Anime’s biggest night went full celebrity crossover

Anime’s biggest night went full celebrity crossover

The 10th Crunchyroll Anime Awards in Tokyo had the kind of guest list that says anime has officially gone global: The Weeknd presented My Hero Academia with anime of the year, while RZA, Winston Duke, Young Miko, BamBam, TEN, Asuka Saito, Kasumi Arimura, Nanase Nishino, and Rashmika Mandanna all hit the orange carpet. My Hero Academia won four awards total, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle took film of the year and seven prizes overall, and organizers said 73 million fans voted this year, up from 51 million in 2025.

Gobble's Take: When The Weeknd hands out an anime trophy and 73 million people vote, this isn’t niche anymore—it’s a full-blown pop-culture awards circuit. Source: Hollywood Reporter

Harry Styles fandom is still chasing “the truth” behind the brand

A community news analysis of Harry Styles fandom says celebrity branding used to run one way, but social media turned it into a two-way street where fans, journalists, and celebrities all help shape the public story. The piece focuses on how fans keep trying to uncover the “truth” behind the facade, and traces that dynamic through Styles, One Direction, and the rise of direct fan-celebrity access on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Gobble's Take: The brand used to be the mask; now the fandom helps sew it on, then spends forever trying to rip it back off. Source: Perplexity Search (community news)

PompadollS are selling fairy tales with rock-and-classical drama

In an interview profile, PompadollS members laid out a band built on worldbuilding as much as sound: Gozyu Igarashi handles songwriting, composition, CD jackets, and merchandise; Rentaro Aoki manages behind the scenes; and Kaoru Tajima oversees the band’s sound and arrangement. Aoki describes the group as a fusion of “fairy tales” and “impulse,” while also calling the music “a blend of rock and classical.”

Gobble's Take: This is the rare band interview where the vibe is as engineered as the music—and somehow that makes it cooler. Source: Perplexity Search (community news)

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