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The Weeknd to Present Anime of the Year at 2026 Crunchyroll Awards in Tokyo

The booking signals deeper crossover between global pop and anime fandom.

Overview

  • The Weeknd, announced Thursday, will present Anime of the Year at the 10th Crunchyroll Anime Awards on May 23 in Tokyo.
  • Fan voting is open across 32 categories with daily ballots on the Anime Awards site, Crunchyroll, and MyAnimeList through April 15 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
  • In a new statement, he credits Samurai Champloo and the music of Nujabes with shaping House of Balloons, citing tracks like The Morning, Glass Table Girls, and Loft Music.
  • He also points to anime auteurs Satoshi Kon, Mamoru Oshii, and Katsuhiro Otomo as key influences on his visual style.
  • RZA is set to present, the show will stream worldwide, and Sony Music Solutions and Dempsey Productions will support the event for Crunchyroll’s 10th annual honors.