Quite a few Hollywood films have borrowed bits of plot or drawn inspiration from anime with good results.
The Matrix -> Ghost in the Shell. Inception -> Paprika. Hunger Games -> Battle Royale.

Direct adaptations haven't faired as well, of course. Speed Racer was pretty average, Dragonball Evolution sucked. Maybe future attempts ought to put less emphasis on being kid-friendly. There are plenty of serious anime series and films that deserve to be adapted for a wider audience. Cowboy Bebop was supposed to have been in the works for a long time, but with Hollywood being all about marketability, I can see how kid's movies might be an easier sell than afro space cowboy.

But maybe all it'll need is just one good adaptation to get the ball rolling. Marvel Studios is on a massive high at the moment and it all started with Blade and X-Men.