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| (Image Source: Starmometer/Crunchyroll) |
Crunchyroll, the global brand serving anime fandom, officially announced its biggest Ani-May yet — a month-long, worldwide celebration filled with experiences across screens, games, and real-world moments, giving fans everywhere more ways to come together, celebrate, and show all the ways they love and live anime. Highlights across Southeast Asia include on-ground fan experiences at Anime Festival Asia Thailand 2026 where fans can meet the Japanese voice of Denji from Chainsaw Man alongside digital-first activations like the Ani-May Challenge on TikTok and Instagram where creators take on anime-inspired challenges and invite fans to join in.
This year, Ani-May goes beyond watching. It’s about living anime — transforming May into an inescapable cultural moment where fans everywhere can discover new series, unlock rewards, and connect with the community like never before. Expect moments across fan-favorite franchises including JUJUTSU KAISEN, My Hero Academia, Black Clover, Solo Leveling, and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. “Anime is something we celebrate every day, but Ani-May is our chance to deepen that connection with fans even further. It’s a moment to come together, revisit old favorites, discover something new, and shop, play, and watch in ways that feel meaningful. Throughout the month, we’re creating new ways to engage and celebrate as a community, all leading up to the Anime Awards, where we honor the creators behind the stories that inspire audiences around the world,” said Crunchyroll Chief Operating Officer Gita Rebbapragada. “It’s been incredible to see how many partners around the world are leaning into Ani-May and wanting to celebrate anime alongside us. They recognize anime as a powerful cultural connector, and together we’re creating moments that bring fans and communities closer across every touchpoint,” said Crunchyroll Senior Vice President of Global Brand and Community Scott Donaton.
Kicking off the celebration, Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc streams exclusively on Crunchyroll. Ahead of the celebration, fans can also tune into a special Ani-May Instagram livestream, where host Tim Lyu and guest actor Adam McArthur (JUJUTSU KAISEN) give fans a first look at everything the month has in store. And for the first time ever, Ani-May introduces a lineup of ambassadors — including REI AMI, Big Sean, Noah Lyles, and more — joining Crunchyroll’s beloved character Hime to bring the celebration to life through cosplay, curated Spotify playlists, dubbing moments, and exclusive anime-inspired content. That’s just the beginning. Around the world, fans can experience Ani-May through local activations — and check out Ani-May Central at crunchyrollanimay.com to find what’s happening near them.
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Eraserheads: Combo On The Run Sets Record For Widest North American Release Of A Filipino Documentary
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| Eraserheads frontman Ely Buendia and director-producer Maria Diane Ventura (Image Source: ABS-CBN.com/DVent Pictures) |
Following a wave of sold-out advanced screenings across select cities in the United States and Canada, Eraserheads: Combo On The Run has set a new record as the Filipino documentary with the widest theatrical release in North America. The award-winning docu film opened in more than 100 cinemas across the continent last April 24, 2026. To celebrate the release, Eraserheads frontman Ely Buendia and director-producer Maria Diane Ventura made special appearances in select theaters in California where they got to share the film’s growing success with the audience.
Ventura expressed gratitude for the overwhelming reception received by the film in its first few days of release, stating, “It’s incredibly humbling. I feel a deep sense of gratitude to the audiences, to the critics, and to Abramorama for believing in the film and helping bring it to a wider audience. What’s been most meaningful, though, is the way people have responded on a personal level. I’ve had people come up to me and share that they found a sense of healing in watching it or that it made them feel proud to be Filipino. Hearing that makes all the hard work and exhaustion worth it. That, to me, is the greatest reward. To see a Filipino story resonate beyond our borders, and to feel that sense of identity and pride reflected back, reminds me why I do this. This film is a love letter to the Filipinos. And I think it’s arriving at a time when people are searching for connection. We’re living in a period of division, but the film suggests that even then, there is still a way back to each other, through music, art and through storytelling, one of the few things we still all understand regardless of where we come from.” Buendia also thanked everyone who supported the film’s debut in North America, commenting, “To be embraced by the fans is proof that the film did something right. We didn’t want to let them down because this is their story too. And of course, to have the approval of the critics is icing on the cake. They have different standards and are not as subjective as the fans, so for them to think it was a good film, and a documentary at that, is quite amazing.”
