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Japan Times
30-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Anime's big night out is getting bigger — and more surreal
All eyes at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards turn to NFL defensive end Myles Garrett as he begins to sing the theme from 'Pokemon.' There's a lot happening on the 'orange carpet' ahead of the ninth edition of the anime streaming service's awards ceremony, held on May 25 at the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa in Tokyo. Musician Rina Sawayama and Maneskin vocalist Damiano David chat with the media about how Japanese animation has inspired them over the years. On the other side of the aisle, 'Stranger Things' stars Finn Wolfhard and Gaten Matarazzo joke with one another while photographers snap pictures of them. Still, hearing the massive American football all-pro breaking into song while standing next to Olympic gold medalist and snowboarder Chloe Kim for an interview with Teen Vogue grabs the most attention in this surreal scene. This spectacle is exactly what Crunchyroll wants to project about the current global popularity — and continued growth — of anime. An event that started in 2017 as a low-key affair held in San Francisco has evolved into a glamorous ceremony styled after major events like the Academy Awards. 'We've been putting more production value into it,' Travis Page, Crunchyroll's chief financial officer, tells The Japan Times from a conference room in the hotel a day before the event. 'Every year, we've been leveling up.' While the event itself grows in size and cost annually, Page says the central aim remains the same. 'The team is constantly thinking from first principles — how do we want to celebrate anime?' American snowboarder Chloe Kim and NFL star Myles Garrett attend the Crunchyroll Anime Awards. | Courtesy of Crunchyroll The ninth edition of the Crunchyroll Anime Awards did so by leaning further into the prestige associated with traditional awards ceremonies. For the first time, a kind of lifetime achievement award dubbed the Global Impact Award is bestowed upon critically acclaimed action series 'Attack on Titan.' Host Sally Amaki wears an elegant orange dress reflecting the company's colors. The messaging on screen approaches the self-important tone beloved by the American film industry: 'Anime doesn't just tell stories... it shapes our culture. It shapes our world.' Which isn't to say the peculiarities of the anime community have vanished. Virtual avatar Ironmouse interviews celebrities during the preshow. Winners go on stage holding plush dolls of characters from the series they represent. Crunchyroll devotes space to categories both silly (''must protect at all costs' character') and specific ('best isekai anime,' referring to the genre where characters get transported to new worlds). The celebrity fashion references various series, running from Japanese talent Dean Fujioka's nod to 'Spy × Family' to American country artist Kacey Musgraves channeling 'Sailor Moon.' 'My look today is inspired by Zero Two from 'Darling in the Franxx,' but we had to drag it up a little bit,' says drag queen Plastique Tiara from the orange carpet about their get-up for the awards. 'I think most of my looks are very anime inspired,' Plastique Tiara adds. 'I think it's a world of creativity and like a recycling bin of just fab. I always go to anime.' As has become the norm for the Crunchyroll Anime Awards in recent years, the ceremony itself allows the Sony-owned streaming service to show just how beloved the medium has become via a plethora of famous guests hailing from a variety of fields. It's also an opportunity for Crunchyroll to flaunt its power in the industry. 'We just announced that we've hit 17 million subscribers, up from 15 million last year,' Page says of Crunchyroll's 'exciting' continued growth. 'The confirmation that we are doing our jobs and we are successfully giving customers and fans what they want is the fact that people keep signing up for us.' J-pop artist Lisa performs 'crossing field' from 'Sword Art Online' at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards on May 25. | Courtesy of Crunchyroll Crunchyroll has come under plenty of scrutiny as it has become the key player in anime streaming, most recently facing criticism for expressing interest in experimenting with artificial intelligence (a plan it backtracked from in April). Still, the data coupled with the soft-power pageantry of its Anime Awards underlines its status as interest in the medium continues to grow. 