{"id":52835,"date":"2026-05-23T06:13:33","date_gmt":"2026-05-23T10:13:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/crunchyroll-anime-awards-2026-names-full-winners-list\/"},"modified":"2026-05-23T06:14:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T10:14:13","slug":"crunchyroll-anime-awards-2026-winners-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/crunchyroll-anime-awards-2026-winners-list\/","title":{"rendered":"Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2026 Names Full Winners List"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards<\/a> have officially concluded, and the results are now final. This year’s ceremony recognized a broad spectrum of the industry’s most celebrated series, films, and creative talents, with winners determined through a combination of global fan voting and deliberation by an international panel of judges. The list of winners and nominees reflects a particularly competitive period for anime, marked by strong comebacks, bold new adaptations, and a surge of original productions. Below is the complete and definitive breakdown of every category, including the winners and the full field of nominees that were in contention.<\/p>\n

Best New Series and Best Original Anime Set the Tone<\/h2>\n

The award for Best New Series went to Gachiakuta<\/strong>, a dark fantasy series that has quickly captured the attention of the community for its distinctive art style and gritty world-building. The series prevailed over a competitive field that included Clevatess<\/strong>, The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity<\/strong>, SAKAMOTO DAYS<\/strong>, The Summer Hikaru Died<\/strong>, and Takopi’s Original Sin<\/strong>. In the Best Original Anime category, the winner was Lazarus<\/strong>, an ambitious new project that beat out contenders like Apocalypse Hotel<\/strong>, DIGIMON BEATBREAK<\/strong>, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX<\/strong>, Moonrise<\/strong>, and ZENSHU<\/strong>. The recognition for Lazarus signals a strong appetite for high-concept, non-adapted storytelling in the current market.<\/p>\n

Technical Excellence: Animation, Character Design, and Background Art<\/h2>\n

Several categories highlighted the exceptional craftsmanship behind this year’s top shows. Solo Leveling<\/a> Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-<\/strong> took home the award for Best Animation, a testament to the stunning visual quality of the sequel season. It faced stiff competition from DAN DA DAN Season 2<\/strong>, Gachiakuta<\/strong>, My Hero Academia<\/a> FINAL SEASON<\/strong>, ONE PIECE<\/strong>, and Takopi’s Original Sin<\/strong>. The Best Character Design award went to Gachiakuta<\/strong>, recognizing the unique and memorable visual identity of its cast, which stood out against nominees from The Apothecary Diaries Season 2<\/strong>, DAN DA DAN Season 2<\/strong>, My Dress-Up Darling Season 2<\/strong>, ONE PIECE<\/strong>, and Takopi’s Original Sin<\/strong>. In the Best Background Art category, Gachiakuta<\/strong> again emerged victorious, showcasing its richly detailed environments against a strong lineup that included The Apothecary Diaries Season 2<\/strong>, CITY THE ANIMATION<\/strong>, DAN DA DAN Season 2<\/strong>, Kowloon Generic Romance<\/strong>, and The Summer Hikaru Died<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Genre Dominance: Comedy, Romance, Action, Drama, and Slice of Life<\/h2>\n

The genre-specific awards saw a clear pattern of established series asserting their dominance. DAN DA DAN Season 2<\/strong> won Best Comedy Anime, beating out CITY THE ANIMATION<\/strong>, My Dress-Up Darling Season 2<\/strong>, Ranma 1\/2 Season 2<\/strong>, SPY x FAMILY Season 3<\/a><\/strong>, and WITCH WATCH<\/strong>. The Best Romance Anime category was won by The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity<\/strong>, which outperformed Blue Box<\/strong>, DAN DA DAN Season 2<\/strong>, Honey Lemon Soda<\/strong>, My Dress-Up Darling Season 2<\/strong>, and Ranma 1\/2 Season 2<\/strong>. For action, Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-<\/strong> took the prize against a very strong field of DAN DA DAN Season 2<\/strong>, Gachiakuta<\/strong>, Kaiju No. 8 Season 2<\/strong>, My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON<\/strong>, and ONE PIECE<\/strong>. The Best Drama Anime award went to The Apothecary Diaries Season 2<\/strong>, with the category including Anne Shirley<\/strong>, Blue Box<\/strong>, Orb: On the Movements of the Earth<\/strong>, The Summer Hikaru Died<\/strong>, and Takopi’s Original Sin<\/strong>. Finally, SPY x FAMILY Season 3<\/strong> won Best Slice of Life Anime, topping a list that featured Anne Shirley<\/strong>, Blue Box<\/strong>, CITY THE ANIMATION<\/strong>, The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity<\/strong>, and My Dress-Up Darling Season 2<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Character Awards: Maomao, Bakugo, and Anya Take Top Honors<\/h2>\n

The individual character categories brought some of the most anticipated results of the night. For Best Main Character, Maomao<\/strong> from The Apothecary Diaries Season 2<\/strong> secured the win, a recognition of her sharp intellect and enduring appeal. She was nominated alongside Izuku Midoriya<\/strong>, Momo<\/strong>, Okarun<\/strong>, Rudo<\/strong>, and Sung Jinwoo<\/strong>. In the Best Supporting Character category, Katsuki Bakugo<\/strong> from My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON<\/strong> claimed the prize, prevailing over a diverse field that included Enjin<\/strong>, Jin Enjoji “Jiji”<\/strong>, Jinshi<\/strong>, Loulan\/Shisui<\/strong>, and Turbo Granny<\/strong>. The fan-favorite “Must Protect At All Costs” Character Award went to Anya Forger<\/strong> from SPY x FAMILY Season 3<\/strong>, a result that surprised very few given the character’s immense popularity. She was nominated alongside Izuku Midoriya<\/strong>, Kaoruko Waguri<\/strong>, Maomao<\/strong>, Suika<\/strong>, and Takopi<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Music and Voice Acting: Memorable Songs and Performances<\/h2>\n

