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| (Image Source: Anime Trending/Crunchyroll) |
The votes are in! Over 51 million votes have been cast from fans across the globe for the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards, marking a nearly 50% increase over last year’s 34 million. Adding to the international excitement building around this year’s show, Crunchyroll is announcing an exciting lineup of music performances by Japanese singer-songwriter LiSA, hip-hop duo Creepy Nuts, as well as rock band FLOW, alongside notable presenters including global superstar and anime collaborator J Balvin, GRAMMY award winning singer Kacey Musgraves, and screenwriter Zak Penn.
This year’s musical acts reflect the international success anime has seen over the past year. Creepy Nuts, the 2025 Anime Award nominated hip-hop duo behind viral hits “Otonoke” and “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born”, the opening themes for Dan Da Dan and Mashle: Magic and Muscles, respectively. FLOW, the legendary rock band featured in the openings for Naruto and Code Geass, will perform “DAYS” in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Eureka Seven. LiSA, Spotify’s most streamed Japanese artist overseas in 2020 and the singer of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba’s “Gurenge”, will take the stage for a special performance. The Crunchyroll Anime Awards will take place at the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa in Tokyo, Japan on May 25, 2025 (Sunday) with the live ceremony hosted by renowned voice actress Sally Amaki and popular entertainer Jon Kabira. Beginning with the pre-show at 5:00 pm JST (4:00 pm PHT/HKT/SGT) and mainshow at 6:00 pm JST (5:00 pm PHT/HKT/SGT), the livestream will be available for global tune-in on Crunchyroll’s Twitch and YouTube channels as well as SONY PICTURES CORE and the Sony Group Corp Global YouTube Channel. The 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards will be available in 9 languages including English, Arabic, Brazilian-Portuguese, Castillian-Spanish, French, German, Hindi, Italian, and Latin-Spanish.
The Crunchyroll Anime Awards is the leading yearly awards program honoring the creators, musicians, and performances powering the global love of anime. Sony Music Solutions Inc., part of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and Dempsey Productions will support Crunchyroll in the execution of the event. The event will be livestreamed for global audiences. More information can be found on the Crunchyroll Anime Awards Official Website at theanimeawards.com and across Crunchyroll's X (Twitter), Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube accounts.
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Taiwan Beats Showcase Drops Official Recap Video Featuring Breakout Asian Acts At SXSW
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| (Image Source: Orange Magazine TV/Taiwan Beats Showcase) |
Taiwan Beats Showcase, a flagship initiative championing Taiwan’s most dynamic music talents on the global stage, has released its highly anticipated recap video, providing an exciting visual diary that captures the energy, artistry, and cultural spirit of its standout representatives. This year’s spotlight shines on six trailblazing acts: Amazing Show, Enno Cheng, ?te (Whyte), TRASH, HSIEN CHING, and Andr — each one bringing a unique sonic stamp that reflects the ever-evolving landscape of Taiwanese contemporary music. Through the recap, fans across the globe, including the Philippines’ ever-curious music lovers, are invited to relive the magic and momentum of Taiwan’s showcase at SXSW 2025.
Organized under the Bureau of Audiovisual and Music Industry Development (BAMID), Ministry of Culture, this year’s edition revolved around the theme, Connection, an ode to the universal language of music and its power to build bridges across cultures, communities, and industry frontiers. True to the collaborative ethos of SXSW, the special showcase functioned as an eclectic hub of cross-border creativity and musical dialogue. The festivities began with a vibrant Day Party, headlined by Japanese rock band Enfants and Malaysian rapper Zamaera, which set the tone for an international exchange of styles and stories. Running parallel to the performances, the TAICCA Meet-Up forum welcomed global music executives and creatives to discuss the shifting dynamics for Asian artists navigating the North American music market. As the sun set, the evening showcase unfolded with memorable performances: singer-songwriter HSIEN CHING opened with soul-stirring tracks from her latest album, “If Every Day Could Be Happy Happy, Who’d Want Sad”, accompanied by producer Sōryo. Next came the enigmatic neo-soul artist Whyte (?te) whose boundary-pushing set resonated with the growing international presence.
