Tokyo turned into anime’s biggest global stage on Saturday night as the 10th annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards celebrated a decade of the medium’s explosive international growth, with My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON taking home the coveted Anime of the Year prize.
Held at the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa in Tokyo, the anniversary ceremony featured a veritable melange of otaku celebrity appearances from around the world and heaps of fond nostalgia for anime’s modern streaming-era boom. The event was hosted once again by voice actress Sally Amaki and veteran presenter Jon Kabira, marking their fourth consecutive year leading the ceremony.
The night’s biggest award was presented by global pop icon The Weeknd, who handed Anime of the Year to the concluding season of Kohei Horikoshi’s long-running superhero saga. The win caps off nearly a decade of dominance for the franchise, which has remained one of anime’s defining crossover hits since its 2016 debut.
The Weeknd hands out the top prize of the night, Anime of the Year, to ‘My Hero Academia’ director Kenji Nagasaki at the 10th Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2026, held at the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa in Tokyo
| Photo Credit:
Crunchyroll
Other major winners included Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle, which secured Film of the Year and Best Score, while Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow- won Best Action and Best Animation. Studio Bones’ Gachiakuta emerged as one of the evening’s breakout successes, winning Best New Series alongside awards for character design and background art.
MAPPA’s Lazarus claimed Best Original Anime, ONE PIECE continued its dominance in the Best Continuing Series category, and The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 won Best Drama. Its protagonist Maomao also picked up Best Main Character.
Crunchyroll said this year’s ceremony recorded a new high of 73 million fan votes worldwide. According to the company, the most engaged voting regions included Brazil, Germany, India, Mexico and the United States.
The 10th anniversary celebration leaned heavily into anime history and legacy. The ceremony opened with a Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra medley honouring previous Anime of the Year winners before singer Dean Fujioka performed “History Maker” from Yuri!!! on ICE, the very first series to win Anime of the Year when the awards launched in 2017.
Several musical tributes highlighted landmark anniversaries across anime culture. The legendary Yoko Takahashi performed “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis” in celebration of Neon Genesis Evangelion’s 30th anniversary, while ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION delivered “Haruka Kanata,” the iconic second opening theme from Naruto.
The ceremony also honoured director Tatsuya Nagamine with the Global Impact Award for his contributions to franchises including Dragon Ball Super, ONE PIECE, Pretty Cure and Ojamajo Doremi. Crunchyroll described the recognition as a tribute to creators whose work shaped anime’s worldwide cultural footprint.
The ceremony’s presenter lineup reflected just how aggressively anime has expanded beyond its once niche reputation into a genuinely global entertainment ecosystem. Japanese actor and former Nogizaka46 member Asuka Saito joined the festivities alongside Thai K-pop star BamBam and internationally renowned cosplayer Enako. Indian actor Rashmika Mandanna, Wu-Tang Clan, Hollywood actor Winston Duke, Japanese stars Kasumi Arimura and Nanase Nishino, Brazilian esports host Nyvi Estephan, K-pop performer TEN, and Puerto Rican rapper Young Miko rounded out the lineup.
Hollywood actor Winston Duke and Indian actor Rashmika Mandanna present on stage at the 10th Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2026, held at the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa in Tokyo
| Photo Credit:
Crunchyroll
The broader ceremony also featured appearances from a long tail of online creators, musicians and fandom personalities including Gigguk, Lauren Moore, Tim Lyu, singer DANNA, pianist Ethan Bortnick, Australian musician Hannah Bahng and cosplay creator Snitchery.
Originally launched in 2017 in California, the Crunchyroll Anime Awards have steadily expanded into one of the medium’s most visible international events. The show permanently moved to Tokyo in 2023 as anime’s global commercial and cultural influence continued to accelerate through streaming, theatrical releases and international fandom.
Here’s a complete list of winners from the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2026:
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
Published – May 24, 2026 06:16 am IST
