After 10 Years of Heroism, My Hero Academia Just Won the Biggest Award in Anime
It’s official. After 73 million votes from fans across the globe, My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON has been crowned Anime of the Year at the 10th Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2026. The ceremony, held at Tokyo’s Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa on May 23rd, was supposed to be a celebration of anime’s best. Instead, it became a farewell party for one of the most iconic shonen series of all time.
This isn’t just another trophy on a shelf. For millions of fans who grew up with Izuku “Deku” Midoriya, this victory feels deeply personal. My Hero Academia didn’t just dominate the charts — it defined an entire era of anime fandom. And now, it’s going out on top.
The Night That Belonged to Heroes
The 10th edition of the Crunchyroll Anime Awards was stacked with incredible nominees. Solo Leveling Season 2 brought the hype. The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 proved that smart storytelling still wins hearts. Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle reminded everyone why it’s a global phenomenon. And let’s not forget Gachiakuta, the dark horse that nobody saw coming.
But when the envelope was opened and My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON was announced as Anime of the Year, the room erupted. Social media immediately exploded. Clips of fans crying, screaming, and sharing their favorite Deku moments flooded X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Instagram within seconds.
The win places My Hero Academia in the same legendary category as previous Anime of the Year winners — standing shoulder to shoulder with giants like Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen.
Why This Victory Matters More Than Any Other
Here’s what makes this win different: This is the final season. Kohei Horikoshi’s masterpiece is over. The story of Deku, Bakugo, Todoroki, and Class 1-A has reached its conclusion. Fans didn’t just vote for the best anime of the year — they voted to honor a decade-long journey.
Consider the timeline:
- 2014: My Hero Academia manga begins serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump
- 2016: Studio BONES launches the anime adaptation
- 2016–2025: Six seasons, three movies, and countless battles later
- October 2025: The FINAL SEASON premieres, adapting the last arc
- May 2026: Wins Anime of the Year at the 10th Crunchyroll Awards
That’s over 10 years of weekly chapters, emotional gut-punches, and quotable moments. “Plus Ultra” isn’t just a catchphrase — it’s a philosophy that an entire generation of fans adopted as their own.
The Competition Was Fierce — And That Makes It Even Sweeter
Let’s be real: 2025–2026 has been an insane period for anime quality. The fact that My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON beat out these heavy hitters makes the victory even more impressive:
- Solo Leveling Season 2 — Broke Crunchyroll viewership records and proved that the isekai wave isn’t slowing down
- The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 — A masterclass in political intrigue and character writing
- Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle — Shuggled theaters and reminded everyone why Ufotable is the king of animation
- Gachiakuta — The surprise hit that fans rallied behind with genuine passion
Beating that lineup with 73 million global votes? That’s not luck. That’s legacy.
What Fans Are Saying
The internet didn’t hold back. Within hours of the announcement, #MHAForever was trending worldwide. Fans shared their earliest memories of watching Deku receive One For All from All Might. Cosplayers posted their best Deku edits. Artists created tribute illustrations that collectively crashed several art platforms.
One fan on Reddit perfectly summed it up: “I was 14 when I started reading MHA. I’m 24 now. Deku grew up, and so did I. This award is for everyone who’s been on this journey since day one.”
Studio BONES also released a heartfelt statement thanking the fans, promising that the spirit of My Hero Academia would continue to live on through future projects, merchandise, and the massive community that refuses to let the series fade into nostalgia.
The Bigger Picture: What This Says About Anime in 2026
My Hero Academia winning Anime of the Year alongside Solo Leveling dominating streaming records tells us something important: shonen anime isn’t dying. It’s evolving. The genre that Dragon Ball started and that Naruto, Bleach, and One Piece carried forward is still the beating heart of anime culture.
And with Jujutsu Kaisen Season 4 officially confirmed and One Piece dethroning Dragon Ball as Toei’s #1 franchise, 2026 is shaping up to be the year shonen fans finally get everything they’ve been asking for.
But My Hero Academia’s win carries extra weight because it represents something the other series can’t: finality. This story is complete. The hero’s journey — from Quirkless kid to the greatest hero — is finished. And the world decided that the ending was worthy of the biggest award in anime.
Plus Ultra, One Last Time
Whether you’ve been riding with Deku since chapter 1 or you discovered the series during the final season’s broadcast, this moment belongs to all of us. My Hero Academia Anime of the Year isn’t just an award — it’s a love letter from 73 million fans to a series that meant everything.
So here’s to you, Deku. To All Might’s smile. To Bakugo’s explosive personality. To Todoroki’s journey of self-acceptance. To every character who made us believe that anyone can be a hero.
What was your favorite My Hero Academia moment that made you vote for it as Anime of the Year? Drop your memories in the comments below!
