The farewell run of an iconic series and the biggest anime movie of all time were the top winners at the 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards.
My Hero Academia Final Season received a parting gift in the form of Anime of the Year, presented by The Weeknd, capping the 10th annual edition of the Tokyo-based ceremony.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle, which became the highest-grossing anime film of all time and highest-grossing Japanese film ever in North America, was named Film of the Year.
Other key winners included Lazarus for Best Original Anime, One Piece for Best Continuing Series, and Gachiakuta for Best New Series. Director Tatsuya Nagamine was honored with the Global Impact Award for his contributions to such titles as Ojamajo Doremi, Dragon Ball Super, and One Piece.
The awards, chosen by a weighted system that combines an expert panel (70%) and a fan vote (30%), were announced by celebrity anime fans, including RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan, Black Panther star Winston Duke, and Grammy-nominated rapper Young Miko. Other presenters included legendary voice actor Asuka Saito; K-pop artists BamBam and Ten; and Japanese actors Kasumi Arimura and Nanase Nishino. The show was hosted by returning emcees Sally Amaki and Jon Kabira.
Ceremony highlights included a tribute to the past decade’s Anime of the Year recipients, performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. Japanese singer Yoko Takahashi performed a 30th anniversary tribute to the seminal anime Neon Genesis Evangelion; Pornograffitti played a tribute to the outgoing My Hero Academia; and Asian Kung-Fu Generation performed “Haruka Kanata” from Naruto.
Crunchyroll announced that a record 73 million votes were cast by fans worldwide, with the largest blocs coming from Brazil, Germany, India, Mexico, and the United States.
Here’s the complete list of winners at the 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards:
- Anime of the Year: My Hero Academia Final Season
- Film of the Year: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
- Best Original Anime: Lazarus
- Best Continuing Series: One Piece
- Best New Series: Gachiakuta
- Best Opening Sequence: On the Way: Aina the End: Dan Da Dan Season 2
- Best Ending Sequence: I — Bump of Chicken — My Hero Academia Final Season
- Best Action: Solo Leveling Season 2 — Arise From the Shadow
- Best Comedy: Dan Da Dan Season 2
- Best Drama: The Apothecary Diaries (Season 2)
- Best Isekai Anime: Re:Zero — Starting Life in Another World (Season 3)
- Best Romance: The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity
- Best Slice of Life: Spy x Family Season 3
- Best Animation: Solo Leveling Season 2 — Arise from the Shadow
- Best Background Art: Gachiakuta
- Best Character Design: Gachiakuta
- Best Director: Akinori Fudesaka, Norihiro Naganuma — The Apothecary Diaries (Season 2)
- Best Main Character: Maomao — The Apothecary Diaries (Season 2)
- Best Supporting Character: Katsuki Bakugo — My Hero Academia Final Season
- “Must Protect at All Cost” Character: Anya Forger — Spy x Family Season 3
- Best Anime Song: Iris Out — Kenshi Yonezu — Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
- Best Score: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle — Yuki Kajiura, Go Shiina
- Best Voice Artist Performance (Japanese): Aoi Yuki — Maomao — The Apothecary Diaries (Season 2)
- Best Voice Artist Performance (English): Lucien Dodge — Akaza — Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
- Best Voice Artist Performance (Arabic): Tariq Obaid — Taro Sakamoto — Sakamoto Days
- Best Voice Artist Performance (Brazilian Portuguese): Charles Emmanuel — Akaza — Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
- Best Voice Artist Performance (Castilian Spanish): Carles Teruel — Akaza — Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
- Best Voice Artist Performance (French): Bastien Bourlé — Izuku Midoriya — My Hero Academia Final Season
- Best Voice Artist Performance (German): Gerrit Schmidt—Foß — Akaza — Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
- Best Voice Artist Performance (Hindi): Abhishek Sharma — Jinshi — The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
- Best Voice Artist Performance (Italian): Mosè Singh — Denji — Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
- Best Voice Artist Performance (Latin Spanish): Jose Antonio Toledano — Akaza — Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
