Ayra Starr’s Starrgirl is getting an anime-inspired makeover.
Billboard can exclusively reveal that the Grammy-nominated Afro-pop star will be releasing a limited-edition vinyl of her acclaimed Starrgirl LP, in collaboration with Crunchyroll. Available exclusively via the Crunchyroll store, the new Starrgirl vinyl starts at $40, with presales beginning today.
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Reflecting the “Rush” singer’s passion for anime, the new vinyl features original manga-style artwork, bringing new life to the sci-fi-inspired visual world of Starrgirl. The collaboration will also include a custom animated visualizer and additional content on Crunchyroll platforms, including animated clips set to Starr’s music, an interview with Crunchyroll News and exclusive media across both Crunchyroll’s and Starr’s socials.
“The Starrgirl character we created for the album cover has such a bold yet simple statement,” Ayra Starr says. “I think it blends modern fashion with traditional dress in a way that says, I am here today because of all the women that came before me.”
Starrgirl arrived Aug. 14 via Mavin and Republic Records, complete with a wide-ranging list of featured artists, including kwn (“Amazing”), ZAYN (“Heaven Baby”) and Danny Ocean (“Hot Body” remix). Previously released singles like the Rema-assisted “Who’s Dat Girl” and Wizkid-featuring “Gimme Dat” live harmoniously alongside gutsier swings like the electro-pop midtempo “Where Do We Go” and the soul-baring “Misunderstood.” The LP reached No. 4 on World Albums, marking her second consecutive top five entry on the chart following 2024’s The Year I Turned 21.
“In making this album, I started to understand that I exist in multitudes, and the only way for me to show that was through an album,” she told Billboard last month (Sept. 23). “I can’t show that in just one song. Trying to limit myself to just one thing or one sound made me lash out even more, [whether] that’s cutting my hair or changing my whole aesthetic to black or just doing a sound that was different for me. This album is me allowing myself to be different forms and different things.”
The news of Starr’s new Crunchyroll collaboration comes on the heels of her Starrgirl World Tour announcement. The trek will kick off its European leg on Jan. 20, 2027, at Cologne’s Live Music Hall, visit iconic cities like Paris and Milan, before concluding on Feb. 2 at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire. After a brief break, Starr will commence the tour’s North American leg on March 18 at Houston’s House of Blues, stop in major cities like Atlanta, Brooklyn and Toronto, before mounting the grand finale at Denver’s Summit Music Hall on April 5.
Last month, Starr headlined halftime at the London NFL game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Check out Ayra Starr’s post revealing her new anime-inspired Starrgirl vinyl below.