Distributed in North America by Abramorama and produced by DVent Pictures, Eraserheads: Combo On The Run tells the story of the Philippines’ most influential band, tracing their meteoric rise from their formation in the University of the Philippines — Diliman Main Campus, simply known to many as UP Diliman, to becoming a defining voice of a generation, their painful breakup, and their eventual resurgence years later. Set against the backdrop of the Philippines’ shifting socio-political landscape, the film situates the band’s journey within a country grappling with deep political polarization, reflecting how their music and story became intertwined with the nation’s cultural memory. Eraserheads: Combo On The Run’s special panel at Austin, Texas last March 2026 was recently heralded by Esquire Magazine as “The 5 Best Things We Saw At SXSW 2026”.
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Ben&Ben’s ‘Lifetime’ Tops IFPI’s Official Philippines Chart, Billboard Philippines Hot 100
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| (Image Source: Simpol.ph/Ben&Ben) |
Multi-awarded folk-pop band Ben&Ben continues to set new career records as their 2020 hit Lifetime zoomed to the top of both the Official Philippines Chart of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) and the Billboard Philippines Hot 100 chart less than a month after the release of the song’s extended version, Lifetime (Reimagined).
For the week of April 10-16, 2026, Lifetime moved up one spot to reach the No. 1 position on IFPI’s Official Philippines Chart. The rankings were launched in February 2025 as part of the Official Southeast Asia Charts, an IFPI initiative that recognizes music from five other countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Meanwhile, on the Billboard Philippines Hot 100 chart for the week of April 25, the song climbed four spots from the previous week’s No. 5 finish, fueled by consistently strong streaming numbers across various platforms. This marks the band’s first ever No. 1 Billboard Philippines chart ranking and their third time to break into the charts, following Sa Susunod Na Habang Buhay in the 2025 Year-End Charts and Kathang Isip in the October 2025 Hot 100 list. According to the band, they did not expect the song to have this kind of impact on listeners, both the casual ones and those from their Liwanag fan community. “Hindi po namin inasahang magkakaroon ng ganitong impact ‘yung Lifetime sa mga makikinig, sa Liwanag. Na-observe naming kahit papano, natutulungan ng kanta ‘yung mga taong bumalik panandalian sa nakaraan, para harapin ang mga ‘what-ifs’ nila, upang humilom para sa kasalukuyan. Sobrang grateful kaming maging bahagi ng prosesong ito sa pamamagitan ng kantang ito.”
The song’s message resonates among listeners because of the realness of it – articulating deep feelings of longing, of yearning, of loving despite the risks. The band related, “Na-observe din naming may kakaiba talaga sa abilidad ng mga Pilipino na maramdaman ang emosyon na ‘longing’ o pagkakaroon ng ‘di mamatay na pagkagusto para sa isang tao o bagay na maaaring ‘di maabot. Totoo kasing nae-experience ng marami ‘yung longing. At siguro, patunay ito ng abilidad nating magmahal at magtiis para sa mga mahal natin. Siguro, to love is to endure.” Aside from these most recent chart-topping feats, Lifetime (Reimagined) also peaked at No. 1 on the YouTube Trending list last week, reached No. 9 on the Spotify Global Daily Viral Chart, hit No. 1 on the Spotify Philippines Daily Viral Chart, and snagged the No. 2 spot on the Spotify Weekly Top 200 and Spotify Daily Top 200 rankings.
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Jaime Fabregas, Bodjie Pascua, Freddie Webb Join Forces With New-Gen Stars In iWant Original Film “Young Blood”
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| (Image Source: ABS-CBN Corporation) |
Veteran actors Jaime Fabregas, Bodjie Pascua, and Freddie Webb join forces with a new generation of actors in “Young Blood”, the latest original film of ABS-CBN’s streaming platform iWant which brings together established names and rising talents in one cross-generational story. Joining Jaime, Bodjie, and Freddie are new-generation powerhouse actors Gold Aceron, Aljon Mendoza, and Argel Saycon, who portray the younger versions of the lead characters, bringing fresh energy and a more relatable perspective to their stories.
“Young Blood” follows three elderly best friends Val (Jaime), Juan (Bodjie), and Fredo (Freddie) who are given a chance to relive their youth after discovering a mysterious bottle of beer believed to restore their younger selves. In their 20-year-old selves, Val (Gold), Juan (Aljon), and Fredo (Argel) navigate a world shaped by modern relationships and expectations, each taking on personal journeys that reflect their desires and unresolved experiences. As they settle into a younger version of life, the trio begins to realize that youth comes with its own challenges, highlighting the contrast between past and present and how perspectives change over time. Directed by Rember Gelera and produced in partnership with Mavx Productions, the film also stars Jun Sabayton, Aldrin Angeles, Monina Lawrence, Emma Viri, Cherrylyn David, Omar Flores, and Leo Bruno.
