Crunchyroll has expanded the celebrity presenter lineup for the tenth annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards with the addition of Thai K-pop artist BamBam from GOT7, contemporary musician Ethan Bortnick, NCT and WayV member TEN, and Grammy-nominated Puerto Rican recording artist Young Miko, bringing international music star power to anime’s premier awards ceremony on May 23, 2026. The newly announced presenters join a growing roster of celebrity anime fans including hip-hop legend RZA, global superstar The Weeknd, actor Winston Duke, Japanese actress Asuka Saito, and Indian actress Rashmika Mandanna, demonstrating anime’s expanding influence across entertainment industries and geographic boundaries.
Hosted by entertainer Jon Kabira and voice actress Sally Amaki, the ceremony will stream live from Tokyo starting with the Orange Carpet Pre-Show at 5:00 PM JST followed by the main awards at 6:00 PM JST on Crunchyroll’s Twitch, TikTok, and YouTube channels, plus Global and Japanese Sony Group Corp YouTube channels, with broadcasts available in nine languages including English, Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Castilian Spanish, French, German, Hindi, Italian, and Latin Spanish, ensuring accessibility for anime’s worldwide fanbase.
K-Pop Stars Represent Anime’s Asian Pop Culture Synergy
The inclusion of BamBam and TEN as presenters acknowledges the deep interconnection between K-pop and anime fandom, where overlap between the two communities has created mutually reinforcing cultural phenomena. BamBam, the Thai-born rapper from GOT7 who launched his solo career in 2021, brings cheerful vocals and artistic versatility that extends beyond his group’s rap-focused image, appealing to audiences who appreciate performers who transcend single-genre categorization, similar to how anime encompasses diverse storytelling approaches.
TEN’s participation leverages his distinctive solo career alongside his work with NCT and WayV, with his 2024 solo debut “Nightwalker” and 2025 EP “Stunner” topping iTunes Albums charts in 19 countries while earning Billboard recognition as one of the year’s best K-pop songs. His Thai heritage and global success through Korean entertainment infrastructure mirrors anime’s Japanese origins, spreading internationally through streaming platforms like Crunchyroll that connect creators with worldwide audiences.
Both artists represent K-pop’s third generation and beyond, where international members and global perspectives have become normalized rather than exceptional, paralleling anime’s evolution from Japanese cultural export to a truly global medium consumed and celebrated across continents and cultures without geographic limitations.
Young Miko and Ethan Bortnick Bring Musical Diversity
Young Miko’s Grammy nomination and status as one of Puerto Rico’s most influential musical voices demonstrate anime’s penetration into Latin music markets, where the medium has exploded in popularity over the past decade. With over 20 million monthly Spotify listeners and 21 million social media followers, Young Miko represents mainstream music success built on a genre-defying sound that resonates with anime’s own genre-blending storytelling that refuses confinement to single categories or demographic targets.
Her commanding presence and massive global fanbase position her as an ideal ambassador for anime’s expanding reach into communities where the medium increasingly shapes cultural conversation and artistic inspiration. Latin America has emerged as one of anime’s fastest-growing markets, with streaming viewership and merchandise sales demonstrating engagement levels comparable to traditional strongholds in North America and Europe.
Ethan Bortnick brings a different musical perspective as a contemporary musician, pianist, and songwriter blending classical roots with modern sound. His breakout singles “cut my fingers off” and “engravings” have accumulated over 135 million Spotify streams, while his artistic vision aims to mainstream classical music through bold new approaches, paralleling anime’s mission to lift animation from children’s medium to art form appreciated across age groups and cultural contexts.
Bortnick’s classical-contemporary fusion mirrors anime’s ability to combine traditional Japanese aesthetics with cutting-edge visual techniques and universal storytelling that transcends cultural specificity. His 135 million streams demonstrate that audiences respond to artistry that respects tradition while embracing innovation, the exact balance anime achieves through its evolution from Osamu Tezuka’s foundational work to contemporary productions pushing medium boundaries.
Previously Announced Star Power
The expanded presenter roster joins previously announced celebrities, demonstrating anime’s cultural cachet across entertainment industries. The Weeknd’s participation represents anime’s penetration into R&B and pop music’s highest echelons, with the Canadian superstar having referenced anime influences in his music videos and public statements about how the medium shaped his artistic vision.
RZA’s involvement connects anime to hip-hop culture, where the Wu-Tang Clan founder has long championed anime and martial arts cinema as foundational influences on his music and philosophy. His presence validates anime’s role in shaping hip-hop’s visual language and storytelling approaches that prioritize mythology, power dynamics, and personal transformation.
Winston Duke brings Hollywood credibility through his Marvel Cinematic Universe work and critical acclaim, while Rashmika Mandanna represents Indian cinema’s growing engagement with anime as the medium explodes across South Asian markets. Asuka Saito’s participation as a Japanese actress provides domestic star power for the Tokyo ceremony.