Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2026 Results & Breakdown

The 10th anniversary of the Crunchyroll Anime Awards just wrapped up live at the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa in Tokyo, and it’s safe to say history has been made. With a staggering record of 73 million votes cast worldwide, the global otaku community made its voice louder than ever.

It was a night packed with heavy emotional narratives. We witnessed a long-running legendary franchise finally capture its crown in its final hour, a movie completely shattering structural award records, and some of the most fiercely debated snubs in the history of the ceremony.

Grab your garri and let’s dive into the major category breakdowns, why the winners took home the gold, and why the nominees were entirely worthy of the chase.

Anime of the Year: My Hero Academia: Final Season (Studio Bones)

Other Nominees: Dandadan (Season 2), Gachiakuta, Takopi’s Original Sin, The Apothecary Diaries (Season 2), The Summer Hikaru Died.

Why My Hero Academia Won The Anime Of The Year:

Studio Bones’ production of My Hero Academia: Final Season became the first concluding season of any anime franchise to capture the top prize. This win was driven heavily by raw emotional momentum and an unparalleled global legacy. After a decade of defining the modern Shonen era, the final season of MHA delivered cinematic stakes, massive character payoffs, and a masterclass in adaptation pacing. It was less of an award for a single season and more of a grand coronation for one of the absolute titans of the medium.

Other Nominees For Anime Of The Year

• Dandadan (Season 2) & Gachiakuta: Both represented the peak of new-generation style, pushing boundaries and animation styles that kept anime fans engaged all year.
• The Apothecary Diaries (Season 2): A masterpiece of historical drama and uncommon character dynamics that held a massive fanbase hostage with its brilliant writing.
• Takopi’s Original Sin & The Summer Hikaru Died: These psychological and horror-tinged masterpieces proved that short-form, high-concept narrative pacing can completely hold its own against giant action properties.

Film of the Year: Demon Slayer The Movie: Infinity Castle (Ufotable)

Other Nominees: Chainsaw Man The Movie: Reze Arc, Mononoke the Movie: Chapter II, 100 Meters, Scarlet, The Rose of Versailles.

Why Demon Slayer The Movie: Infinity Castle Won Film Of The Year

Ufotable didn’t just make a movie; they built an architectural phenomenon. Infinity Castle took home a record-shattering 7 total awards, making it the most awarded film in the history of the event. The movie’s sheer scale, seamless integration of complex 3D backgrounds, and battle choreography turned Ufotable into the main character.

Other Nominees For Film Of The Year

• Chainsaw Man The Movie: Reze Arc: MAPPA delivered an incredibly intimate, cinematic, and tragic romance-thriller that gave Demon Slayer its hardest run for its money.
• Mononoke the Movie: A brilliant visual treat that pushed avant-garde, traditional Japanese art styles to the limit while maintaining an interesting play.

Best New Series: Gachiakuta (Studio Bones)

Other Nominees: Sakamoto Days, Takopi’s Original Sin, The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity, The Summer Hikaru Died, Clevatess

Why Gachiakuta Won Best New Series

Gachiakuta pulled off a massive statement win. Studio Bones perfectly captured the raw, gritty, graffiti-inspired aesthetic of Kei Urana’s manga. Its highly stylized street-punk world-building and chaotic action felt fresh in a landscape dominated by traditional fantasy or clean modern urban settings.

Other Nominees For Best New Series

• Sakamoto Days: A masterclass in comedic action choreography that fans expected to take the top spot.
• The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity: The emotional darling of the year that set the gold standard for pure, wholesome romance.

Best Animation: Solo Levelling: Season 2 (A-1 Pictures)

Other Nominees: Dandadan (Season 2), Gachiakuta, My Hero Academia (Final Season), One Piece, Takopi’s Original Sin.

Why Solo Levelling (Season 2) Won Best Animation

A-1 Pictures went all-out for Jin-woo’s return. The production value on the shadow summons and the weight behind every single strike elevated the manhwa’s signature high-tier action. The fluid frame rates during heavy boss fights completely stole the hearts of global action fans.

Other Nominees For Best Animation

• Dandadan (Season 2): Science Saru’s psychedelic and perspective-warping frame transitions made this one of the tightest animation races in history.
• One Piece: Continued to deliver cinematic, weekly historical episodes in the Egghead/Elbaph arcs that defied normal television production limitations.

Best Continuing Series: One Piece (Toei Animation)

Other Nominees: Dan Da Dan (Season 2), Kaiju No. 8, My Hero Academia (Final Season), Solo Leveling (Season 2), Spy x Family (Season 3).

Why One Piece Won Best Continuing Series

Toei Animation’s flagship titan pulled off an incredible feat, taking home the crown for Best Continuing Series for the third time in the history of the awards. The sheer longevity of the series, coupled with the consistently mind-blowing animation peaks delivered throughout the high-stakes Egghead and Elbaph arcs, completely solidified its dominance. The global community collectively recognized that One Piece isn’t just maintaining its status—it is actively outdoing itself decade after decade.

