The 10th Crunchyroll Anime Awards just wrapped up in Tokyo on May 23, 2026, and the results delivered some genuinely jaw-dropping moments. Over 73 million votes were cast worldwide, making this the most engaged anime community event in Crunchyroll history. Hosted by Sally Amaki and Jon Kabira, the ceremony had everything from surprise celebrity presenters to emotional acceptance speeches that had the entire anime world buzzing.
But the real shocker? The Weeknd himself stepped onto the stage to present the biggest award of the night. Yes, THE Weeknd. Watching one of the biggest music icons on the planet hand out an anime award is something nobody saw coming, and the internet absolutely exploded the moment it happened.
Anime of the Year Goes to My Hero Academia Final Season
In what might be the most emotional win of the decade, My Hero Academia final season took home Anime of the Year. After nearly a decade of following Izuku Midoriya journey from a quirkless kid to the greatest hero alive, fans finally got to see the series crowned at the highest level. The final season has been an absolute rollercoaster, delivering some of the most intense battles and heartbreaking moments the franchise has ever seen.
The ending theme for the season, “I” by Bump of Chicken, also won Best Ending Sequence, proving that the final season was a complete masterpiece from animation to music. It is the kind of send-off that makes you appreciate everything this series has given to the anime community.
Film of the Year: Demon Slayer Infinity Castle Dominates
Demon Slayer continues its absolute reign over the anime film landscape. Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle won Film of the Year, backed by an incredible musical score from Yuki Kajiura and Go Shiina that also took home Best Score. The movie has been a cultural phenomenon, breaking box office records across multiple countries and proving that Demon Slayer is far from slowing down.
Akaza, the fan-favorite villain, dominated the voice acting categories with wins in English through Lucien Dodge, Brazilian Portuguese through Charles Emmanuel, Castilian Spanish through Carles Teruel, German through Gerrit Schmidt-Foss, and Latin Spanish through Jose Antonio Toledano. That is five different language categories for a single character, which speaks volumes about how iconic this role has become globally.
Gachiakuta Takes Multiple Wins as Best New Series
The newcomer that absolutely stole the show was Gachiakuta, which walked away with Best New Series, Best Background Art, and Best Character Design. For a series in its first season to claim three major awards is remarkable. The art direction in Gachiakuta has been consistently praised for its unique visual style, and these wins validate everything fans have been saying since it premiered.
Best Original Anime: Lazarus Makes History
Lazarus claiming Best Original Anime is a big deal. Original anime productions that are not based on existing manga or light novels rarely get this level of recognition. The fact that Lazarus broke through and won against heavily established franchises says something powerful about its storytelling and creative vision. This is a win that could open doors for more original anime productions in the future.
The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Cleans Up in Drama Categories
The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 was an absolute awards machine, winning Best Drama, Best Director through Akinori Fudesaka and Norihiro Naganuma, Best Main Character for Maomao, and Best Japanese Voice Performance for Aoi Yuki. The series has captivated audiences with its intricate palace mystery plotting, and Maomao remains one of the most beloved protagonists in modern anime. Abhishek Sharma also won Best Hindi Voice Performance as Jinshi, showing the truly global reach of this series.
Other Major Winners You Need to Know About
- Best Continuing Series: One Piece continues its legendary run with yet another award
- Best Action: Solo Leveling Arise from the Shadow Season 2 also won Best Animation
- Best Comedy: DAN DA DAN Season 2 with its opening “On The Way” by AiNA THE END taking Best Opening Sequence
- Best Isekai: 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 with Anya Forger winning the Must Protect At All Cost Character award
- Best Anime Song: IRIS OUT by Kenshi Yonezu from Chainsaw Man The Movie Reze Arc
- Best Voice Performance French: Bastien Bourle as Izuku Midoriya in My Hero Academia final season
What Makes These Results So Controversial and Exciting
With 73 million votes globally, these results represent the largest collective voice of anime fans ever recorded. But of course, no awards show goes without some debate. The Weeknd presenting Anime of the Year was the biggest talking point on social media, with fans calling it the most unexpected celebrity anime moment ever. Some communities are arguing about certain snubs while others are celebrating the wins of their favorite series.
The global voice acting categories also showed how anime has become a truly worldwide phenomenon, with dedicated performances being recognized in Arabic, Hindi, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, English, and Japanese. That level of international recognition would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.
What Do You Think?
Are you happy with My Hero Academia taking Anime of the Year, or did your favorite series get robbed? Was The Weeknd presenting the award the biggest surprise, or was there another moment that blew your mind? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know which Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2026 result you agree with most and which one made you the most upset.
