MANILA, Philippines — “My Hero Academia Final Season” captured Anime of the Year at the 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards, leading a night dominated by major franchise titles including “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle” and “One Piece.”
The annual awards ceremony, organized by Crunchyroll, honored the year’s top anime series, films, creators and performances following millions of fan votes submitted worldwide. Held in Tokyo on May 23, the event highlighted anime’s continued international growth as streaming platforms expand the medium’s reach beyond Japan.
“Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle” emerged as one of the ceremony’s biggest winners, taking Film of the Year along with several production and technical honors. Long-running pirate adventure “One Piece” secured Best Continuing Series, extending its dominance in one of the awards’ most competitive categories.
Meanwhile, action-fantasy title “Gachiakuta” earned Best New Series, reflecting growing global interest in darker and more stylized storytelling among newer anime audiences.
Original sci-fi anime “Lazarus” won Best Original Anime, while music categories also drew attention during the ceremony. “Dan Da Dan Season 2” claimed Best Opening Sequence for AiNA The End’s “On The Way,” and “My Hero Academia FInal Season” won Best Ending Sequence with “I” by Bump Of Chicken.
Several critically acclaimed titles, including “The Apothecary Diaries Season 2,” “Takopi’s Original Sin” and “The Summer Hikaru Died,” also received recognition across multiple categories.
The Crunchyroll Anime Awards, launched in 2017, have grown into one of the anime industry’s highest-profile international events, celebrating achievements in animation, voice acting, directing, music and storytelling. This year’s ceremony featured celebrity appearances and performances as anime continues to strengthen its influence in global entertainment.
Major Winners
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 Anime: “Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-”
Best Comedy Anime: “DAN DA DAN Season 2”
Best Drama Anime: “The Apothecary Diaries Season 2”
Best Romance Anime: “Blue Box”
Best Slice of Life Anime: “The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity”
Best Isekai Anime: “Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 3”
Best Animation: “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle”
Best Character Design: “DAN DA DAN Season 2”
Best Background Art: “The Apothecary Diaries Season 2”
Best Director: Ryosuke Shibuya (“DAN DA DAN Season 2”)
Best Main Character: Deku/Izuku Midoriya (“My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON”)
Best Supporting Character: Katsuki Bakugo (“My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON”)
‘Must Protect At All Costs’ Character: Takopi (“Takopi’s Original Sin”)
Best Anime Song: “On The Way” by AiNA THE END (“DAN DA DAN Season 2”)
Best Score: “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle”
Voice Acting Winners
Best Voice Artist Performance (Japanese): Natsuki Hanae (“Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle”)
Best Voice Artist Performance (English): Aleks Le (“Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-”)
Best Voice Artist Performance (Spanish): Mario Castañeda
Best Voice Artist Performance (Portuguese): Charles Emmanuel
Best Voice Artist Performance (French): Adrien Antoine
Best Voice Artist Performance (German): Tommy Morgenstern
Best Voice Artist Performance (Italian): Renato Novara
Best Voice Artist Performance (Castilian): Jorge Peña
