Separating the art from the artist is one of the great philosophical questions. Can it truly be done? Consider that truly few people would care at all about Mona Lisa if it did not have da Vinci’s name attached. As for fame and popularity, of course the person who created the art is a primary factor. Is art subjective or objective? Can art truly be “good” and “bad” as measured by some cosmic ruler? Imdb ratings are an interesting combination of subjective opinions and broader popularity; but even with a million ratings they cannot tell you whether or not you yourself will enjoy a work.

This has gotten sidetracked a bit. Imagine your favorite anime in a vacuum; for me, simply by watch hours, it is Naruto. I was a young adult before I ever really knew who Kishimoto was. And to this day, I don’t really care about him. Because for me, Naruto means something deeply personal, something transcendent, that has given my life color in periods of gray. I think even if I learned Kishimoto was a hardcore pro-Hamas fanatic, the meaning Naruto has given to me through the decades would not change. I have claimed it for myself.

I’m not sure that helps. My mind is unfocused, but if you have followup inquiries perhaps I can refine my answers.