Global music star The Weeknd is stepping into the anime spotlight with a major role at one of the industry’s biggest events. His involvement highlights how deeply anime has influenced his creative journey over the years.
The Weeknd tapped to present top honor at Crunchyroll Anime Awards
The artist, born Abel Tesfaye, will appear at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards on May 23 in Tokyo. This marks the event’s 10th edition, and he has been chosen to present the biggest prize of the night, Anime of the Year. Tesfaye shared that anime has been part of his life since childhood. He mentioned early favorites like Sailor Moon and Goku, recalling how they shaped his imagination growing up.
“When I was first introduced to anime, I was a child. Sailor Moon was one of my first crushes, Goku was 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 (via Compex).”
His connection deepened during his teenage years, especially after watching Samurai Champloo by Shinichiro Watanabe. He said the show blended anime and hip-hop in a way that changed how he viewed both music and storytelling. That influence carried into his own work
Tesfaye credited the late producer Nujabes as a major inspiration behind his early music. He explained that tracks on his breakout mixtape House of Balloons were written over Nujabes’ instrumentals, adding that without those influences, the project “simply wouldn’t exist.”
Fans are currently voting across 32 categories, including the top honor he will present. Voting is open through April 15 on platforms like Crunchyroll and MyAnimeList, building anticipation ahead of the ceremony.
Beyond anime, The Weeknd remains one of the most successful artists of his generation. Known for hits like Blinding Lights, Starboy, and The Hills, he has earned multiple Grammy Awards and global chart dominance.
Originally reported by Rishabh Shandilya on Mandatory