Other Nominees For Best Continuing Series

• Dan Da Dan (Season 2): Science Saru’s breakout hit managed to maintain its chaotic energy and massive community hype, easily securing its spot among the ongoing elite.
• Kaiju No. 8: Production I.G’s cinematic monster-defense series kept fans thoroughly hooked with its incredible pacing and visceral, large-scale modern military action.
• My Hero Academia (Final Season): The massive, emotional culmination of Deku and Class 1-A’s multi-year journey acted as an era-defining powerhouse on the voting ballots.
• Solo Leveling (Season 2): Elevated the massive global webtoon phenomenon even further, delivering heavy weekly watercooler moments with Jin-woo’s return.
• Spy x Family (Season 3): Continues to be the ultimate comfort watch for the global fandom, balancing top-tier domestic comedy with highly polished undercover spy stakes.

Best Original Anime: Lazarus (Studio MAPPA)

Other Nominees: Apocalypse Hotel, Digimon Beatbreak, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, Moonrise, ZENSHU.

Why Lazarus Won Best Original Anime

Directed by the legendary Shinichiro Watanabe and animated by Studio MAPPA, Lazarus proved to be an absolute sci-fi masterpiece. Combining a high-stakes psychological plot about a miracle drug turned deadly with jaw-dropping, John Wick-style close-quarters combat choreography designed by Chad Stahelski, the series gave fans a completely original, thrilling ride that didn’t rely on any existing manga material.

Other Nominees For Best Original Anime

• Apocalypse Hotel: Cygames Pictures delivered a wonderfully optimistic, quirky sci-fi comedy about a post-apocalyptic Earth hotel run by robots and alien guests that captured hearts with its unique charm.
• Digimon Beatbreak: Toei Animation successfully refreshed a classic franchise by subverting tropes, anchoring the monster-evolution thrills with a deeply emotional story of grief and recovery.
• Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX: An incredible, avant-garde collaborative experiment between Sunrise and Studio Khara that remixed classic universal mecha lore with high-stakes mobile suit dueling.
• Moonrise: WIT Studio showcased its world-class production capabilities, anchoring a gorgeous sci-fi visual landscape with a timely story about corporate AI oversight and societal division.
• Zenshu: Another brilliant original showcase from MAPPA that blended meta-industry struggles of an anime director with an unexpected, visually dazzling creative fantasy twist.

Best Character Design: Gachiakuta (Studio Bones)

Other Nominees: Dan Da Dan (Season 2), My Dress-Up Darling (Season 2), One Piece, Takopi’s Original Sin, The Apothecary Diaries (Season 2).

Why Gachiakuta Won Best Character Design

Studio Bones brilliantly translated Kei Urana’s distinct, wildly creative street-punk character designs from the manga page directly into motion. The visual identity of Rudo, Enjin, and the rest of the Cleaners relies on high-contrast, graffiti-inspired lines and highly stylized, functional clothing layered with junk aesthetics. It won because it brought an entirely fresh, rebellious design philosophy to an anime landscape often dominated by traditional fantasy or clean urban templates.

Other Nominees For Best Character Design

• Dan Da Dan (Season 2): Science Saru was heavily praised for its visual elasticity, balancing the relatable, trendy fashion of Momo and Okarun with the grotesque, terrifyingly absurd designs of cosmic and supernatural entities.
• My Dress-Up Darling (Season 2): CloverWorks continued to set the absolute gold standard for intricate, high-tier costume design, expressive facial acting, and stunning sub-cultural fashion replication.
• One Piece: Captured massive attention for its vibrant character overhauls in the Egghead arc, blending futuristic sci-fi aesthetics with the classic, chaotic designs of the Straw Hat crew.
• Takopi’s Original Sin: Celebrated for its subversively brilliant contrast, framing a deceptively simple, round, and innocent alien entity against a painfully expressive, raw, and heavy human cast.
• The Apothecary Diaries (Season 2): Highly regarded for its beautiful, historically detailed imperial Chinese court garments and the incredibly sharp, expressive visual quirks given to Maomao during her analytical deductions.

Best Director: Akinori Fudesaka and Norihiro Naganuma (The Apothecary Diaries Season 2)

Other Nominees: Fūga Yamashiro and Abel Góngora (Dan Da Dan Season 2), Fumihiko Suganuma (Gachiakuta), Kenji Nagasaki and Naomi Nakayama (My Hero Academia Final Season), Ryōhei Takeshita (The Summer Hikaru Died), Shinya Iino (Takopi’s Original Sin).

Why Akinori Fudesaka and Norihiro Naganuma Won Best Director

The directorial duo pulled off a masterclass in tension, subtle pacing, and spatial storytelling within the complex walls of the Rear Palace. Stepping up to elevate the second season, Fudesaka and Naganuma maintained a brilliant visual balance—handling Maomao’s highly eccentric comedic inner monologues while executing heavy, politically charged dramatic framing. Their meticulous control over the narrative flow ensured that a dialogue-heavy mystery series carried the visual gravity and engagement of a top-tier action epic.