Pop newcomer Andr brought a breath of fresh air to the lineup, earning a coveted slot at SXSW’s official International Night Showcase. She also shared the spotlight with Japan’s Luv and Paris Death Hilton, holding her own as a standout performer. Enno Cheng, a beloved voice in Taiwan’s indie music scene, returned to SXSW post-pandemic with new music from her upcoming album Moon Phases. Her emotionally resonant performance reaffirmed her status as one of Taiwan’s most introspective and compelling singer-songwriters. Alternative rock band TRASH ignited the stage with a high-octane set that could rival stadium performances, while The Amazing Show wrapped up the night with an otherworldly spectacle, featuring custom-built instruments and their iconic “cyber Taike” aesthetic. The momentum continues beyond SXSW: ?te (Whyte) has just released “Let Me Be Me”, a heartfelt collaboration with Japanese artist TENDRE that explores the parent-child dynamics through a soulful lens. Meanwhile, Enno Cheng is steadily expanding her artistic footprint in South Korea, with the release of a new music video for “Rarely Think of It”. She’s also slated to perform at the upcoming Asian Pop Festival in Korea.
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Puregold Channel’s ‘Si Sol At Si Luna’ Series Trailer Showcases Zaijian Jaranilla’s ‘Shocking’ First Love Scene With Jane Oineza
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| (Image Source: Orange Magazine TV/YouTube/Puregold Channel) |
Television’s famous Santino is ready for mature roles. It’s a key takeaway from the enticing trailer for the upcoming Puregold Channel digital series ‘Si Sol At Si Luna’. The trailer features former ‘May Bukas Pa’ and ‘Goin’ Bulilit’ child star Zaijian Jaranilla stripping down before locking lips with co-star Jane Oineza. Already, the trailer has beguiled fans who are eagerly anticipating the first-ever love scene from Zaijian. Even more intriguing is the pairing of Zaijian with an older leading lady in Jane Oineza. Throughout the trailer, his boyish charm and her sensual beauty attract more than detract, lending allure to their age gap.
The series’ director Dolly Dulu spoke on working with Zaijian to project this air of intimacy for the show. She said, “Nakakatuwa na pinagkatiwalaan niya ako to do this big transition from his image as Santino to his coming-of-age portrayal of Sol. Yung ganung klase na eksena is a major step na kailangan gawin at bigyan ng justice.” In ‘Si Sol At Si Luna’, Sol is a film student working on his thesis whose life changes when he meets the heartbroken Luna. As their paths converge, they must navigate the complexities of attraction, love, and loss that are only amplified by their age gap. With the lead characters’ intense onscreen intimacy, ‘Si Sol At Si Luna’ promises to be Puregold Channel’s most boundary-pushing digital series yet. Stressing on the significance of the company’s latest project, Puregold’s senior marketing manager Ivy Hayagan-Piedad disclosed that they wanted an unconventional but authentic story for Puregold Channel’s latest retailtainment offering, saying, “It’s a story that means a lot to everyone involved. It’s a deeply felt one for our director Dolly Dulu and a real test of the emotional maturity of our lead actors Zaijian and Jane.”
This latest dramatic offering directed and conceptualized by Dolly Dulu follows in the wake of Puregold Channel’s hit digital series such as ‘My Plantito’, ’52 Weeks’, and ‘Ang Lalaki Sa Likod Ng Profile’. In the last few years, Puregold has been leading the charge in uplifting local culture and artists, making major waves in series creation, OPM, and even the film industry. ‘Si Sol At Si Luna’ is set to premiere on May 31, 2025 (Saturday) at 7:00 pm on the Puregold Channel on YouTube. Subsequent episodes will drop every Saturday at the same time.
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Ralph Macchio And Jackie Chan Team Up For “Karate Kid: Legends”, Coming To PH Cinemas On May 28, 2025
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| (Image Source: Punto! Central Luzon/Columbia Pictures) |
It’s only a matter of time that legends Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan come together for the ultimate martial arts film, and time has finally come in Karate Kid: Legends. “Bringing these two legends together is beyond a producer’s dream. What’s fresh and unique about this movie is that both Mr. Han and Daniel LaRusso are training a Chinese, Mandarin-speaking boy. It’s a story about family and recovering what’s important. And it works as a standalone if you have never seen a Karate Kid film, and it’s also a love letter to those who were there for The Karate Kid in 1984,” says producer Karen Rosenfelt.
In Karate Kid: Legends, kung fu prodigy Li Fong (Ben Wang) has moved across continents to New York City. Adjusting to his new home, he finds himself attracting unwanted attention from the local karate champion. Preparing for the ultimate martial arts showdown, Li’s kung fu mentor Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) enlists the help of Karate Kid Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) to merge the two unique disciplines together. The filmmakers have taken care to honor the franchise and bring in exciting new concepts to appeal to new and longtime fans, and none has brought in more effort into Karate Kid: Legends than actor and executive producer Ralph Macchio. “I’ve been careful over the years with protecting this franchise, protecting this character. The evolution of these characters, the themes in the original movie, they still stand the test of time and win over each generation,” says Macchio. Jackie Chan was eager to get back into the franchise, reprising the role of Mr. Han. He says, “I wanted to come back to this role because the audience wants to come back. We’ve been looking for a good story. We’ve been waiting.”
