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The Weeknd Credits Anime for Shaping His Iconic Sound
9 Apr
Summary
- Anime inspired The Weeknd's early music, starting with House of Balloons.
- Samurai Champloo and its music were transformative for his creative process.
- He will present the Anime of the Year award at the 10th Crunchyroll Awards.

The Weeknd has shared how anime has significantly influenced his artistic journey, particularly his early musical projects. He attributes the creation of his debut project, "House of Balloons," to the transformative impact of Shinichiro Watanabe's anime "Samurai Champloo" and its unique musical score. The fusion of samurai storytelling with hip-hop-inspired music, featuring artists like Nujabes, deeply resonated with him.
This inspiration extended to other visual artists such as Satoshi Kon and Mamoru Oshii, whose works shaped The Weeknd's aesthetic. He will demonstrate his appreciation by presenting the "Anime of the Year" award at the 10th Crunchyroll Anime Awards ceremony. This event, scheduled for Saturday, May 23, in Tokyo, celebrates the global passion for anime.