Other Nominees For Best Director

• Fūga Yamashiro and Abel Góngora (Dan Da Dan Season 2): Heavily praised for managing Dandadan’s breakneck tonal shifts, seamlessly blending psychedelic, high-octane action with genuine, tender teenage romance.
• Fumihiko Suganuma (Gachiakuta): Masterfully translated a raw, graffiti-laden manga world into motion, utilizing unconventional tracking shots and a rebellious punk aesthetic to establish a standout visual identity.
• Kenji Nagasaki and Naomi Nakayama (My Hero Academia Final Season): Tasked with wrapping up a monumental decade-long franchise, the duo excelled at delivering massive emotional character payoffs alongside hyper-scale battle choreography.
• Ryōhei Takeshita (The Summer Hikaru Died): Celebrated for using lingering, silent frames and eerie environmental framing to capture the deep, atmospheric small-town dread and heavy grief of the original horror-drama source material.
• Shinya Iino (Takopi’s Original Sin): Masterfully handled incredibly heavy, psychological themes by contrasting a deceptively innocent, cartoonish perspective with stark, unyielding, and hard-hitting dramatic framing.

Best Romance: The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity (CloverWorks)

Other Nominees: Blue Box, Dan Da Dan (Season 2), Honey Lemon Soda, My Dress-Up Darling (Season 2), Ranma 1/2 (Season 2).

Why The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity Won Best Romance

This series completely captured the hearts of romance fans by stripping away frustrating, drawn-out tropes and focusing on pure, wholesome, and mature emotional communication. CloverWorks’ beautiful adaptation of the boundary-crossing dynamic between the rugged Rintaro and the sweet Kaoruko provided a masterclass in relational development, social anxiety, and genuine mutual respect. It stood out because it prioritized deep, healthy emotional connections that left the community swooning every single week.

Other Nominees For Best Romance

• Blue Box: Telecom Animation Film brilliantly blended high-stakes high school badminton and basketball sports drama with a tender, slow-burn, and incredibly realistic teenage housemate romance.
• Dan Da Dan (Season 2): Maintained an intensely passionate following for its chaotic, high-energy romantic subplot, proving that navigating adolescent crushes can be just as terrifying as fighting off alien abductions.
• Honey Lemon Soda: Pushed a classic, beautiful story of personal growth, showcasing how a sweet, bubbly relationship can help a shy protagonist break out of her shell and find her own voice.
• My Dress-Up Darling (Season 2): Continued to dominate the genre charts with its incredible chemistry, celebrating how mutual passion for cosplay, sub-cultural artistry, and shared creativity continuously brings two polar opposites closer together.
• Ranma 1/2 (Season 2): MAPPA’s highly praised modern remake brought classic martial arts rom-com energy back to the forefront, delivering timeless, chaotic, and nostalgic fiancé dynamics for a whole new generation.

Best Comedy: Dan Da Dan (Season 2)

Other Nominees: CITY The Animation, My Dress-Up Darling (Season 2), Ranma 1/2 (Season 2), Spy x Family Season 3, Witch Watch.

Why Dan Da Dan Won Best Comedy

The comedic timing in Dan Da Dan is unmatched in its sheer, unadulterated absurdity. Science Saru masterfully balanced breakneck visual gags, wild facial expressions, and rapid-fire punchlines that never derailed the high-stakes supernatural plot. From running away from turbo-charged yokai to dealing with bizarre, deadpan alien logic, the series consistently delivered laugh-out-loud moments that completely dominated social media clips and watercooler discussions all season.

Other Nominees For Best Comedy

• CITY The Animation: Kyoto Animation’s brilliant adaptation of Keiichi Arawi’s work brought a chaotic, vibrant, and incredibly surreal slice of neighborhood comedy that fans of Nichijou absolutely adored.
• My Dress-Up Darling (Season 2): Masterfully combined its sweet romantic core with high-energy, relatable, and hilarious Otaku panic moments during complex cosplay crunch sessions.
• Ranma 1/2 (Season 2): Delivered classic, nostalgic martial-arts slapstick comedy at its absolute finest, keeping audiences thoroughly entertained with its chaotic misunderstanding tropes and gender-bending hijinks.
• Spy x Family (Season 3): Remained a heavyweight contender thanks to Anya’s legendary meme-worthy reaction faces, internal monologues, and the ongoing, brilliantly written dramatic irony of the Forger household.
• Witch Watch: Studio Comet hit a home run with this magical-roommate gag comedy, blending subversively witty pop-culture references, bizarre spell mishaps, and sharp, dry dialogue.

Best Action: Solo Leveling Season 2 (A-1 Pictures)

Other Nominees: Dan Da Dan Season 2, Gachiakuta, Kaiju No. 8, My Hero Academia Final Season, One Piece.