'Lots of young fans are coming in. Gen Z and Gen Alpha tell us that anime is a huge influence in their lives,' says Crunchyroll President Rahul Purini from the orange carpet. That statement is echoed by the younger stars present at the ceremony. 'Through the storytelling aspect of anime with all the complex characters and themes of like, battling yourself, I use that in my music to process emotions in my own life and how I put that to song,' says 20-year-old artist d4vd, adding that anime helped expose him to Japanese artists such as tricot and Eve, who he 'loves.' 'It's such a magical way to portray human emotions and to kind of exaggerate what we feel every day, and it's very beautiful, because sometimes the emotions we feel are exaggerated compared to the context we're in, and it's something that makes you feel very understood,' says Maneskin's David of anime. 'Sometimes it can also give you the strength to talk about something that you don't really feel ready to.' The Crunchyroll Anime Awards also gives the company an opportunity to highlight the global reach of the industry, underlined by the Association of Japanese Anime reporting in its 2024 industry report that the international market has become bigger than the domestic one. Page says the 2024 ceremony saw a greater push to bring in guests from diverse places, an initiative that has continued in 2025 with attendees hailing from the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America. '(Anime) is still a bit underground in Chile, but there's so many people watching it overall,' says Chilean American pop star Paloma Mami. Maneskin vocalist Damiano David says anime is "a magical way to portray human emotions." | Courtesy of Crunchyroll This global reach proves to be one of the most interesting developments for Page. 'One of the exciting things to me is seeing which markets and territories really have fallen in love with the dubs we've been producing for them,' he says of Crunchyroll's efforts to offer programs in local languages. 'In India, for example, we're dubbing into three different languages — Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. The passion for which viewers are watching in those dubs rather than the subs makes me think we did something right here.' It applies to the shows being produced, too. Page points to the growing number of series being created from intellectual property outside of the usual manga-to-anime pipeline. His go-to example is 'Solo Leveling,' an action-centric series based on a South Korean webtoon. Crunchyroll recently partnered with entertainment company Aniplex to form Hayate, a joint anime production operation aimed at 'being a little more experimental' in creating new titles geared toward the international market, according to Page. Yet signs of the globalization of anime appear frequently at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards. 'Solo Leveling,' directed by Shunsuke Nakashige, ends up being the big winner of the night, taking home the anime of the year trophy. The award for best original anime goes to 'Ninja Kamui,' a series animated by a Japanese studio but directed by a South Korean director and premiered on U.S. entertainment block Adult Swim. 'People in many countries have been watching anime for a long time, but thanks to Crunchyroll distributing it worldwide, I can really feel just how many people are watching it and hearing my work. It's become more tangible for us,' says J-pop artist Lisa, who has enjoyed global success via songs tied to anime and will tour North America this June. While the main goal of the Crunchyroll Anime Awards is to celebrate the industry from its birthplace while also flexing the company's strength, the ceremony also offers a kind of best-case scenario for the spread of pop culture, bringing together people from far-flung places thanks to entertainment. 'The fact that an Italian band can collaborate with a Japanese artist ... that's such a long jump, but it's actually possible,' David says, referencing his group's work with the series 'Beastars.' 'Just look at tonight. There's people from all over the world united by their love of art.'
