Crunchyroll has announced that The Weeknd will present Anime of the Year at the 10th annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards, which takes place May 23, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan.
The Grammy-winning artist joins this year’s live ceremony as voting remains open for fans around the world through April 15.
The Weeknd joins Crunchyroll Anime Awards
The Weeknd is set to hand out the biggest award of the night at this year’s Crunchyroll Anime Awards, presenting Anime of the Year during the live ceremony in Tokyo.
Crunchyroll says fans can vote daily across 32 categories through April 15 at 11:59 p.m. PT using the Anime Awards official website, Crunchyroll, and MyAnimeList. The event will also be livestreamed globally.
Anime helped shape The Weeknd’s career
The Weeknd also explained how deeply anime has influenced his music and visual style, going all the way back to the start of his career. He pointed to Samurai Champloo creator Shinichiro Watanabe as a major inspiration and said that influence helped shape House of Balloons.
“When I was first introduced to anime, I was a child,” said The Weeknd. “Sailor Moon was one of my first crushes, Goku my first imaginary sparring partner, and ‘One More Time’ by Daft Punk was a song and music video I couldn’t get out of my head.
“But it wasn’t until my teenage years that one specific anime changed me forever and became part of the fabric of my early career: Samurai Champloo by Shinichiro Watanabe. 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 continued, “The fusion of a samurai story told with auteur precision, paired with the sounds of Nujabes, Fat Jon, and Force of Nature was nothing short of transformative. That influence stayed with me all the way through the creation of House of Balloons, where I wrote ‘The Morning,’ ‘Glass Table Girls,’ and ‘Loft Music’ over Nujabes’ instrumentals. Without Watanabe and Nujabes, House of Balloons simply wouldn’t exist.
“Samurai Champloo opened my eyes to a more mature world of anime and helped shape my visual DNA. The works of Satoshi Kon, Mamoru Oshii, and Katsuhiro Otomo became foundational to the look and feel of The Weeknd,” he added. “So it’s safe to say I wouldn’t be here without anime. It’s an honor to celebrate the artists behind it and a medium that continues to inspire the world.”
Anime of the Year nominees revealed
Crunchyroll also confirmed the six nominees for Anime of the Year. They are:
- DAN DA DAN Season 2
- Gachiakuta
- My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
- Takopi’s Original Sin
- The Apothecary Diaries season 2
- The Summer Hikaru Died
That gives this year’s show a mix of heavy hitters, returning favorites, and newer breakout series competing for the top prize.
A bigger spotlight for anime
The Weeknd appearing at the Anime Awards is another sign of how far anime has pushed into mainstream entertainment. Crunchyroll is clearly leaning into that crossover appeal by bringing in celebrity presenters who openly talk about anime’s influence on music, film, and pop culture.
With the 10th annual ceremony set for Tokyo and fan voting open now, Crunchyroll is turning this year’s show into a bigger global event than ever.