Why Solo Leveling (Season 2) Won Best Action

When it comes to pure, adrenaline-fueled power fantasy, Sung Jin-woo’s return completely dominated global voting metrics. A-1 Pictures went all-out to deliver heavy, visceral combat sequences, combining fluid frame rates during high-stakes boss rushes with the absolute awe-inspiring scale of the shadow army summons. The sheer kinetic weight behind every single strike and magical clash turned each weekly episode into an explosive event, solidifying its place as the definitive choice for pure action enthusiasts.

Other Nominees For Best Action

• Dan Da Dan Season 2: Science Saru pushed the literal boundaries of perspective-warping motion, blending chaotic sci-fi chases and supernatural hand-to-hand combat into a dizzying visual spectacle.
• Gachiakuta: Studio Bones delivered a brilliantly raw, heavy street-punk fighting style, utilizing creative weapon physics and gritty, graffiti-inspired action tracking.
• Kaiju No. 8: Production I.G brought massive theatrical weight to the small screen, highlighting devastating, colossal monster-defense strikes and high-tier military tactical warfare.
• My Hero Academia Final Season: Packed an emotional punch with its scale, serving up the monumental, world-shaking final battle setups that fans had been waiting a decade to see.
• One Piece: Continued to break the internet with historical, cinematic high-tier production spikes, turning the grand battles of the ongoing narrative into unmatched spectacles.

Best Isekai Anime: Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World (Season 3) (White Fox)

Other Nominees: Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill (Season 2), Disney Twisted-Wonderland The Animation (Season 1), From Bureaucrat to Villainess: Dad’s Been Reincarnated, KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World! 3 (Bonus Stage), Zenshu.

Why Re:Zero (Season 3) Won Best Isekai

White Fox delivered a breathtaking, high-stakes return to the city of Priestella that completely dominated the Isekai category. Season 3 raised the bar by blending dark, psychologically taxing narratives with massive, multi-front tactical battles against the Witch Cult. Subaru’s growth as a leader, combined with the agonizingly brilliant use of the “Return by Death” mechanic to unravel complex crises, proved why this franchise remains the absolute heavyweight champion of dark, high-concept Isekai storytelling.

Other Nominees For Best Isekai

• Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill (Season 2): MAPPA’s delightfully cozy, stress-free fantasy return kept global fans thoroughly charmed with its mouth-watering culinary animation and wholesome familiar dynamics.
• Disney Twisted-Wonderland The Animation (Season 1): A highly polished, visually stunning adaptation that brilliantly twisted classic western fairy-tale villain aesthetics into a competitive, magical academy setting.
• From Bureaucrat to Villainess: Dad’s Been Reincarnated: A hilariously subversively written dark horse that won over the community by filtering an otome game world through the stressed, ultra-practical mindset of a middle-aged salaryman dad.
• KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World! 3 (Bonus Stage): Brought back its signature, beautifully chaotic energy, proving that Kazuma and his completely dysfunctional party are still unmatched when it comes to pure fantasy parody.
• Zenshu: Handled a meta-fantasy approach beautifully, highlighting an inventive, reality-bending creative spin that deeply explored the burdens and triumphs of an animator trapped within an active production universe.

Best Drama: The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 (TOHO Animation & OLM)

Other Nominees: Anne Shirley, Blue Box, Orb: On the Movements of the Earth, Takopi’s Original Sin, The Summer Hikaru Died.

Why The Apothecary Diaries (Season 2) Won Best Drama

The political intrigue, deadly inner-palace schemes, and deep emotional stakes of the Rear Palace made The Apothecary Diaries an absolute dramatic powerhouse. The seasonal arc masterfully expanded the world outside the palace walls, introducing high-stakes diplomatic tension and dark pasts that caught up with our favorite characters. Maomao’s calculated, clinical approach to unfolding mysteries contrasted against the heavy, slow-burn romantic tension with Jinshi created a brilliant narrative gravity that kept fans thoroughly gripped from start to finish.

Other Nominees For Best Drama

• Anne Shirley: A breath-taking, deeply nostalgic, and emotionally resonant modern reimagining that captured the universal aches of growing up, finding identity, and navigating familial grief.
• Blue Box: Successfully grounded its high school sports framework with an intensely realistic, quiet, and tender exploration of adolescent pressure, expectations, and emotional vulnerability.
• Orb: On the Movements of the Earth: Madhouse delivered a phenomenal, intellectual thriller packed with philosophical weight, charting the brutal, dangerous sacrifices made by early scholars to protect scientific truth against religious heresy.
• Takopi’s Original Sin: A brutally heavy, psychological masterpiece that left the entire community emotionally wrecked, contrasting a cute alien perspective with an unyielding look at domestic trauma and childhood isolation.
• The Summer Hikaru Died: Masterfully blended small-town rural existential dread, cosmic horror, and intense interpersonal grief into one of the tightest, most atmospheric character studies of the year.

