Ten years after it first burst onto the scene, My Hero Academia has finally done the unthinkable. After accumulating over 73 million fan votes worldwide, the final season of the series was crowned Anime of the Year at the 10th Crunchyroll Anime Awards, cementing creator Kohei Horikoshi‘s masterpiece in anime history forever.
If you thought the awards ceremony was going to be a quiet affair, think again. Held in Tokyo with a star-studded lineup of presenters, orchestral tributes, and emotional acceptance speeches, the 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards delivered one of the most dramatic nights in recent anime history. Here is a complete breakdown of every major winner and why this year’s results matter more than you think.
The Big One: My Hero Academia Finally Claims the Crown
For years, My Hero Academia lived in the shadow of giants like Attack on Titan and Jujutsu Kaisen. It was always nominated, always loved, but never quite enough to take home the top prize. That changed in 2026.
The eighth and final season of the series, produced by Studio Bones, delivered a devastatingly emotional conclusion to the story of Izuku Midoriya and his journey from a quirkless boy to the world’s greatest hero. The final season aired with unprecedented animation quality and a soundtrack that had fans crying in public — and apparently, it was enough to sway 73 million voters globally.
The win marks the first time My Hero Academia has ever won the Anime of the Year award, and fittingly, it arrived on the series’ 10th anniversary. Creator Kohei Horikoshi and the Bones studio team accepted the award on stage to a standing ovation.
Film of the Year Goes to Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle
While My Hero Academia took the top prize, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba dominated the film category. Infinity Castle, the highly anticipated theatrical release by Studio Ufotable, earned Film of the Year with its breathtaking visual effects and heart-wrenching battle sequences featuring Tanjiro Kamado and Kyojuro Rengoku.
The film’s success at the box office was already legendary, but the Crunchyroll award solidified its cultural impact. Fans who watched Infinity Castle in theaters knew this win was inevitable. You can read our full breakdown of the Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle streaming release for everything you need to know before the movie drops online.
Best Original Anime: The Surprise Winner
The Best Original Anime category went to Science SARU for their latest work, beating out several high-profile competitors. Science SARU, known for their unconventional animation style under director Masaaki Yuasa, continues to prove that original anime can compete with manga adaptations and win.
Best Girl and Best Boy: Fan Favorites Take the Stage
The Best Girl award went to Ochaco Uraraka from My Hero Academia, a result that surprised absolutely no one given her character’s evolution throughout the final season. The Best Boy award claimed by Shoto Todoroki from the same series sparked a wave of celebration across social media, making My Hero Academia a double-winner in the character categories.
Other notable character nominees included Gojo Satoru from Jujutsu Kaisen and Yor Forger from Spy x Family, both of whom have massive global fanbases.
Best Animation: Studio Bones Shines Again
Unsurprisingly, the Best Animation award also went to My Hero Academia Final Season, with Studio Bones delivering some of the most fluid and emotionally resonant fight choreography of the year. The animation team pushed the boundaries of television anime production, and the award was widely considered a foregone conclusion.
The Controversy: Was It Deserved?
Despite the celebration, not everyone agreed with the results. Many fans argued that Witch Hat Atelier, Dandadan, or Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End deserved the top spot. The debate has been raging across Reddit, Twitter, and anime forums since the ceremony ended.
It is worth noting that some truly incredible anime were overlooked this year. As we discussed in our article about Crunchyroll’s darkest anime being snubbed at the 2026 Awards, Takopi’s Original Sin was completely ignored despite delivering one of the most emotionally devastating anime of the decade.
But here is the thing about the Crunchyroll Anime Awards — they are decided by a combination of fan votes and industry judges. 73 million votes is not just a number; it is a movement. My Hero Academia may have taken a decade to reach the summit, but the fans made sure it got there.
What This Means for Anime in 2026 and Beyond
The 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards proved one thing: anime is no longer a niche hobby. With 73 million votes, theatrical anime films dominating global box offices, and streaming platforms like Netflix investing heavily in anime originals, the medium has entered a new golden age.
From Netflix‘s massive May 2026 anime lineup — which we covered extensively in our article about the 7 massive anime titles Netflix dropped in May 2026 — including Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2, One Piece‘s Whole Cake Island Arc, and the streaming debut of Akane-Banashi, to the upcoming Ghost in the Shell remake by Science SARU premiering on Amazon Prime Video in July 2026, the industry is thriving like never before.
My Hero Academia may have closed one chapter, but the anime world has only just begun.
What Do You Think?
Do you believe My Hero Academia deserved Anime of the Year at the 2026 Crunchyroll Awards, or should another series have taken the crown? Was your favorite character snubbed? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and let’s debate — because in anime, the best arguments are always the most fun.
