My Hero Academia has received the title of anime of the year at the 10th annual Crunchyroll Awards, which was held in Tokyo over the weekend. The prestigious ceremony saw record-breaking engagement, with 73 million votes cast in advance—a substantial increase from the previous year’s 51 million votes. Demon Slayer claimed the movie of the year award, whilst One Piece also featured amongst the major winners. The glittering event featured performances from the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and included appearances from prominent guests including RZA, Winston Duke, The Weeknd, and BamBam, reinforcing the Crunchyroll Awards’ status as one of the anime industry’s most renowned annual ceremonies.
A Landmark Night for Animation Fandom
The 10th yearly Crunchyroll Awards represented a significant milestone for anime’s worldwide prominence, with the Tokyo ceremony attracting record-breaking audience numbers and participation. The 73 million votes cast shattered the prior year’s record by a substantial amount, demonstrating the franchise’s growing audience worldwide. This explosive growth highlights how anime has moved beyond its specialised beginnings to emerge as a major cultural force, with committed fans globally investing their support in celebrating their favourite series and characters.
Beyond the main winners, the ceremony showcased anime’s artistic breadth through focused categories honouring everything from quality of animation to voice acting across multiple languages. The inclusion of awards for Japanese, English, Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Castilian Spanish, and French voice performances underscored the medium’s genuinely global reach. Such honouring means that skilled artists and creators from different backgrounds are recognised, whilst the technical awards—celebrating animation, background art, and character design—celebrate the meticulous craftsmanship that defines present-day anime production.
- Solo Leveling Season 2 took top honours in technical fields with two victories
- The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 earned multiple accolades including best drama
- SPY x FAMILY Season 3 won best slice of life honours
- Demon Slayer’s soundtrack received prestigious music award honours
The Leading Victors and Notable Performances
My Hero Academia’s Remarkable Achievement
My Hero Academia claimed the prestigious anime of the year award, solidifying its standing as one of the most beloved and critically acclaimed series in contemporary animation. The Final Season’s victory demonstrates the show’s lasting popularity amongst both dedicated enthusiasts and general audiences, illustrating how the series has sustained its cultural significance throughout its long journey. The honour celebrates the show’s outstanding narrative, character progression, and emotional impact that has engaged audiences internationally since its initial release.
Beyond the top honour, My Hero Academia showcased its breadth of excellence by securing additional awards across numerous categories. The series received recognition for its outstanding closing theme with “I” by Bump Of Chicken, whilst Katsuki Bakugo was recognised as best supporting character, highlighting the show’s strength in character development and soundtrack composition. These further accolades emphasise how thoroughly the anime community celebrates the series’ diverse contributions to the medium’s creative landscape.
The Demon Slayer franchise’s Box Office Success
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle secured the film of the year award, establishing the franchise’s big-screen vision and showing audiences’ demand for high-quality anime films. The film’s success acknowledges its breathtaking visual design and captivating plot development, which successfully translated the cherished source material’s peak scenes to the cinema. This accolade ranks Demon Slayer among the most celebrated anime films in recent years, affirming its status as a cultural landmark that surpasses typical anime fan categories.
The film’s performance extended beyond the top category, with its musical score earning the best score award through composers Yuki Kajiura and Go Shiina’s exceptional work. Additionally, voice actor Lucien Dodge received recognition for his English-language performance as Akaza, whilst Tariq Obaid and Charles Emmanuel earned accolades for their Arabic and Brazilian Portuguese renditions respectively. These international voice performance awards highlight Demon Slayer’s worldwide reach and the international dedication required to deliver the narrative to audiences worldwide.
- Solo Leveling Season 2 dominated technical awards with dual victories
- The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 won top drama and director recognition
- Dan Da Dan Season 2 earned top comedy and opening credits awards
- One Piece upheld its legacy with best continuing series acknowledgement
- Gachiakuta caught the attention of judges across background artwork and character creation categories
International Recognition and Varied Expertise
The 10th yearly Crunchyrl awards showcased anime’s unprecedented global reach through their recognition of voice acting excellence across multiple languages. Beyond English-language performances, the ceremony acknowledged exceptional voice work across Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Castilian Spanish, and French, reflecting the medium’s expanding global footprint. This inclusive approach to acknowledging talent underscores how anime has transcended its Japanese origins to become a genuinely global cultural phenomenon. The awards event itself, held in Tokyo and broadcast worldwide, showcased the collaborative nature of modern anime production, where creative talent from many countries converges to deliver engaging narratives to viewers across every continent and language group.