Best Slice of Life: Spy x Family Season 3 (WIT Studio & CloverWorks)

Other Nominees: Anne Shirley, Blue Box, CITY The Animation, My Dress-Up Darling (Season 2), The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity.

Why SPY x FAMILY Season 3 Won Best Slice of Life

While the series is built on a foundation of secret agents and cold-war espionage, Season 3 truly shone by prioritizing the charming, quiet, and everyday moments of the Forger family. It took home the crown because it masterfully captured the essence of the genre—finding pure joy, warmth, and comfort in the mundane. Whether it was Anya navigating schoolyard politics at Eden Academy, Loid trying to genuinely understand modern parenting, or Yor managing domestic life, the show served as a therapeutic weekly escape that celebrated the beautiful comfort of a found family.

Other Nominees For Best Slice of Life

• Anne Shirley: A gorgeously animated, slow-burn masterpiece that captured the nostalgic, quiet beauty of rural life and the simple, profound everyday milestones of youth and personal growth.
• Blue Box: Celebrated for its incredibly grounded and gentle pacing, beautifully capturing the quiet mornings in the gymnasium, late-night study sessions, and the slow, realistic rhythm of high school life.
• CITY The Animation: Kyoto Animation brought its signature hyper-detailed, high-tier production values to a wonderfully surreal, energetic, and hilarious look at the interconnected everyday lives of city eccentric residents.
• My Dress-Up Darling (Season 2): Delighted fans by focusing on the quiet, cozy, and intensely passionate creative hours spent stitching fabric, shopping for materials, and sharing sub-cultural hobbies together.
• The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity: A deeply moving, wholesome entry that spent its time exploring soft after-school cake shop hangouts, study groups, and the gentle breakdown of social barriers between two different student bodies.

Best Main Character: Maomao From The Apothecary Diaries (Season 2)

Other Nominees: Izuku “Deku” Midoriya (MHA), Sung Jin-woo (Solo Leveling), Rudo (Gachiakuta), Okarun (Dandadan), Momo (Dandadan)

Why Maomao Won Best Main Character

The cat-brained, poison-loving Maomao does it again! Her wit, internal cynicism, and deep emotional intelligence make her one of the most uniquely compelling protagonists in modern anime. She carried The Apothecary Diaries to a whopping 5 total wins, proving you don’t need a superpower to dominate the global community.

Why the Nominees Were There

Deku & Sung Jin-woo: Both underwent massive defining character evolutions this season, acting as the heavy emotional anchors of their respective universes.

Best Supporting Character: Katsuki Bakugo: My Hero Academia Final Season (Studio Bones)

Other Nominees: Enjin (Gachiakuta), Jin Enjoji “Jiji” (DAN DA DAN Season 2), Jinshi (The Apothecary Diaries Season 2), Loulan / Shisui (The Apothecary Diaries Season 2), Turbo Granny (DAN DA DAN Season 2).

Why Katsuki Bakugo Won Best Supporting Character

Bakugo’s monumental redemption arc throughout My Hero Academia culminated in a final season performance that was entirely unmatched in emotional gravity and raw intensity. No longer just the hot-headed rival, his strategic Brilliance, ultimate sacrifices, and profound growth into a true pillar of hope for Class 1-A resonated deeply with voters. Studio Bones gave his definitive battlefield moments the cinematic scale they deserved, locking down a historic, sentimental win for a character a decade in the making.

Other Nominees For Best Supporting Character

• Enjin: Studio Bones’ other standout secondary figure captured the community’s respect with his laid-back demeanor, unique umbrella-based weapon mechanics, and protective, mentor-like guidance over Rudo.
• Jin Enjoji “Jiji”: Science Saru masterfully balanced Jiji’s golden-retriever energy and tragic, high-stakes possession arc, delivering equal parts heart-wrenching drama and comedic relief.
• Jinshi: Maintained an iron-clad position as a fan favorite, captivating viewers with his shifting dual identity, internal imperial burdens, and intensely protective, slow-burn dynamic with Maomao.
• Loulan / Shisui: Acted as the chilling, brilliantly calculated focal point of the Rear Palace’s deep political conspiracies, keeping audiences completely guessing through an intricate web of deception.
• Turbo Granny: Remained an absolute scene-stealer in her doll form, anchoring the show’s supernatural lore while offering petty, fast-talking comedic banter that kept the cast on their toes.

Must Protect At All Cost Character: Anya Forger: Spy x Family Season 3 (WIT Studio / CloverWorks)

Other Nominees: Izuku Midoriya (My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON), Kaoruko Waguri (The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity), Maomao (The Apothecary Diaries Season 2), Suika (Dr. Stone), Takopi (Takopi’s Original Sin).