The music categories showcased the powerful intersection of anime and popular music. The Best Anime Song award was given to “IRIS OUT” by Kenshi Yonezu<\/strong>, a track that stood out in a competitive field that included “In Bloom” by Lilas Ikuta<\/strong>, “JANE DOE” by Kenshi Yonezu and Hikaru Utada<\/strong>, “On The Way” by AiNA THE END<\/strong>, “ReawakeR” by LiSA feat. Felix of Stray Kids<\/strong>, and “Watch Me!” by YOASOBI<\/strong>. For Best Anime Score, the winner is still to be announced, with nominees including The Apothecary Diaries Season 2<\/strong>, Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc<\/strong>, DAN DA DAN Season 2<\/strong>, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle<\/strong>, Gachiakuta<\/strong>, and Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-<\/strong>. The Best Opening Sequence award went to “On The Way” by AiNA THE END<\/strong> for DAN DA DAN Season 2<\/strong>, while the Best Ending Sequence was awarded to “I” by BUMP OF CHICKEN<\/strong> for My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON<\/strong>. In the Best Japanese Voice Artist Performance category, Aoi Yuki<\/strong> won for her role as Maomao<\/strong> in The Apothecary Diaries Season 2<\/strong>, a performance widely praised for its nuance and depth. She was nominated alongside Chiaki Kobayashi<\/strong>, Daiki Yamashita<\/strong>, Kikunosuke Toya<\/strong>, Mayumi Tanaka<\/strong>, and Reina Ueda<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Top Honors Still Pending: Anime of the Year, Film of the Year, and More<\/h2>\n

Several of the highest-profile categories have yet to announce their winners, with results still pending. The race for Anime of the Year includes The Apothecary Diaries Season 2<\/strong>, DAN DA DAN Season 2<\/strong>, Gachiakuta<\/strong>, My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON<\/strong>, The Summer Hikaru Died<\/strong>, and Takopi’s Original Sin<\/strong>. For Film of the Year, the nominated works are 100 Meters<\/strong>, Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc<\/strong>, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle<\/strong>, Mononoke the Movie: Chapter II \u2014 The Ashes of Rage<\/strong>, The Rose of Versailles<\/strong>, and Scarlet<\/strong>. The Best Continuing Series category, featuring heavyweights like DAN DA DAN Season 2<\/strong>, Kaiju No. 8 Season 2<\/strong>, My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON<\/strong>, ONE PIECE<\/strong>, Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-<\/strong>, and SPY x FAMILY Season 3<\/strong>, also remains undecided. The Best Director category, with a slate including Akinori Fudesaka and Norihiro Naganuma<\/strong>, Fuga Yamashiro and Abel G\u00f3ngora<\/strong>, Fumihiko Suganuma<\/strong>, Kenji Nagasaki and Naomi Nakayama<\/strong>, Ryohei Takeshita<\/strong>, and Shinya Iino<\/strong>, is also awaiting its winner. These awards will be announced as the results are finalized and revealed live.<\/p>\n

Isekai Winner and the Broader Landscape<\/h2>\n

The Best Isekai Anime category was claimed by Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 3<\/strong>, a series that continues to define the genre. It defeated a diverse set of nominees: Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill Season 2<\/strong>, Disney Twisted-Wonderland: The Animation – Season 1 “Episode of Heartslabyul”<\/strong>, From Bureaucrat to Villainess: Dad’s Been Reincarnated!<\/strong>, KONOSUBA -God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World! 3 -BONUS STAGE-<\/strong>, and ZENSHU<\/strong>. This result reinforces the sustained popularity of the isekai genre, even as newer entries continue to experiment with its conventions.<\/p>\n

Final Analysis and Industry Takeaways<\/h2>\n

The 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards paint a picture of an industry that is simultaneously honoring its long-running staples while making room for fresh, visually ambitious newcomers. The multiple wins for Gachiakuta<\/strong> across categories like Best New Series, Best Character Design, and Best Background Art signal a shift toward darker, more stylized aesthetics in the mainstream. At the same time, the continued dominance of series like Solo Leveling<\/strong>, The Apothecary Diaries<\/strong>, and SPY x FAMILY<\/strong> shows that established franchises still command significant audience loyalty. The pending announcements for the top awards will be the final pieces of the puzzle, and they will likely provide even deeper insight into what the global anime community values most in this moment. For now, the complete list of winners and nominees offers a comprehensive snapshot of a year defined by extraordinary creative output and passionate global engagement.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards have officially concluded, and the results are now final. This year’s ceremony recognized a broad spectrum of the industry’s most celebrated series, films, and creative talents, with winners determined through a combination of global fan voting and deliberation by an international panel of judges. The list of winners and nominees […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":85172,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cards.overcentral.com\/cards\/en\/52835.png","fifu_image_alt":"Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2026 Names Full Winners List","footnotes":""},"categories":[32908],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-52835","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-pop-culture"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cards.overcentral.com\/cards\/en\/52835.png","fifu_image_alt":"Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2026 Names Full Winners List","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52835","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52835"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52835\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/85172"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52835"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52835"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/overcentral.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=52835"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}