dark-action fantasy series set in a world where humanity has been corralled into walled cities from fear of monstrous human-eating Titans that exist outside of them. When protagonist Eren Yeager’s mother is killed in front of his eyes at a young age, his thirst for vengeance leads him to join an elite group of soldiers created to fight back against the Titan menace.