Why Anya Forger Won “Must Protect At All Cost”

An absolute dynasty! Anya Forger completely dominated this fan-favorite category once again, securing her crown for the fourth consecutive year. While Season 3 brought heavier cold-war stakes to the table, Anya’s pure, innocent heart, hilarious telepathic misunderstandings, and unmatched arsenal of meme-worthy reaction faces remained the ultimate emotional anchor for the global fandom. Her chaotic attempts to help her spy father and assassin mother maintain their facade while simply trying to pass her exams at Eden Academy make her the undisputed darling of modern anime.

Other Nominees For “Must Protect At All Cost”

• Izuku Midoriya: Sentimental votes poured in for the young hero as his grueling, multi-year journey reached its absolute physical and emotional limits, leaving fans fiercely wishing for his ultimate peace and happiness.
• Kaoruko Waguri: CloverWorks brought her radiant, intensely empathetic personality to life beautifully, making her a character the entire community instantly wanted to shield from any societal judgment or heartbreak.
• Maomao: Despite her hyper-competent, cynical, and street-smart exterior, her dangerous habit of literally testing deadly poisons on herself continually kept viewers deeply protective and anxious for her safety.
• Suika: Continued to serve as the absolute heart and soul of the Kingdom of Science, braving incredible dangers with her trusty melon helmet to back up her friends in the rebuilding of civilization.
• Takopi: A tragic, deconstructive entry in this category; this deceptively cute, round alien entity completely broke hearts as it tried and heartbreakingly failed to navigate and fix severe domestic human trauma with pure, naive optimism.

Best Opening Sequence: On The Way by AiNA The End (Dan Da Dan Season 2)

Other Nominees: “HUGs” by Paledusk (Gachiakuta / Studio Bones), “Mirage” by Creepy Nuts (Call of the Night Season 2 / LIDEN FILMS), “The Revo” (Gachiakuta / Studio Bones), “ReawakeR (feat. Felix of Stray Kids)” by LiSA (Solo Leveling Season 2 / A-1 Pictures), “Watch Me!” by YOASOBI (WITCH WATCH / Bibury Animation Studios).

Why “On The Way” Won Best Opening Sequence

Science SARU delivered a psychedelic visual masterpiece that perfectly matched the distinctive vocal energy of AiNA THE END. The opening sequence acts as a fast-paced, colorful summary of the show’s chaotic identity—blending fluid urban tracking shots, perspective-warping alien neon transitions, and deeply expressive character hand-to-hand layouts. It secured the crown because it functions not just as an introduction, but as a standalone piece of boundary-pushing music-video art that completely dominated global replay metrics.

Other Nominees For Best Opening Sequence

• “HUGs” by Paledusk (Gachiakuta) & “The Revo” (Gachiakuta): Studio Bones leveraged an aggressive, graffiti-laden, punk-rock aesthetic, using rapid-fire frames and heavy street-art layouts to give the series an instant cult-classic musical identity.
• “Mirage” by Creepy Nuts (Call of the Night Season 2): LIDEN FILMS beautifully matched Creepy Nuts’ signature hypnotic hip-hop flow, using smooth urban nighttime neon colors and fluid, gravity-defying flight sequences.
• “ReawakeR” by LiSA feat. Felix (Solo Leveling Season 2): A-1 Pictures crafted a grand, dark power-fantasy anthem, featuring sleek, high-contrast character art frames and heavy rhythmic beats that built intense weekly battle anticipation.
• “Watch Me!” by YOASOBI (WITCH WATCH): Bibury Animation Studios leaned into a highly polished, colorful pop aesthetic, full of witty visual references, magical room mishaps, and sharp comedic synchronization.

Best Ending Sequence: I by Bump of Chicken (My Hero Academia: Final Season) (Studio Bones)

Other Nominees: “Actor” (SPY x FAMILY Season 3 / WIT Studio & CloverWorks), “Beautiful Colors” (Kaiju No. 8 / Production I.G), “Doukashiteru” (DAN DA DAN Season 2 / Science SARU), “Kawaii Kaiwai” (My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 / CloverWorks), “Un-apex” (Solo Leveling Season 2 / A-1 Pictures).

Why “I” Won Best Ending Sequence

Studio Bones coupled with the legendary rock band BUMP OF CHICKEN to deliver an absolute emotional powerhouse of a sequence that left long-term fans in tears every single week. “I” functions as a beautiful, nostalgic retrospective of Deku and Class 1-A’s entire decade-long journey. The animation leaned heavily into gorgeous, sketch-like illustrations, shifting from melancholic solo frames of isolated characters to vibrant, warm group montages celebrating their growth, camaraderie, and final peace. It captured the crown because it served as the ultimate, deeply moving cinematic curtain call for a generation-defining franchise.

