One of the world's biggest music stars just revealed that anime shaped the very foundation of his career. The Weeknd will present Anime of the Year at the 10th Crunchyroll Anime Awards in Tokyo on May 23, and his deeply personal connection to Japanese animation goes far deeper than most fans expected.

[Update, July 2026] The May 23 ceremony was held at the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa in Tokyo and drew a record 73 million-plus votes worldwide (up sharply from 51 million the previous year). My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON, one of the nominees, won Anime of the Year, presented by The Weeknd, while Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle Part 1 took Film of the Year.

The Weeknd's Anime Origin Story

On April 10, 2026, Crunchyroll announced that Grammy-winning artist The Weeknd (born Abel Tesfaye) will appear at the 10th Crunchyroll Anime Awards in Tokyo to present the ceremony's most prestigious honor: Anime of the Year.

What made the announcement remarkable was The Weeknd's extended personal statement. He described growing up with Sailor Moon as one of his earliest crushes, sparring in his imagination with Goku, and being mesmerized by Daft Punk's "One More Time" music video. But it was Shinichiro Watanabe's Samurai Champloo, discovered in his late teens, that he called transformative.

The show's seamless blend of samurai storytelling with hip-hop music by the late Nujabes, Fat Jon, and Force of Nature fundamentally changed how The Weeknd approached both film and music. He stated that his iconic debut project House of Balloons was directly shaped by this influence, with Nujabes playing constantly during the recording of tracks like "The Morning," "Glass Table Girls," and "Loft Music."

He also credited legendary anime directors Satoshi Kon (Perfect Blue), Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell), and Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira) with shaping what he called his "visual DNA," the distinctive look and feel that defines The Weeknd's artistic identity.

The 10th Anniversary Ceremony: A Milestone Event

The Crunchyroll Anime Awards launched in 2017 and has grown into the world's largest fan-voted anime celebration. This year's 10th anniversary ceremony was held at the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa in Tokyo on May 23, with a global livestream.

The presenter lineup reflects anime's deepening ties with global entertainment. Alongside The Weeknd, RZA of Wu-Tang Clan, Mexican singer DANNA, and K-pop artist hannah bahng are confirmed. Japanese guests include actress Kasumi Arimura, former Nogizaka46 members Asuka Saito and Nanase Nishino, cosplayer Enako, and comedy duo Mitorizu. MCs Sally Amaki and John Kabira returned for their fourth consecutive year.

The ceremony will also feature music tributes spanning anime history: DEAN FUJIOKA performing "History Maker" from Yuri!!! on ICE (the first-ever Anime of the Year winner), Porno Graffitti celebrating My Hero Academia's 10th anniversary, ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION performing Naruto's iconic opening "Haruka Kanata," and Yoko Takahashi marking Neon Genesis Evangelion's 30th anniversary.

Sony Group CEO Hiroki Totoki will deliver the opening remarks, underscoring the corporate significance of this event within Sony's entertainment ecosystem; Crunchyroll operates as a joint venture between Sony Pictures Entertainment and Aniplex.

This Year's Anime of the Year Nominees

Six titles are competing for the top prize:

  • DAN DA DAN Season 2: Leading with 18 category nominations (20 total), this supernatural action-comedy has been a global phenomenon
  • Gachiakuta: The dark horse with 16 nominations, riding a wave of international popularity that surprised many in Japan
  • My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON: The epic conclusion to a decade-long journey
  • Takopiis Original Sin (Takopi no Genzai): A gut-wrenching psychological drama that stunned audiences worldwide
  • The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto): 16 categories, 17 nominations, powered by devoted fans
  • The Summer Hikaru Died (Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu): A groundbreaking horror-BL hybrid that earned international critical acclaim

Film of the Year nominees include Chainsaw Man: The Movie – Reze Arc, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part 1, The Rose of Versailles, and Mamoru Hosoda's The Endless Scarlet.

Voting runs through April 15 at 11:59 PM PT (April 16, 3:59 PM Japan time) via the Anime Awards website, Crunchyroll, and MyAnimeList. Fans can vote once daily across all 32 categories.

A Decade of Anime of the Year Winners

Looking back at the award's history reveals how dramatically the global anime landscape has evolved:

Year Winner
2017 (1st) Yuri!!! on ICE
2018 (2nd) My Hero Academia
2019 (3rd) DEVILMAN crybaby
2020 (4th) Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
2021 (5th) Jujutsu Kaisen
2022 (6th) Attack on Titan: The Final Season
2023 (7th) Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
2024 (8th) Oshi no Ko
2025 (9th) Solo Leveling

The list tells a story of diversification: from sports anime to shonen classics, Netflix originals to Korean webtoon adaptations. Each winner has reflected the broader cultural moment in global anime fandom.

When Pop Culture and Anime Collide

The Weeknd's appearance is the latest and perhaps most significant example of anime's infiltration into mainstream Western entertainment. Recent Anime Awards presenters have included Megan Thee Stallion, Kacey Musgraves, and Måneskin's Damiano David, all artists who openly credit anime as creative inspiration, not just a passing interest.

What sets The Weeknd apart is the specificity of his references. Name-dropping Nujabes, Satoshi Kon, and Mamoru Oshii signals a depth of knowledge that goes well beyond casual fandom. For the Japanese anime industry, these high-profile endorsements carry real weight: they validate anime as a serious art form on the global stage and potentially draw new audiences who might discover Japanese animation through their favorite musicians.

The timing is also significant. Crunchyroll, operating under Sony's umbrella, has been aggressively expanding its global footprint. Having one of the world's most-streamed artists present at your awards ceremony in Tokyo, while openly crediting Japanese creators by name, is a powerful statement about where anime sits in the global entertainment hierarchy.

How Does Your Country View Anime Awards?

Japanese social media has been largely positive about The Weeknd's involvement, especially his specific mentions of Nujabes and Watanabe. Some fans worry that celebrity presenters shift the ceremony's focus away from the anime itself, while others point out that the fan-voting system sometimes produces results that feel disconnected from Japanese tastes. What about where you live: do anime awards get much attention? Which nominee do you think deserves Anime of the Year? Let us know in the comments!

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