The 10th Annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards Recap
On May 23, 2026, the global anime community turned its eyes to the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa in Tokyo, Japan, for the 10th Annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards. Hosted once again by the charismatic duo of Sally Amaki and Jon Kabira, the 2026 ceremony marked a decade of celebrating the medium’s global cultural explosion, featuring star-studded presenters, milestone honors, and votes cast by over 70 million fans worldwide.
The evening was defined by emotional farewells, juggernaut film releases, and fresh breakthrough hits that signaled the next era of anime excellence.
The Big Winners: A Cinematic Finale for My Hero Academia
The night’s top honor—Anime of the Year—was presented in surprising style by global superstar The Weeknd, going to My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
After nearly a decade as one of anime’s defining global franchises, Studio Bones’ adaptation reached its epic conclusion, making the victory feel like both a victory lap and a well-earned tribute. In addition to the grand prize, the final season took home Best Supporting Character (Katsuki Bakugo) and Best Ending Sequence for BUMP OF CHICKEN’s hit track “I”.
On the feature film side, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle dominated the competition to take Film of the Year, along with Best Score (Yuki Kajiura and Go Shiina). The theatrical phenomenon underscored ufotable’s unmatched ability to turn event cinema into a global box office juggernaut.
Standout Trends & Category Champions
The Royal Reign of The Apothecary Diaries
The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 emerged as one of the night’s most decorated narrative titles. Maomao claimed Best Main Character, while legendary voice actress Aoi Yuki won Best Voice Artist Performance (Japanese) for her brilliant, multi-faceted portrayal. Directors Akinori Fudesaka and Norihiro Naganuma took home Best Director, and the series clinched Best Drama.
Action and Animation: Solo Leveling Doubles Down
A-1 Pictures’ second outing, Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-, flexed its technical muscle by claiming both Best Action and Best Animation. The fluid combat sequences and high-octane dungeon battles proved unbeatable among fan voters.
Gachiakuta Leads the New Wave
Studio Bones’ dark fantasy newcomer Gachiakuta made a statement by taking Best New Series, along with craft wins for Best Character Design and Best Background Art, cementing its place as one of the most visually distinctive shows on modern screens.
Comedy & Energy: DAN DA DAN Keeps the Vibe High
Science SARU’s DAN DA DAN Season 2 proved its staying power by capturing Best Comedy, alongside Best Opening Sequence for AiNA THE END’s energetic track “On The Way”.
A Milestone 10th Anniversary
Reflecting ten years of growth, the 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards highlighted how far the medium has expanded internationally. With record-breaking global fan participation across dozens of voting categories and localized dub honors spanning Japanese, English, Castilian Spanish, French, German, Arabic, Italian, Hindi, and Brazilian Portuguese, the event demonstrated that anime is no longer a niche phenomenon, but a central pillar of global entertainment.