Other Nominees For Best Ending Sequence

• “Actor” (SPY x FAMILY Season 3): WIT Studio and CloverWorks delivered a deeply heartwarming, beautifully stylized sequence focusing on the quiet, whimsical dreamscapes and everyday imaginations of Anya, layered over a remarkably soulful, theatrical melody.
• “Beautiful Colors” (Kaiju No. 8): Production I.G utilized a brilliant, high-contrast graphic design aesthetic, tracking the daily routines, internal burdens, and colorful personal bonds of the Anti-Kaiju Defense Force members through fluid, stylized motion graphics.
• “Doukashiteru” (DAN DA DAN Season 2): Science SARU kept the show’s quirky momentum alive through a lo-fi, surreal, and wonderfully hypnotic ending sequence that paired absurd creature loops with an incredibly catchy, upbeat indie rhythm.
• “Kawaii Kaiwai” (My Dress-Up Darling Season 2): CloverWorks doubled down on pure, vibrant aesthetic charm, creating an incredibly cute, fashion-forward sequence packed with intricate sewing doodles, colorful fabrics, and highly expressive character layouts.
• “Un-apex” (Solo Leveling Season 2): A-1 Pictures leaned into an intensely sleek, atmospheric, and dark cyber-fantasy visual palette, tracking Jin-woo’s shadow soldiers against massive, minimalist structural frames to build a lingering sense of immense power.

Best Anime Song: Iris Out by Kenshi Yonezu (Chainsaw Man The Movie: Reze Arc) (MAPPA)

Other Nominees: “In Bloom” (The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 / TOHO Animation x OLM), “Jane Doe” (Lazarus / MAPPA), “On The Way” (Dan Da Dan Season 2 / Science SARU), “ReawakeR” (Solo Leveling Season 2 / A-1 Pictures), “Watch Me!” (Witch Watch / Bibury Animation Studios).

Why “Iris Out” Won Best Anime Song

Kenshi Yonezu and Chainsaw Man remain an absolutely undefeated combination. “Iris Out” captured the global community’s vote by serving as the tragic, hauntingly beautiful melodic core of the Reze Arc theatrical film. Yonezu’s masterful vocal range perfectly mirrored the bittersweet, high-stakes romance and underlying melancholy of Denji and Reze’s relationship. The track didn’t just dominate the movie’s climax, it completely took over global streaming charts, proving that a deeply emotional, cinematic ballad can carry just as much explosive power as a traditional hype anthem.

Other Nominees For Best Anime Song

• “In Bloom” (The Apothecary Diaries Season 2): A stunningly elegant, sweeping orchestral pop track that perfectly captured the regal atmosphere, deep mystery, and subtle emotional growth within the inner court.
• “Jane Doe” (Lazarus): A brilliant, jazz-infused electronic track curated for Shinichiro Watanabe’s original sci-fi world that kept fans entirely hooked with its sophisticated, sleek, and atmospheric rhythm.
• “On The Way” (Dan Da Dan Season 2): An incredibly high-energy indie rock track that perfectly matched the show’s chaotic, fast-paced supernatural identity and kept fans hitting replay all season long.
• “ReawakeR” (Solo Leveling Season 2): A powerful, dark, and hard-hitting collaboration that blended heavy electronic beats with fierce vocals to perfectly soundtrack Jin-woo’s escalating power fantasy.
• “Watch Me!” (Witch Watch): A wonderfully bright, infectious pop anthem packed with catchy hooks and upbeat energy that perfectly matched the wholesome magical comedy of the series.

Best Score: Demon Slayer The Movie: Infinity Castle (Yuki Kajiura & Go Shiina) (ufotable)

Other Nominees: Chainsaw Man The Movie: Reze Arc, Dan Da Dan (Season 2), Gachiakuta, Solo Leveling (Season 2), The Apothecary Diaries (Season 2).

Why Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Won Best Score

Yuki Kajiura and Go Shiina delivered an absolute theatrical masterpiece that completely overwhelmed the global voting ballot. The score for Infinity Castle had the massive task of sonically anchoring a constantly shifting, geometrically impossible structural landscape. The duo brilliantly blended traditional Japanese instruments—like the haunting, sharp plucks of the biwa—with sweeping, thunderous orchestral arrangements and heavy electronic synths during the film’s intense battle sequences. It took home the gold because the music wasn’t just a background element; it actively drove the cinematic tension, keeping the audience’s adrenaline pulsing through every frame.

Other Nominees For Best Score

• Chainsaw Man The Movie: Reze Arc: Kensuke Ushio delivered a deeply intimate, melancholic, and brilliantly experimental lo-fi industrial score that masterfully captured the tragic, shifting romantic tension of the film.
• Dan Da Dan (Season 2): Kensuke Ushio doubled down here with an incredibly frantic, genre-bending soundtrack that effortlessly jumped between high-octane electronic dance music, eerie sci-fi atmospheric tones, and hip-hop beats.
• Gachiakuta: Celebrated for its aggressive, gritty, and industrial street-punk soundtrack that perfectly matched the rebellious, trash-strewn, and graffiti-laden world aesthetic.
• Solo Leveling Season: Hiroyuki Sawano brought his signature grand, sweeping, and explosive vocal-heavy orchestral style, perfectly amplifying the epic power-fantasy weight of the shadow army.
• The Apothecary Diaries (Season 2): Highly regarded for its beautiful, deeply immersive, and historically rich traditional Chinese court instrumentation that added immense weight to the show’s intense political dramas.