Daily Mail
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Browns' Myles Garrett divides NFL fans by skipping practices for Japanese vacation after signing $160m deal
Myles Garrett's whirlwind tour of Japan with his rumored girlfriend and Olympic snowboarder Chloe Kim comes at a time when his Cleveland Browns teammates are busy working at the team facility in Barea, Ohio. 'Tryna buy a place her [as soon as possible],' Garrett wrote on social media alongside a photo of himself shopping on the streets of Tokyo. '[Hit me up] if you know someone.' Known as organized team activities (OTAs), the spring practices are not mandatory. They are, however, being attended by all healthy Browns players outside of veterans Garrett, Diontae Johnson, Greg Newsome II and David Njoku. But while coach Kevin Stefanski stressed to reporters that it's 'their prerogative,' Garrett's absence comes weeks after the All-Pro defensive end signed a four-year extension worth $160 million, including $123.5 million in guarantees. And that factor appears to have divided fans. 'Myles Garrett is annoying,' one critic wrote on X before referencing the 29-year-old's withdrawn off-season trade demand. 'Should've traded him.' 'Leaders show up,' another added. Many more defended Garrett, who has been the most consistent presence in the Browns' locker room over the last eight seasons while being named to six Pro Bowl teams and earning AP Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2023. 'The real question is why aren't OTAs in Japan with Myles Garrett?!?!?' one fan joked on X. 'Bro is the best [defensive end] in the league he doesn't need to be there,' another added. Most commenters focused on one key word: voluntary. 'Who cares?' a Garrett defender asked. 'They are voluntary.' 'Voluntary,' another added. 'Myles shows up every single season.' Some wondered whether Garrett's photo actually shows him in Japan, which is an understandable question given the English-language signs in the background. However, Daily Mail has confirmed the used clothing store behind Garrett, Modescape, is indeed located in Tokyo's trendy Shibuya neighborhood. It's worth noting that Garrett has continued training this offseason and was even seen working out with Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons. Garrett rescinded his trade offer prior to signing his contract extension in Cleveland, which further bolstered its defensive line by drafting former Michigan star Mason Graham with the fifth pick in last month's NFL Draft. Since then, Garrett had been rather quiet this offseason until last week, when he joined Kim, the Olympic gold medalist and American snowboarding icon, on the red carpet of the Crunchyroll Anime Awards in Tokyo. Garrett had not been linked with anyone in his personal life before appearing at the anime award show with Kim. Thursday is the final day of the current OTA session in Berea, but players will be back from June 3 to June 5 before mandatory minicamp later in the month, where Garrett is expected to participate.
Fox News
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Myles Garrett absent from Browns OTAs as romance rumors swirl with Olympic star
After signing his record extension in March, Myles Garrett said he would "plan to be the best person possible" in the Cleveland Browns locker room. Well, that plan doesn't appear to be getting off to the best start, as the star defensive end skipped voluntary OTAs this week. Garrett requested a trade from the Browns during the playoffs - roughly a month later, he signed an extension that made him, temporarily, the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league (Ja'Marr Chase surpassed him shortly after). Garrett initially cited the "desire to win" as the reason for his request - of course, the Browns have become notorious for not doing that. But in the team's first full-team activities of the offseason, Garrett was absent. Instead of making plays on the field, Garrett was sparking relationship rumors with American snowboarder Chloe Kim. The two made an appearance together at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards in Tokyo, where Kim was a presenter. Garrett also posted on his Instagram story that he was "tryna buy a place here asap." Neither have publicly confirmed their relationship, but signs point that they are an item. Kim has two Olympic gold medals, three World Championship titles, and eight golds in Winter X Games. The Athletic noted that this isn't exactly unusual for Garrett, who "is frequently late to the facility" and has skipped mandatory team activities on multiple occasions." OTAs are not mandatory, and even head coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed his absence. But, OutKick noted that after Garrett signed his extension, he said he would "plan to be the best person possible in this locker room, be the best leader possible, as well as dominating on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays." Manadatory minicamp for teams begins on June 10 and will last three days. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Romance in Sports Realm: Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett is dating Olympic gold medalist Chloe Kim