Having the martial arts icon with decades of films under his belt was a unique learning experience for Macchio. He says, “I have so much respect for him as an artist and entertainer. He’s a legend in the field, whether it be motion pictures and martial arts or even comedy. He cares very much, and he’s very involved in every take, certainly in the martial arts takes. He’s like, ‘No, no, this is how it’s done!’ I kind of just say, ‘Okay!’” The feeling was mutual with Chan, who felt like he had immediate chemistry with Macchio. “Our first time meeting was the premiere of The Karate Kid ten years ago. He’s an actor like me — so experienced. He knows what a film needs. Immediately we just melded together. Whatever I’d say, he was already thinking,” says Chan. Watch the two legends foster the new generation of martial arts fighters as Karate Kid: Legends arrives in Philippine cinemas on May 28, 2025. Karate Kid: Legends is distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.
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December Avenue And Morissette Amon Release Long-Awaited Collaboration “Ahon”
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| (Image Source: Orange Magazine TV/Facebook/December Avenue) |
OPM powerhouses December Avenue and Morissette Amon recently released their highly anticipated collaboration “Ahon”, a heartfelt anthem about silent yearning that lingers just beneath the surface. “It’s a song about a love that never left — just hidden beneath the surface, waiting to rise again,” shared frontman Zel Bautista. In the lyrics “Handa na ang puso kong malunod na sa piling mo, at muli ring aahon at magbabalik sa’yo”, it encapsulates heartache, vulnerability, and hope in a single track. Bautista added that it’s not just a longing for a partner but for a past version of yourself and the erratic healing that follows.
Keyboardist Gelo Cruz highlighted the line “Muli ring aahon at magbabalik sa’yo”, sharing that it reminds him why he continues pursuing music despite its challenges. He reflected, “Whenever we get on the stage and hear all the people singing our songs back to us, I’m reminded of why I chose to do music in the first place.” With the song’s themes of longing and resilience, the band’s collaboration with Morissette came together effortlessly. The band also admitted that they were instantly captivated by the emotional depth and vocal clarity she brought to the demo. Elaborating that her dynamic range helped shape the entire arrangement, Bautista shared, “There’s clarity but also a storm underneath. That contrast was exactly what I was going for. I focused on building that intimate foundation as a contrast to her soaring parts.”
Guitarist Jem Manuel commented, “When I first heard Mori sing live, it totally caught me off guard; her voice was way more powerful than I expected.” Likewise, drummer Jet Danao expressed his admiration for the singer, revealing she was the first person he had in mind for the track. He stated, “Actually, pag Mori ang usapan, finish na. Magaling kasi talaga si Mori.” With “Ahon”, December Avenue’s thoughtfully resonant songwriting and Morissette’s vocal prowess produce an emotionally rich collaboration that captures love’s resilience and ability to find its way back.
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SMTOWN LIVE 2025 Marks Launch Of SMTOWN Channel On Samsung TV Plus
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| (Image Source: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.) |
Samsung TV Plus, the ultimate destination for K-Content, is teaming up with SM Entertainment to bring K-Pop’s biggest performances to the big screen in celebration of its 30th anniversary through the launch of a a new, dedicated SMTOWN channel – enhancing its commitment to deliver the best-in-class content to K-fans around the world.
The partnership kicked off with its first live event held last May 12, 2025 at the Los Angeles Dignity Health Sports Park featuring performances by TVXQ!; SUPER JUNIOR; KEY and MINHO of SHINee; EXO's SUHO, CHANYEOL, KAI; Red Velvet (IRENE, SEULGI, JOY); NCT127; NCT DREAM; WayV; aespa; RIIZE; NCT WISH; Hearts2Hearts; and SMTR25. Now K-Pop fans from around the globe can experience live performances across 18 countries with concert replays, music videos, and playlists with additional K-Content added to the channel following the SMTOWN LIVE 2025 concert.
“Our partnership with SM Entertainment reflects our continued commitment to leading the K-Content space through bold investments and exclusive experiences. By bringing this milestone event to audiences around the globe, we’re not only celebrating K-Pop’s growing popularity, but further expanding the depth of the Samsung TV Plus K-Content offering, which remains amongst the largest in the world,” said Samsung TV Plus Senior Vice President and Global Head Salek Brodsky. Samsung TV Plus’ expansion continues to solidify its position as one of the largest providers of K-Content. From premium titles across a variety of genres like K-Dramas, K-Crime, K-Thrillers, K-Romance, and now K-Pop, its expansive offering showcases the unique crossovers and cultural tie-ins that have made K-Content a global phenomenon.
