Crunchyroll Anime Awards 10th Anniversary Celebrates the Best Anime of the Year in Tokyo
The Crunchyroll Anime Awards marked a major milestone with its 10th anniversary celebration at the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa in Tokyo. The star-studded event brought together anime creators, voice actors, musicians, industry leaders, and fans from around the world to honor the standout series, films, performances, and songs from the past year.
Streamed live across major platforms including YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok, the ceremony captured the global energy of anime fandom. The pre-show featured Tim Lyu, Lauren Moore, and YouTuber Gigguk speaking with presenters and announcing early winners in categories such as Best Voice Actor Performance and Best Opening Sequence.
The main ceremony was hosted once again by entertainer Jon Kabira and voice actor Sally Amaki, who guided the audience through a night filled with emotional speeches, major wins, and unforgettable performances.
The show opened in grand fashion with a powerful “Anime of the Year” medley performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Hirofumi Kurita. The performance set the tone for a celebration that balanced nostalgia, artistry, and the continued global rise of anime.
Music was one of the biggest highlights of the night. Legendary artists including Porno Graffitti, Yoko Takahashi, Asian Kung-Fu Generation, and Dean Fujioka delivered electrifying performances. Fans were especially moved by iconic anime songs such as “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis” and “Haruka Kanata,” both of which brought waves of nostalgia to the Tokyo ballroom.
Celebrity presenters added even more excitement to the evening, with appearances from The Weeknd, RZA, Asuka Saito, Enako, Winston Duke, and other special guests. Their presence reflected just how far anime has expanded beyond Japan, becoming a global cultural force embraced across music, film, gaming, fashion, and entertainment.
One of the most emotional moments of the ceremony was the special recognition award honoring the late director Tatsuya Nagamine. Known for his long-running work on One Piece and the Precure series, Nagamine left a lasting mark on the anime industry. He passed away in August last year following an illness, and the tribute served as a heartfelt reminder of his influence on generations of anime fans.
This year’s Anime Awards featured more than 30 categories, covering nearly every corner of the anime industry, including animation, directing, music, background art, character design, voice acting, and genre-specific honors.
Fan participation also reached a new high. More than 73 million votes were cast worldwide, representing a 40% increase compared to the previous year. The record-breaking response shows the continuing growth of anime as a global entertainment powerhouse.
Full list of Crunchyroll Anime Awards winners
Anime of the Year – My Hero Academia Final Season
Film of the Year – Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle
Best Continuing Series – One Piece
Best New Series – Gachiakuta
Best Original Anime – Lazarus
Best Animation – Solo Leveling Season 2
Best Character Design – Gachiakuta
Best Director – Akinori Fudesaka and Norihiro Naganuma for The Apothecary Diaries Season 2
Best Background Art – Gachiakuta
Best Romance Anime – The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity
Best Comedy Anime – Dandadan Season 2
Best Action Anime – Solo Leveling Season 2
Best Isekai Anime – Re:Zero Starting Life in Another World Season 3
Best Drama Anime – The Apothecary Diaries Season 2
Best Slice of Life Anime – Spy x Family Season 3
Best Main Character – Maomao from The Apothecary Diaries Season 2
Best Supporting Character – Bakugo from My Hero Academia Final Season
“Must Protect At All Costs” Character – Anya Forger from Spy x Family
Best Anime Song – “Iris Out” by Kenshi Yonezu
Best Score – Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle by Go Shiina and Yuki Kajiura
Best Opening Sequence – “On The Way” by AiNA THE END from Dandadan Season 2
Best Ending Sequence – “I” by Bump of Chicken from My Hero Academia Final Season
Best Anime Voice Artist Performance winners
Japanese: Aoi Yuki as Maomao in The Apothecary Diaries Season 2
Arabic: Tariq Obaid as Taro Sakamoto in SAKAMOTO DAYS
Brazilian Portuguese: Charles Emmanuel as Akaza in Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle
Castilian Spanish: Carles Teruel as Akaza in Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle
English: Lucien Dodge as Akaza in Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle
French: Bastien Bourlé as Izuku Midoriya in My Hero Academia Final Season
German: Gerrit Schmidt-Foß as Akaza in Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle
Hindi: Abhishek Sharma as Jinshi in The Apothecary Diaries Season 2
Italian: Mosè Singh as Denji in Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
Latin Spanish: Jose Antonio Toledano as Akaza in Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle
The 10th Crunchyroll Anime Awards proved once again that anime is more than entertainment. It is a worldwide artistic movement that connects people across languages, cultures, and generations. From emotional character journeys to unforgettable music and groundbreaking animation, this year’s winners reflect the creativity and passion that continue to push the medium forward.
Congratulations to all the winners and nominees who made this anniversary year a memorable celebration of anime.
