The 10th edition of the Crunchyroll Anime Awards proved to be a record-breaking celebration of global anime fandom, with the final season of ‘My Hero Academia’ taking home the coveted Anime of the Year trophy at a star-studded ceremony in Tokyo on Saturday .
The milestone event, held at the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa, saw over 73 million votes cast by fans worldwide – the highest in the awards’ history – to honour the best in Japanese animation across 29 competitive categories .
Top honours: Anime and Film of the Year
Pop superstar and longtime anime enthusiast The Weeknd presented the night’s most prestigious award, Anime of the Year, which was awarded to Bones Inc. for ‘My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON’ . The series, which concluded its run this year, was recognised for its emotional finale and spectacular animation.
Meanwhile, ‘Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle’ claimed the Film of the Year award, further cementing the franchise’s dominance in theatrical anime .
Major category winners
The night also celebrated a wide array of excellence across the medium:
- Best Original Anime: Lazarus
- Best Continuing Series: ONE PIECE
- Best New Series: Gachiakuta
- Best Action & Best Animation: Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-
- Best Drama: The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
- Best Comedy: DAN DA DAN Season 2
‘The Apothecary Diaries’ was a standout in the voice categories, with Aoi Yuki winning Best Japanese Voice Artist for her role as Maomao, while Abhishek Sharma made India proud by taking home the Best Hindi Voice Artist Performance for his portrayal of Jinshi in the same series .
Star-studded presenters and performances
Beyond the awards, the ceremony featured a host of international celebrities. K-pop star BamBam, actor Winston Duke (‘Black Panther’), rapper RZA, and Indian actress Rashmika Mandanna graced the stage as presenters .
The musical lineup was equally impressive. Legendary singer Yoko Takahashi performed the iconic ‘A Cruel Angel’s Thesis’ in celebration of the 30th anniversary of ‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’, while ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION played ‘Haruka Kanata’ from ‘Naruto’ .
Global Impact Award
Esteemed director Tatsuya Nagamine, known for his work on ‘Dragon Ball Super’, ‘One Piece’, and ‘PreCure’, was honoured with the Global Impact Award for his groundbreaking contributions to the industry. Animator and close friend Masayuki Sato accepted the award on his behalf .
