The AKIHITO/KAITO crossing was rough but luckily everything else was fine so I just had to guess that one. This was challenging as expected but even with all the names it was quite doable. I've never asked, does "Sheydah" mean anything?
Sheyd/sheydah is the Jewish concept of a "malicious" spirit. There's a lot of lore out there regarding these spirits that I'm admittedly too zonked to paste here, but I chose the naming scheme of having the midis be called Menace, the full Sheydah (female form of sheyd), and the jumbo/Sunday Ashmedai (the ruler of the demons).
[overly drawn-out yawn in a business meeting that should have been an email]
16A
Zhao who directed "The Rider" and some indie film called "Nomadland"
17A
Abide
18A
Former Superman Christopher
19A
Erik Agard at a crossword tournament, or Max Park with a Rubik's Cube
21A
The 4th emperor of Japan's Imperial Period
25A
Certain reviewers
26A
Surprise appearances, maybe
27A
Human rights lawyer Clooney
28A
"Fur Baby" shirt, for "Turning Red"
29A
The folks you're not supposed to yell at for your food taking a while
34A
"Hey, can you bring down the music some? It's just ___ loud."
35A
Drive-___ (quick fixes for your munchies)
36A
Strange place to metaphorically die but okay
37A
Despite the name, a signature move for a Street Fighter character and not a blue hedgehog
39A
Something consumed by your eyes, maybe
40A
Weather simile animal
41A
Ming or Jin, to Meilin (haha, another "Turning Red" clue)
42A
Okay, this sounds a lot more appetizing than the "skin" of a fruit
46A
Holds - often without a warrant
47A
Despite the anachronism, technically what iTunes purchases are labeled as
49A
One from Shiraz
50A
The day before Dia de los Muertos
55A
Sword-training art
56A
Secure option for keeping things safe
57A
Auto make's namesake speed-climbing course on which Robert and Lionel raced specials
58A
Comanche war chief who had a beef with the Texians
Verticales
1D
Be greatly affected by gravity
2D
Were in the present?
3D
Like some expectations
4D
Meme face of furries everywhere
5D
One may be jam-packed
6D
Skilled folks
7D
For the experienced, this isn't their first
8D
One which may be blind
9D
Magnet material
10D
Dead Sea viral content
11D
A pupper
12D
Painkiller brand
13D
Shaker companion?
14D
Jury composition
20D
Things you plop down on but can't always take with you (Come to think of it, why would Boris from "Goldeneye" only make his password five characters long?)
21D
Sub in for
22D
One of many Vocaloids developed by Yamaha
23D
"Perhaps that wasn't clear ..."
24D
Shirley Temple title role
27D
Hebrew name famously given an alternate pronunciation by Mr. Garvey on "Key & Peele"
29D
Delivers the beatdown
30D
Sarcastic attendance response
31D
Folks actually doing the work in the House and Senate
32D
City with a long-term water problem its governments have refused to properly handle
33D
Certain accidental choices
35D
Muscle car choice
38D
Trumpet call
39D
Wine that has one more letter than a spice blend
41D
Radio button
42D
The name of all the angels in "Welcome to Night Vale"
43D
Former president of Israel Shimon
44D
"Gonna have to pass there, buddy"
45D
It's a fancy apartment. Let's not mince words.
46D
Buzz Lightyear VA Tim
48D
High in the Sierra Madre?
51D
Nev. neighbor
52D
Starter that stops a starter?
53D
Literal or metaphorical weight
54D
Lady who may be high up in the Sierra Madre; abbr.