Crunchyroll will join ABFF London x S.O.U.L. Fest this September for “Beyond the Screen: Black Talent, Anime, and the Future of Storytelling” a live conversation exploring the growing influence of anime across Black culture, sport, music and creative storytelling.
Presented by Sony Pictures Entertainment with Crunchyroll, the panel brings together Crunchyroll Presents: The Anime Effect co-host LeAlec Murray, West Ham United footballer Kyle Walker-Peters and rapper and manga author Shao Dow, moderated by award-winning multimedia journalist Raquel Harris.
The conversation will explore how anime has grown beyond the screen to influence creative identity, performance, world-building and fandom around the world, while looking at the role Black creatives, athletes and fans continue to play in shaping anime culture and the future of global entertainment.
From the themes and characters that resonate with Black audiences to anime’s increasingly visible influence across football, music and popular culture, the panel will offer personal perspectives on why the medium has built such a strong connection with a new generation of fans.
EVENT DETAILS
Beyond the Screen: Black Talent, Anime, and the Future of Storytelling
Saturday, 12 September 2026
12:30 PM
NFT2, BFI Southbank, London
Tickets are £6.50 and can be purchased from the BFI website HERE
The panel forms part of ABFF London, the European edition of the American Black Film Festival’s international event series, produced in partnership with S.O.U.L. Fest. Taking place 11–13 September at BFI Southbank, the festival brings together screenings, conversations, masterclasses and networking celebrating Black storytelling and creative collaboration across the African diaspora.
