When 73 million fans across the globe cast their votes for the 10th Crunchyroll Anime Awards, nobody expected the results to feel like both a farewell tribute and a massive upset rolled into one evening. Hosted by Sally Amaki and Jon Kabira at the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa in Tokyo, the ceremony delivered surprises, tears, and one very predictable winner that still managed to make fans lose their minds.
My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON took home Anime of the Year, capping off nearly a decade as one of anime’s defining mainstream franchises with the kind of recognition that only comes when a beloved series reaches its final chapter. But the night belonged to so much more than just one trophy.
The Big Winners: My Hero Academia and Demon Slayer Dominate
My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON did not just walk away with Anime of the Year. Hawks claimed Best Supporting Character, while the ending sequence to the song I by BUMP OF CHICKEN won Best Ending Sequence. For a franchise that has carried millions of viewers through a decade of heroics, the sweep felt like a victory lap that fans had been waiting for since the manga’s final arc began.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle, meanwhile, continued its unstoppable momentum by securing Film of the Year and Best Score, with composers Yuki Kajiura and Go Shiina honored for their work. The Infinity Castle film has been a box office juggernaut, and its recognition at the awards ceremony only reinforces its place as one of the most significant anime events of the decade.
Lazarus and Gachiakuta: The Newcomers That Stole the Show
The biggest surprise of the night went to Lazarus, which took home Best Original Anime. In a field packed with established franchises and beloved sequels, a brand-new original series rising to the top is the kind of upset that reminds everyone why the anime industry stays exciting. Gachiakuta also made a massive impression as Best New Series, while also picking up Best Background Art and Best Character Design. That triple win for a debut series is genuinely unheard of and signals that creator Kei Urano’s world has arrived with serious force.
Complete Winners Breakdown
Major Categories
- 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
Genre Winners
- 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 Romance: Blue Box
- Best Slice of Life: Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines!
- Best Isekai Anime: Re:ZERO Season 3
Craft and Technical Awards
- Best Animation: Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-
- Best Background Art: Gachiakuta
- Best Character Design: Gachiakuta
- Best Director: Sunghoo Park for Bullet/Bullet
- Best Score: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
Character and Music
- Best Main Character: Maomao from The Apothecary Diaries Season 2
- Best Supporting Character: Hawks from My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
- Must Protect At All Costs Character: Anya Forger from SPY x FAMILY Season 3
- Best Anime Song: Ghost by Eve for Jujutsu Kaisen Hidden Inventory / Premature Death – The Movie
- Best Opening Sequence: On The Way by AiNA THE END for Dan Da Dan Season 2
- Best Ending Sequence: I by BUMP OF CHICKEN for My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
Special Recognition
The Global Impact Award went to Attack on Titan, honoring the series’ unprecedented worldwide cultural influence. Prolific director Tatsuya Nagamine also received recognition for his career-spanning contributions to anime that have transcended geographic borders.
What the Results Tell Us About Anime in 2026
The 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards painted a clear picture of where the industry stands right now. Established franchises like My Hero Academia, Demon Slayer, and One Piece continue to dominate the conversation, but the breakthrough success of Lazarus and Gachiakuta proves that original stories and fresh voices still have a real shot at the top. The record-breaking 73 million votes also showed that anime’s global audience is growing faster than ever.
DEAN FUJIOKA’s surprise performance of History Maker from Yuri on Ice, the very first Anime of the Year winner, added a nostalgic bookend to the evening. It was a reminder of how far the industry has come since those early days of Crunchyroll bringing anime to a worldwide audience.
One Piece maintaining its grip on Best Continuing Series, Re:ZERO dominating the isekai category with its third season, and Solo Leveling Season 2 sweeping both Best Action and Best Animation shows that 2026 has been an absolutely stacked year for anime fans. Meanwhile, newcomers like Gachiakuta and Lazarus are already being talked about as the next generation of must-watch titles.
What Do You Think?
Are you surprised that My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON took home Anime of the Year, or did you have it locked in from the start? Did Lazarus deserve Best Original Anime over other contenders? And most importantly, are you as hyped about Gachiakuta’s triple-category sweep as we are?
Drop your thoughts below. Let us know which winners you agree with, which ones made you roll your eyes, and what anime you think should have gotten more recognition this year!
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