Anime enthusiasts worldwide are buzzing with excitement as the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2024 unveils its star-studded lineup of presenters, including wrestling icon Mercedes Varnado. With over 34 million votes cast by fans globally, nearly double the previous year, this year’s awards ceremony is set to be a monumental celebration of anime. Varnado, known to wrestling fans as Sasha Banks, will join a host of celebrities from various entertainment fields to honor the best in anime.
Mercedes Varnado, a WWE World Champion, actress, and entrepreneur, brings her dynamic presence to the Crunchyroll Anime Awards stage. Her inclusion in the presenter lineup highlights the growing mainstream appeal of anime and its ability to attract talent from diverse backgrounds. Varnado’s fans, and the wider anime community, eagerly anticipate her appearance and contribution to the event.
Alongside Mercedes Varnado, the Anime Awards will feature an impressive roster of celebrity presenters. NFL star DeMarcus Lawrence of the Dallas Cowboys, acclaimed actress Chiaki Kuriyama, and Indian film actor Rashmika Mandanna are also set to grace the stage. This diverse group of presenters underscores the global reach and cultural impact of anime. The event will also feature appearances from director Joaquim Dos Santos (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse), GRAMMY-nominated artist Labrinth, actress Liza Soberano, fashion creator Nava Rose, the Oscar-winning duo Phil Lord & Chris Miller (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse), GRAMMY-nominated musician Porter Robinson, and many more.
Adding to the spectacle, the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2024 will showcase unique musical performances. This year features a specially created Anime Awards theme song by renowned composers Hiroyuki SAWANO (Attack on Titan, Solo Leveling) and KOHTA YAMAMOTO (Attack on Titan, The Seven Deadly Sins). They will perform this inaugural theme live for the first time during the ceremony. Furthermore, Japanese pop duo YOASOBI, fresh off their upcoming Coachella set, will also perform, adding to the musical dynamism of the event. In a special nod to anime history, Shing02, along with OMA and SPIN MASTER A-1, will commemorate the 20th anniversary of Samurai Champloo with a performance of the iconic opening song “battlecry,” exclusively for livestream viewers. A live orchestra will also present a symphony-style performance celebrating milestone anime anniversaries, promising a rich tapestry of musical moments.
The Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2024 is not just an award ceremony; it’s a global celebration of anime culture, bringing together fans, industry professionals, and celebrity enthusiasts like Mercedes Varnado. The event will be livestreamed on Saturday, March 2, 2024, starting at 6 PM JST on Crunchyroll’s YouTube and Twitch channels. For those wanting to catch it later, reruns will be available from March 16th on various platforms including Amazon Freevee, LG Channels, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, and VIZIO WatchFree+. With Mercedes Varnado and other prominent figures participating, and a captivating lineup of musical performances, the 2024 Crunchyroll Anime Awards is poised to be an unforgettable event for anime fans around the world.
