The Weeknd is stepping into the spotlight at one of anime’s biggest global celebrations, bringing his long-standing love for the medium full circle.
The global superstar will appear at the 10th annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards, taking place on May 23, 2026, in Tokyo, Japan, Crunchyroll announced.
Best known for blending cinematic visuals and cross-cultural influences into his music, the Grammy-winning artist will present the night’s most prestigious award: Anime of the Year.
Global voting for Crunchyroll Anime Awards is only until April 15
Fans worldwide can help decide the winners by casting their votes across 32 categories.
Voting is currently open via the official Anime Awards website, Crunchyroll, and MyAnimeList, and will run until April 15 at 11:59pm PT | April 16 at 2:59pm GMT+8.
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This year’s Anime of the Year 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
The final winner will be revealed live during the ceremony, with The Weeknd taking the stage to present the award.
The Weeknd’s anime roots grew early
Beyond his role as a presenter, The Weeknd’s connection to anime runs deep.
He shared that one of his first anime experiences as a child included Sailor Moon, which he humorously described as his “first crush,” alongside Dragon Ball’s Goku as his “first imaginary sparring partner.”
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Music also played a role, with Daft Punk’s “One More Time” leaving a lasting impression through its iconic anime-style music video.
However, it wasn’t until his teenage years that anime truly reshaped his creative direction.
How Samurai Champloo shaped The Weeknd’s sound
The turning point came with Samurai Champloo, directed by Shinichiro Watanabe. The series’ seamless blend of samurai storytelling and hip-hop music left a profound impact on The Weeknd’s artistic identity.
He described the experience as transformative, highlighting how the works of Nujabes, Fat Jon, and Force of Nature introduced him to a new way of experiencing music and visual storytelling.
This influence carried directly into his breakthrough project, House of Balloons. Tracks like “The Morning,” “Glass Table Girls,” and “Loft Music” were written over Nujabes’ instrumentals—something he credits as foundational to his sound.
Without Watanabe and Nujabes, he stated plainly, House of Balloons wouldn’t exist.
Anime’s lasting influence on The Weeknd’s visual identity
The impact didn’t stop at music. The Weeknd also cited legendary creators such as Satoshi Kon, Mamoru Oshii, and Katsuhiro Otomo as key inspirations behind the visual DNA of his work.
Through their storytelling and artistic direction, anime helped shape the darker, cinematic tone that has become synonymous with his brand.
For The Weeknd, anime isn’t just a passion—it’s a defining influence on his career.
The Crunchyroll Anime Awards is a global celebration of anime culture
The Crunchyroll Anime Awards continues to stand as the premier global event celebrating anime creators, musicians, and performances.
The 2026 edition marks its milestone 10th anniversary, with support from Sony Music Solutions Inc. and Dempsey Productions.
The ceremony will be livestreamed worldwide, allowing fans everywhere to tune in and celebrate the medium’s biggest achievements.
About Samurai Champloo
Samurai Champloo is a genre-blending anime that first aired in 2004, created and directed by Shinichiro Watanabe and produced by the studio Manglobe.
Set in an alternate Edo-period Japan, the series follows three unlikely companions—Mugen, Jin, and Fuu—as they travel across the country in search of a mysterious “samurai who smells of sunflowers.”
What set the show apart at the time was its bold fusion of traditional samurai storytelling with modern hip-hop culture, both in its visual style and soundtrack.
The music was a defining element of the series, featuring influential artists like Nujabes, Fat Jon, and Force of Nature, whose lo-fi beats and experimental sounds helped shape its unique identity. This seamless blend of historical narrative and contemporary music made Samurai Champloo a cult classic, widely praised for its storytelling, direction, and cultural impact—especially for audiences who connected with both anime and hip-hop.
