The anime world just witnessed its biggest night. The 10th annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards took over Tokyo on May 23, 2026, and the results have sent shockwaves across the global anime community. With a staggering 73 million fan votes cast worldwide, this year’s ceremony wasn’t just an awards show — it was a celebration of anime’s explosive global dominance.
And the biggest winner? My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON claimed the night’s ultimate prize: Anime of the Year. But that’s only the beginning. From surprise upsets to emotional fan tributes, here’s everything that went down at anime’s biggest night.
My Hero Academia Finally Takes the Crown
For years, My Hero Academia has been one of the most nominated — yet most awarded against — franchises at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards. Fans watched it collect nomination after nomination without ever claiming the top prize. That drought is officially over.
The final season of Kohei Horikoshi’s mega-franchise snagged Anime of the Year, presented by none other than The Weeknd — a known anime fan who has repeatedly spoken about his love for the medium. Director Kenji Nagasaki accepted the honor at the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa in Tokyo.
But MHA didn’t stop there. The franchise also won Best Ending Sequence for “I” by Bump of Chicken and Best Supporting Character for the explosive Katsuki Bakugo. Social media erupted with fans calling it a “deserved finale-era win” for one of anime’s most influential modern franchises.
Demon Slayer Dominates the Technical Categories
While My Hero Academia took the headline, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle arguably had the most decorated night. The film claimed Film of the Year, Best Score (Yuki Kajiura and Go Shiina), and multiple voice acting awards across languages — with Demon Slayer’s Akaza voice performers winning in English, Brazilian Portuguese, Castilian Spanish, German, and Latin Spanish categories.
It’s a testament to the Infinity Castle film’s cultural impact that it essentially swept every voice actor category. Demon Slayer isn’t just popular — it’s a global phenomenon that transcends language barriers.
The Surprise Winners Nobody Saw Coming
The real talking point of the night? Lazarus winning Best Original Anime. The Shinichiro Watanabe-directed series beat out established franchises to claim the award, catching many fans and analysts off guard. Watanabe, the legendary director behind Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, proved he still has what it takes to create something fresh and impactful.
Other surprise standouts include:
- Gachiakuta — winning Best New Series, Best Background Art, and Best Character Design, establishing itself as one of anime’s most visually stunning newcomers
- The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity — claiming Best Romance in a category packed with heavy hitters
- Re:ZERO Season 3 — taking Best Isekai Anime in a genre that’s more competitive than ever
- Anya Forger — crowned “Must Protect at All Cost” character, because of course she was
Solo Leveling Continues Its Global Takeover
Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow- flexed hard at this year’s ceremony, winning Best Action and Best Animation. The Korean anime-adaptation juggernaut shows no signs of slowing down, and these wins cement its status as one of the fastest-growing franchises in anime history.
A Night of Star-Studded Presenters
The 10th anniversary ceremony pulled out all the stops. Beyond The Weeknd, the night featured RZA (Wu-Tang Clan), Puerto Rican rapper Young Miko, and K-pop stars BamBam and TEN. The crossover between anime, hip-hop, K-pop, and mainstream entertainment underscores how far anime culture has infiltrated global pop culture.
As we’ve covered on Wibux, anime’s crossover influence on mainstream entertainment has never been stronger — and the Crunchyroll Awards’ diverse presenter lineup is living proof.
Complete Winners List
- 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” by AiNA THE END — DAN DA DAN Season 2
- Best Ending Sequence: “I” by 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: Re:ZERO 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
- Best Background Art: Gachiakuta
- Best Character Design: Gachiakuta
- Best Director: Akinori Fudesaka & Norihiro Naganuma — The Apothecary Diaries S2
- Best Main Character: Maomao — The Apothecary Diaries S2
- Best Supporting Character: Katsuki Bakugo — My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
- Must Protect at All Cost: Anya Forger — SPY x FAMILY Season 3
- Best Anime Song: “Iris Out” by Kenshi Yonezu — Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc
- Best Score: Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle — Yuki Kajiura & Go Shiina
- Best Voice Actor (Japanese): Aoi Yuki as Maomao
- Best Voice Actor (English): Lucien Dodge as Akaza
Fan Reactions: Divided but Passionate
As with any awards show, the results sparked heated debate. MHA fans celebrated the long-overdue Anime of the Year win, while others questioned whether the final season truly outperformed Demon Slayer’s Infinity Castle. The Lazarus win for Best Original Anime divided some viewers — genuine upset or a lifetime achievement nod for Watanabe?
One thing everyone agrees on: with 73 million votes, the Crunchyroll Anime Awards have become the definitive barometer of what anime fans actually watch and love.
Watch the Full Ceremony
The video-on-demand version of the 10th Crunchyroll Anime Awards is available on Crunchyroll and YouTube with exclusive content and behind-the-scenes moments.
Looking for more? Check out our coverage of Summer 2026’s biggest anime lineup to catch up on what everyone’s watching next.
What surprised you most about this year’s results? Did your favorite win, or was it robbed? Sound off in the comments below!