The ballot system itself set new records, with 73 million votes submitted before the ceremony—a remarkable 43 per cent increase from the prior year’s 51 million votes. This surge in participation reflects anime’s burgeoning fanbase and the passionate engagement of viewers who regard these awards essential for celebrating their preferred series and films. The ceremony showcased prominent hosts such as musician RZA, actor Winston Duke, and international artists The Weeknd and BamBam, underscoring anime’s entry into mainstream culture. Such prominent participation demonstrates that anime has solidly positioned itself as a significant force within worldwide entertainment, worthy of recognition from celebrities across music, film, and popular culture.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Voice Artist Performance (Japanese) | Aoi Yuki – Maomao – The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 |
| Best Voice Artist Performance (English) | Lucien Dodge – Akaza – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle |
| Best Voice Artist Performance (Arabic) | Tariq Obaid – Taro Sakamoto – Sakamoto Days |
| Best Voice Artist Performance (Brazilian Portuguese) | Charles Emmanuel – Akaza – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle |
| Best Voice Artist Performance (Castilian Spanish) | Carles Teruel – Akaza – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle |
| Best Voice Artist Performance (French) | Bastien Bourlé – Izuku Midoriya |
The ceremony also recognised industry veterans and pioneering creators, with director Tatsuya Nagamine receiving the International Influence Prize for his significant impact to anime across many years. His work on iconic series including Ojamajo Doremi, PreCure, and Dragon Ball Super has influenced anime’s development and inspired generations of creators. Additionally, the event featured a heartfelt three-decade celebration to Neon Genesis Evangelion, performed by original singer Yoko Takahashi, establishing the ceremony’s role as protector of anime culture whilst also showcasing its vibrant contemporary landscape.
Celebrating Excellence in Animation and Cultural Impact
The 10th yearly Crunchyroll Awards demonstrated the remarkable range of talent within the world of anime, recognising outstanding achievement across many creative and technical disciplines. From animation quality to character design, the event celebrated the careful artistry that brings these beloved stories to life. Solo Leveling Season 2 – Arise from the Shadow emerged as a remarkable success, winning awards in both Best Animation and Best Action categories, whilst Gachiakuta earned recognition from judges with wins spanning Best Background Art and Best Character Design. These accolades reflect the industry’s commitment to expanding creative possibilities and providing ever more refined storytelling experiences.
The breadth of worldwide acclaim at this year’s awards underscored anime’s extraordinary international expansion and influence. Voice acting categories spanned six languages, from Japanese and English to Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Castilian Spanish, and French, showcasing how anime crosses geographical borders and cultural divides. The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 especially appealed with voters, capturing awards for Best Drama, Best Main Character, and Best Director, establishing its status as a defining series. Such diversity in recognition reveals that anime’s attraction reaches well past Japan, enthralling audiences and industry practitioners worldwide with its narrative strength and creative vision.
Exceptional Tributes and Remarkable Moments
Beyond contest divisions, the ceremony proved deeply meaningful through its celebration of anime’s lasting influence and pioneering artists. The Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra performed an anime-themed musical performance that echoed across the venue, whilst the emotional 30th anniversary tribute to Neon Genesis Evangelion featuring original singer Yoko Takahashi recalled for audiences the medium’s most pivotal achievements. These cultural touchstones offered perspective on understanding how contemporary anime builds upon decades of innovation and artistic achievement, honouring both the past and present at once.
The Global Impact Award awarded to director Tatsuya Nagamine acknowledged a career spanning multiple generations of anime classics. His influential work on Ojamajo Doremi, PreCure, and Dragon Ball Super profoundly influenced the aesthetic and narrative conventions of the medium, influencing countless creators who followed. By acknowledging such essential creative achievements, the Crunchyroll Awards positioned itself as far more than a recognition of contemporary accomplishments—it became a steward of anime’s cultural heritage and historical importance, guaranteeing that pioneering voices receive appropriate recognition together with emerging talent.
- Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra performed anime-themed musical selections throughout the ceremony.
- Yoko Takahashi gave a moving 30th anniversary tribute to Neon Genesis Evangelion.
- Tatsuya Nagamine recognised with Global Impact Award for decades of influential work.
- RZA, Winston Duke, The Weeknd, and BamBam served as distinguished award presenters.