Megan Thee Stallion in all her glory was and will always be the ‘Otaku Hot Girl’ of the West and “can’t touch me like Gojo” is what anime has become in Western pop culture. There’s no doubt that Japan’s very form of film and television animation – anime – has become an entertainment powerhouse and our Houston-based rapper Megan Thee Stallion has shown great love for the same with her new self-titled album, ‘Megan’.
Ever since 2016, the 29-year-old rapper has been on the internet’s lookout. From getting viral due to the videos of her freestyling to achieving her first-ever entry on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 2019 for ‘Big Ole Freak’, the rap queen has come a long way.
The Texas rapper has not only captured the rap scene in the US but all over the world. Her confident persona, witty rhymes, and bold lyrics are one but her collaborations with singers like Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, Maroon 5, and Cardi B, to name a few have propelled her to mainstream success.
Besides being one of the biggest artists, Megan Thee Stallion is also known as an avid anime fan. Her latest and third studio album titled ‘Megan’, is a definite love letter to anime culture and Japan. Born Megan Jovon Ruth Pete, the Grammy Award-winning American rapper Megan Thee Stallion released a single ‘Otaku Hot Girl’ on June 28, 2024 – and boy it blew up in the anime community.
The track pays homage to two of the biggest anime series – ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ and ‘Naruto’. ‘Otaku Hot Girl’ begins with the American actor Adam McArthur, who lends his voice to Yuji Itadori in the English dub ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’.
#GOJOSATORU: otaku hot girl being gojos new theme >>> thank you megan thee stallion for your service 🙏🏽 #MEGAN #呪術廻戦 pic.twitter.com/1OKW1xIkzk
— aaliyah 🍉⟡ (@kissukes) June 29, 2024
The artists’ love for anime and Japan not only shines in ‘Otaku Hot Girl’ but also in tracks including ‘Mamushi’ featuring Japanese rapper Yuki Chiba as well as ‘BOA’.
These have become ragers on TikTok – and, for all the right reasons.
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With the ever growing fandom and influence, Megan Thee Stallion and anime’s presence is quite big in the US. The rapper has shown her interest in anime over the years. Be it her frequent visits to Japan, her cosplays, or her music.
megan cosplaying gojo really changed lives. like I still can’t get over this pic.twitter.com/xtBj16kTzW
— M ☆ (@duskgumi) June 25, 2024
Anime is no longer limited to ‘Pokémon’, ‘One Piece’, and ‘Dragon Ball Z’. With Gen Z and Gen Alpha in the picture, it has managed to surpass that “niche genre” chain in the West. Besides social media, digital streaming platforms like Crunchyroll, Netflix, and HiDive, have played a pivotal role in making the rich storytelling content a powerhouse of entertainment.
Megan Thee Stallion. #BOA pic.twitter.com/4iF4iVmfBQ
— Israel Joshua Davis (@izzyjoshuadavis) June 23, 2024
Statistics show that approximately 72 percent of people in the United States watch anime regularly with ‘My Hero Academia’ being one of the most popular anime series in the country. Females in the US are the biggest anime watchers with stats showing 58%.
Nothing brings me more joy than when some perfectly normal person ask me for anime recommendations after they find out Megan Thee Stallion watches anime https://t.co/cAJ9OPgVeK
— Dav3 (@DaveOfTheDirt) August 19, 2022
With Western and Japanese artists, creators, brands, and businesses transcending boundaries with big collaborations and promoting a deeper appreciation for this cross-cultural exchange, anime as a trend is here to stay. It is certain that the anime fan following, and its grappling impact are not slowing down anytime soon.
Images: Pinterest
