Winston Duke Lauds Rashmika Mandanna After Their Anime Awards Appearance, Calls Her 'Incomparable'

The 10th edition of the Crunchyroll Anime Awards took place on Saturday (May 23) in Tokyo, Japan. According to organisers, 73 million anime fans around the world voted for Anime Awards 2026. The final season of My Hero Academia received the anime of the year prize, and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle bagged the film of the year award.

Celebrities who walked the orange carpet included the Black Panther actor Winston Duke, Grammy-nominated rapper Young Miko, K-pop artists BamBam and TEN, and Indian actress Rashmika Mandanna, among others.

Mandanna co-presented the prestigious Best Animation of the Year award alongside Duke, marking a huge milestone for Indian representation on the global entertainment platform.

Winston Duke praises Rashmika Mandanna

Taking to his Instagram handle, Duke shared pictures with Rashmika from the Anime Awards night and penned a heartfelt caption. He wrote, “This was my first ever trip to Japan, and what an experience it was… it felt surreal to immerse myself in such a rich culture and meet such incredible people. Including sharing this moment with the incomparable @rashmika_mandanna… I had a blast… pure peace! (sic)”

Duke's words are proof that the duo brought positive energy to the stage while presenting the award.

Have a look at the post here.

Duke and Mandanna's appearance together at the 2026 Anime Awards has become one of the biggest global crossover moments, making the moment even more special for fans worldwide.

On the professional front, Rashmika Mandanna will be seen in Cocktail 2 with Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon. Directed by Homi Adajania, it will hit the screens on June 19, 2026. She also has Pushpa 3, Animal Park, Mysaa, and Ranabaali in her kitty.