Catch “Young Blood” streaming exclusively on iWant, offering a story about the choices we make and the second chances we never saw coming. Download the app via Google Play for Android devices and the Apple App Store for iOS devices and subscribe to watch, with plans starting at Php35 per month, and enjoy the largest collection of Filipino feels.
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P-Pop Boyband AYO Finds Strength In Duality In Pre-Debut Single ‘I’m Him’
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| AYO (Image Source: INQUIRER.net/Sony Music Entertainment Philippines) |
AYO is the latest addition to Sony Music Entertainment’s esteemed roster of P-Pop acts. Arriving with primal energy and unmistakable superstar aura, the Davao-based seven-member boy group is composed of Justin, Renzo, GV, TJ, Enzo, Zack, and Patrick. Their name is derived from the Cebuano word “maayo” which means talented. It’s also commonly used as a call for attention, much like knocking on a door. Representing a new generation of pop groups that are unafraid to disrupt the norm, AYO embodies the multicultural spirit of their hometown while rewriting the rules with effortless confidence and discipline. These qualities reflect the unapologetically authentic sound of their pre-debut single “I’m Him”. Anchored in rebellious spirit and self-awareness, the song defies expectations while encouraging their listeners to stand firm on who they are and embrace their individuality.
In a press statement, the P-Pop newcomer shares, “Within our group, we each bring different strengths and come from varied backgrounds. Instead of letting that highlight our individuality alone, we turn it into a collective advantage. ‘I’m Him’ represents our confidence in our individual strengths — but more importantly, it’s about expressing them together as one, in harmony.” Touching on themes such as identity and self-discovery, the track empowers music fans to embrace every facet of themselves, including imperfections. It reframes difference as strength and individuality as power, asserting presence and purpose. “I’m Him” is produced by Paolo Lofranco whose booming hip-hop beats, layered textures, and commanding vocal design, bring an exciting new dimension to their sound. The group also contributed heavily to the songwriting and production process, reflecting the duality that defines their work: chaotic and refined, raw and powerful. AYO reveals, “We’re incredibly grateful to be working with our producer on this song. It is a song he already made even before AYO was formed. Undoubtedly, it captures the core of AYO’s DNA. Moving forward, we’re excited to create and write more of our music while continuing to explore different sounds and genres.”
Accompanying the release of the track is a music video helmed by ODS Productions. The video captures the pop group’s duality through contrasting environments: raw, industrial warehouse scenes, reflecting their chaotic and powerful side, and the helipad scenes, highlighting their refined, elevated presence. Together, these elements exhibit two extremely different visuals unified by a singular identity. AYO also praised ODS Productions, the creative group responsible for the video treatment and direction, stating, “They were able to fully embody our vision as artists and translate it into reality with precision and care. It’s also a pleasure collaborating with a team that shares the same passion and drive that we have for creativity. We look forward to growing this partnership further and building a stronger, more active creative community in Davao — and eventually across Mindanao.”
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Romantic Comedy “Perfect Crown” Becomes The Number One Most Viewed Korean Series Premiere On Disney+ Globally
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| (Image Source: Her World/Disney+) |
Disney+ announced that the recently released romantic comedy Perfect Crown has become the number one most viewed Korean series on Disney+ globally (based on five days of views). Premiered last April 10, Perfect Crown follows the people’s favorite royal Grand Prince I-AN as he becomes embroiled in a power struggle with other members of the royal family. With pressure on the prince to wed, he strikes up a marriage of convenience with Huiju, the heir to a Korean conglomerate, but as the pair work together to advance their own ends, emotions begin to flare and things don’t go quite as smoothly as planned.
Perfect Crown stars IU (When Life Gives You Tangerines, My Mister) as Huiju, the second in line to inherit one of Korea’s biggest conglomerates, and Byeon Wooseok (Lovely Runner, Strong Girl Nam-soon) as Grand Prince I-AN. The series is directed by Park Joonhwa (Alchemy Of Souls, What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim) and is written by Yoo Jiwon. With the first two episodes available to stream today on Disney+, new episodes will be released every Friday and Saturday night at 10:20 pm (Philippine Time) through the show’s series finale on May 16.
Fans of unmissable Korean storytelling can also look forward to the upcoming release of A Shop For Killers Season 2 and Made In Korea Season 2 as well as Portraits of Delusion (working title) starring Suzy and Kim Seonho; The Remarried Empress starring Shin Mina, Ju Jihoon, Lee Jongsuk, and Lee Seyoung; and a whole host of binge-worthy APAC titles currently streaming on Disney+.
