From Timothée Chalamet to Kai Cenat, Beyblade Is Getting the Comeback It Deserves
For anime fans of a certain age, few things were as thrilling as the Beybladeanime franchise. It stands out as one of the rare anime where, after watching an episode, fans and viewers can immediately recreate the on-screen battles with their friends using real-world Beyblade toy spinning tops.
Beyblade was one of the first anime, manga, and toy franchises that actively promoted a cross-platform, interactive, and seamless fan experience. In many ways, Beyblade was a major facilitator for today's ubiquitous push for fans to engage with a franchise in multiple ways, including anime, manga, video games, and toys. While Beyblade has been a continuous presence in the anime and manga industries since its inception, it has never enjoyed as good a reception as it did in its earliest years at the turn of the century — that, is until now.
All The Cool Kids Have A Beyblade
Kai Cenat & Timothée Chalamet Have Shown Their Love For Beyblade
Over the past several months, the Beyblade franchise has enjoyed a remarkable renaissance — and so far, it has been both genuine and spectacular. Several factors contribute to this renewed popularity, including the October 2024 US release of the franchise's newest anime series, Beyblade X. The ongoing nostalgia wave sweeping through popular entertainment has also impacted numerous legacy anime properties like Beyblade.
Perhaps the most significant reason for its current resurgence, however, is the franchise's recent embrace by several major celebrities. According to Dexerto, late last month, social media influencer Kai Cenat spoke about his visceral enjoyment of the Beyblade franchise:
I understand it’s not as big as before I think Beyblade was lowkey too advanced for its time.
He also spoke of wanting to promote the series to his followers, and announced plans to organize a Beyblade tournament. Inspired by the anime, he plans for the event to gather top real-world Beybladers for an epic battle. To raise the stakes, Cenat promised prizes for top-level players who "let it rip". The social media influencer has said he wants the tournament take place sometime in 2025.
And if Cenat wasn’t already a strong promoter, Beyblade also has none other than Dune star and global sensation Timothée Chalamet. As reported by the official Beyblade@x_beyblade X account, Chalamet was photographed at the premiere of his Oscar-nominated film A Complete Unknown not only holding a Beyblade spinning top but seemingly promoting his love for it. In fact, according to GQ, the Beyblade top was “2024's hottest new accessory.”
It's Finally Time For Beyblade To Shine
Its Real-Life Gameplay Element Is Crucial To The Beyblade Fandom
This is undoubtedly the most high-profile publicity Beyblade has received in decades — but it’s well deserved. In fact, it’s long overdue. While the franchise has often been overshadowed by other toy-driven anime like Pokémon, Digimon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Bakugan Battle Brawlers, that doesn’t mean it lacks excellence. If you're looking for more memorable rivalries, deeper and more nuanced characters, and intense battles with higher stakes, then Beyblade is the anime for you.
Moreover, Beyblade boasts a unique advantage over its rivals: real-life gameplay is integral to the series' entertainment value. This hands-on element enhances the experience, and as Kai Cenat enthusiastically put it, in-person Beyblade competitions are, "way too fun". With Cenat, Timothée Chalamet, and other influencers on board, Beyblade is poised to finally receive the recognition it deserves.
Sources: Dexerto, @x_beyblade, GQ Magazine