(Image via X: Myles Garrett and Chloe Kim) Talk about a grand hard launch! Talk about red carpet-y romance! Talk about saying it out loud! That's what happened to Myles Garrett! A red carpet appearance led to the discovery of NFL-Olympics romance! On May 25, Myles Garrett was all smiles with Chloe Kim standing next to him at the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards at Grand Prince Hotel Takawana in Tokyo, Japan. Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is dating Olympic snowboarder Chloe Kim! The cute couple's evident height difference resembled Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal height difference! The way Meghan Markle, The Duchess of Sussex, admires Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, with that awe, gleam, and enamored feeling, the same way Chloe Kim gazed at Myles Garrett at the red carpet reveal! 5-time ESPY Award recipient Chloe Kim could not stop staring at Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett On May 27, the New York Post reported Myles Garrett supported Chloe Kim, who was a presenter during the night's festivities, while she spoke with reporters on the red carpet. Kim sported an all-black and little-white, off-shouldered, bow-y dress. She paired it with red-hot lipstick and braided ponytails. Myles Garrett looked regal with his dark navy blue suit and all-black tight pants. Under the suit, Garrett wore an all-white full shirt and a black bow to match the bow-y dress of his new beau, Chloe Kim! While on the red carpet, Kim couldn't stop staring at Myles Garrett! Myles was all smiles and probably shy with all the attention! When snowboarder Chloe Kim said the word 'romance', defensive end Myles Garrett gave off a flirtatious smile On May 25, the Tokuriki Channel shared Chloe Kim's interview with the reporters. Check out the link below! One can literally admire the way Myles Garrett is innocently standing a little away from Kim, letting her take the spotlight for the reporters' questions! Chloe Kim / Anime Awards 2025 Orange carpet ( Crunchyroll ) May 25th A reporter asked, 'It is going to be a slice-of-life sports anime, or it is a romance sports anime?' Kim answered enthusiastically, 'Romance!' - Myles Garrett gave off a flirtatious smile when Kim said 'romance'! 'Is it based in Japan or in the US?' asked the reporter. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Kim looked up at the ceiling before answering, 'Oh, why not both? International superstar.' - Myles smiled with a glint in his eyes. 'Teammate rival or current champion rival?' asked a reporter. Kim pursed her lips into a pout and said, 'Current champion rival, yes. This sounds good! Let's make this happen!' The reporters then asked Kim to pose with her trophy. She won her third World Championship in Snowboard Halfpipe in March 2025 and clinched a spot on her third Olympic team in 2026! Myles Garrett attended the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards for his ladylove and Olympic snowboarder Chloe Kim 29-year-old Myles Garrett went as 25-year-old Olympic gold medalist Chloe Kim's plus one at the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards! Men supporting successful women at their award functions are just what this world needs right now! Where else does one see this? Does it really happen? Well, only if broad-minded individuals like Myles Garrett can do it out loud in public! One believes it to be a reality! 6-time Pro Bowler Myles Garrett is one of the highest-paid non-quarterbacks in NFL history On the work front, Myles Garrett signed a bank-breaking 4-year extension deal with the Cleveland Browns worth $160 million and $123 million guaranteed! He's one of the highest-paid non-quarterbacks in the history of the NFL. The 2023 NFL DPOY Myles Garrett and gold medalist Chloe Kim looked like the most decorated duo in the sports realm On May 27, Pro Football and Sports Network said, neither athlete has publicly confirmed anything yet the body language said more than enough. They were cozy, confident, and enjoying each other's company! And honestly, they might already be the most decorated duo in sports! Also Read: Aaron Rodgers repeats history by missing OTAs and minicamps of the Pittsburgh Steelers | NFL News - Times of India Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
NFL star Myles Garrett appears to hard launch shock new relationship with Olympic gold medalist on red carpet
NFL star Myles Garrett has appeared to hard launch a relationship with Olympic gold medalist snowboarder Chloe Kim on Sunday night. Kim and Garrett appeared to look at each other lovingly, while standing arm-in-arm, on the red carpet of the Crunchyroll Anime Awards in Tokyo. Garrett had not been linked with anyone in his personal life before appearing at the award show with Kim. Garrett is wearing a blue suit jacket with a white undershirt and a black bow tie. The Cleveland Brown also has on black slacks and shoes. Kim is wearing a black and white dress that extends beyond her feet. Garrett, 29, has one of the elite defensive players in the NFL, with Kim, whose parents are from South Korea, representing the United States at two different Olympiads. Kim has won back-to-back gold medals in the women's halfpipe event at the Olympics, and is a favorite for a three-pear next year in Italy. Earlier this year, Garrett signed a record contract extension, where the defensive lineman will make around $40million per season. Garrett has also taken home $123.5million in guaranteed money, which stands to make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in football history. The contract is a far cry from where Garrett was earlier in the offseason, where he asked to be traded away from the Browns. Now with Kim on his arm, plenty of attention will be given to the couple, which may turn out to be similar to what Travis Kelce has received since he first appeared alongside Taylor Swift in September 2023.
