Crunchyroll has unveiled news that global icon and long-time anime fan The Weeknd will appear at the landmark tenth iteration Crunchyroll Anime Awards taking place on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan. The GRAMMY-winning artist known for weaving anime influences into his work will present the evening’s most prestigious honor: Anime of the Year.
Fans around the world can cast their votes daily for their favorite anime, helping decide winners across 32 categories—including the Anime of the Year recipient to be presented by The Weeknd. Voting is now open via the Anime Awards Official Website, Crunchyroll, and MyAnimeList, and runs through April 15 at 11:59 PM PT.
The Weeknd joins a growing lineup of celebrity anime-fan presenters shaped by anime’s influence on culture and creativity worldwide.
The Weeknd revealed that anime, especially famed director Shinichiro Watanabe’s influence, has been a key inspiration throughout his career, starting with his iconic first project, House of Balloons, “When I was first introduced to anime, I was a child. 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. 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. 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.”
The Crunchyroll Anime Awards is the leading yearly awards program honoring the creators, musicians, and performances powering the global love of anime. Sony Music Solutions Inc., part of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and Dempsey Productions will support Crunchyroll in the execution of the event. The event will be livestreamed for global audiences.
