The Weeknd: “I wouldn’t be here without Anime”
Written by WorldOneFm on April 9, 2026
The intersection of global pop culture and Japanese animation is reaching a fever pitch as Crunchyroll announces that GRAMMY-winning icon The Weeknd will present the most prestigious honor of the night—Anime of the Year—at the tenth annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards. The milestone ceremony is set to take place in Tokyo on Saturday, May 23, 2026.
For The Weeknd, this appearance is more than a celebrity cameo; it is a tribute to the medium that built his creative identity. “When I was first introduced to anime, I was a child,” he shared, citing Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z as early influences. However, it was the hip-hop-infused masterpiece Samurai Champloo that truly altered his trajectory.
“It was the first time I experienced two of my favorite mediums—anime and hip hop—blending so seamlessly that it completely reshaped the way I watched film and listened to music,” the artist explained. He revealed that his debut era was directly birthed from this fusion: “Without Watanabe and Nujabes, House of Balloons simply wouldn’t exist. I wrote ‘The Morning,’ ‘Glass Table Girls,’ and ‘Loft Music’ over Nujabes’ instrumentals.”
This year’s “Anime of the Year” category features a powerhouse lineup reflecting the diverse reach of the industry. The nominees include:
DAN DA DAN Season 2
Gachiakuta
My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
Takopi’s Original Sin
The Apothecary Diaries (Season 2)
The Summer Hikaru Died
Fans have until April 16 to cast their daily votes across 32 categories via the official Anime Awards website, Crunchyroll, and MyAnimeList.
