Crunchyroll has announced that The Weeknd will join the 10th Crunchyroll Anime Awards as a celebrity presenter. The Grammy-winning artist will officially be presenting the award for Anime of the Year at the live ceremony in Tokyo on May 23, 2026. He joins a lineup of other celebrities and musical artists such as RZA, DANNA, hannah bahng, and more.
The announcement marks a significant milestone for the artist, who has previously acknowledged the impact of anime on his work. In an official statement, The Weeknd recalled his introduction to anime as a child through Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball‘s Goku, but the series that later stood out to him the most was Samurai Champloo. He noted that his debut project, “House of Balloons,” was written over instrumentals by the late Nujabes and shaped by the works of Shinichiro Watanabe (Samurai Champloo, Cowboy Bebop).
“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,” he stated. “Without Watanabe and Nujabes, House of Balloons simply wouldn’t exist.”
The Weeknd also shared how his visual influences extended even further, drawing from the works of Satoshi Kon (Perfect Blue), Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell), and Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira).
Image source: Crunchyroll
The Anime of the Year nominees for the Crunchyroll Awards are:
- • The Apothecary Diaries Season 2
- • DAN DA DAN Season 2
- • Gachiakuta
- • My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
- • The Summer Hikaru Died
- • Takopi’s Original Sin
Global fan voting is currently active through April 15 at 11:59 PM PT for the Crunchyroll Anime Awards. Fans can vote daily across 32 categories via the Anime Awards official website, Crunchyroll, and MyAnimeList.
Sources: Crunchyroll News, press release