Best Voice Artist Performance (Japanese): Aoi Yuki (Maomao, The Apothecary Diaries Season 2)

Other Nominees: Chiaki Kobayashi (Mash Burnedead, Mashle: Magic and Muscles Season 2), Daiki Yamashita (Izuku Midoriya, My Hero Academia Final Season), Kikunosuke Toya (Denji, Chainsaw Man The Movie: Reze Arc), Mayumi Tanaka (Monkey D. Luffy, One Piece), Reina Ueda (Cha Hae-In, Solo Leveling Season 2).

Why Aoi Yuki Won Best VA Performance (Japanese)

Aoi Yuki pulled off a historic double-down, capturing the crown for Best Japanese Voice Performance for the second consecutive year. Her portrayal of Maomao remains an absolute masterclass in vocal range. Yuki effortlessly shifts between a sharp, deeply analytical internal monologue, a deadpan and cynical court maid voice, and those iconic, high-pitched “cat-brained” eccentric squeals when Maomao encounters rare poisons. It was a victory celebrating a voice actor who doesn’t just read lines, but completely embodies the soul, humor, and complex intellect of her character.

Other Nominees For Best VA Performance (Japanese)

• Chiaki Kobayashi: Maintained an iron grip on comedy charts with his pitch-perfect, entirely deadpan, and monotonous delivery that turned every absurd, cream-puff-loving moment of Mashle into a viral clip.
• Daiki Yamashita: Poured a decade’s worth of raw emotion, vocal strain, and heartbreaking vulnerability into Deku’s final battles, leaving the entire global audience completely emotionally spent.
• Kikunosuke Toya: Highly praised for his performance in the Reze Arc film, masterfully capturing the awkward, tender adolescent yearning of a boy experiencing genuine romantic intimacy and tragic betrayal for the first time.
• Mayumi Tanaka: The legendary voice of the Straw Hat captain continued to defy time, delivering earth-shattering, intensely gravelly, and heroic vocal peaks throughout the massive global spectacles of the Egghead arc.
• Reina Ueda: Captivated fans by bringing an intense, sharp, yet deeply layered emotional gravity to the “Hunter S-Rank” heroine, perfectly balancing fierce battlefield commands with subtle, quiet vulnerability.

Best Voice Artist Performance (English): Lucien Dodge (Akaza, Demon Slayer The Movie: Infinity Castle)

Other Nominees: Alexis Tipton (Kaguya Shinomiya, Kaguya-sama: Love is War Anniversary Special), Emi Lo (Maomao, The Apothecary Diaries Season 2), Justin Briner (Izuku Midoriya, My Hero Academia Final Season), Morgan Berry (Rudo, Gachiakuta), Paul Castro Jr. (Okarun, Dan Da Dan).

Why Lucien Dodge Won Best VA Performance (English)

Lucien Dodge absolutely electrified global audiences with his deeply intense, ferocious, and layered theatrical performance as the Upper Moon demon, Akaza. Taking center stage in the massive Infinity Castle cinematic event, Dodge masterfully captured the complex, tragic duality of his character, blending an overwhelming, bloodthirsty battle adrenaline with a profound, raw, and heart-wrenching emotional vulnerability during his climactic moments. He took home the crown because his performance carried the immense vocal gravity required for a high-stakes blockbuster, leaving a definitive mark on the global fandom.

Other Nominees For Best VA Performance (English)

• Alexis Tipton: Brought her signature, world-class vocal agility back to the forefront, effortlessly dancing between ice-cold aristocratic calculations and high-pitched, chaotic romantic panic.
• Emi Lo: Heavily praised for her incredibly sharp, witty, and perfectly deadpan delivery, brilliantly nailing Maomao’s clinical internal deductions and eccentric, poison-loving comedic quirks.
• Justin Briner: Delivered a monumental, emotionally exhausting performance for Deku’s final curtain call, beautifully channelling a decade’s worth of heroic grit, tears, and heavy vocal strain.
• Morgan Berry: Captured the community’s instant attention by infusing Rudo with a raw, gritty, and fiercely rebellious street-punk attitude that perfectly anchored the show’s chaotic identity.
• Paul Castro Jr.: Put on a phenomenal display of vocal range, shifting seamlessly from awkward, high-speed adolescent stuttering to a deeply gravelly, eerie, and powerful supernatural presence when transformed.

💬 Community Ballot: Have Your Say!

With 73 million global votes, the official results are set in stone. But we know the otaku community always has the final word. Scroll down to our comment section below and drop your hot takes. Which anime category completely missed it? Let’s talk honourable mentions in the comments!

Guess what? We also have our own Anime Awards tailored for Nigerian Anime Fans. Check it out here: Anime Nigeria Anime Awards.