Dan Da Dan, The Apothecary Diaries, and Gachiakuta Lead 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards Nominees: Full List
Get ready, anime fans! The excitement for the 10th annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards is already palpable, with the full list of nominees unveiled on April 2, 2026. As reported by Kat Moon of TV Guide, voting has officially begun for the 32 categories spanning both shows and films, inviting fans worldwide to cast their ballots before April 15. The grand reveal of the winners is set for Saturday, May 23, 2026, at the highly anticipated Anime Awards Pre-Show and Ceremony in Tokyo.
The Battle for Anime of the Year Heats Up!
This year's race for Anime of the Year is stacked with fan favorites and critical darlings. The nominees include:
- DAN DA DAN Season 2
- Gachiakuta
- My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
- Takopi's Original Sin
- The Apothecary Diaries Season 2
- The Summer Hikaru Died
Leading the charge with an astounding 20 nominations is Dan Da Dan Season 2, proving its immense popularity after also being the most-nominated series at the 2025 Anime Awards. Close on its heels is The Apothecary Diaries Season 2, which garnered an impressive 17 nominations. Not far behind, the thrilling new series Gachiakuta secured a strong 16 nominations. My Hero Academia's eighth and final season also made a significant impact with 15 nominations, while The Summer Hikaru Died and Takopi's Original Sin earned eight and seven nominations, respectively.
Film Favorites Vie for Top Honors
The cinematic side of anime is equally competitive, with a fantastic lineup for Film of the Year:
- 100 Meters
- Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
- Mononoke the Movie: Chapter II — The Ashes of Rage
- Scarlet
- The Rose of Versailles
Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc emerged as the most-nominated film, collecting 13 nods, including two nominations in the Best Anime Song category for "Iris Out" and "Jane Doe" by Kenshi Yonezu (with Hikaru Utada on the latter). Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle also performed strongly with eight nominations, including Best Score.
Beyond the Top Categories: A Full Spectrum of Excellence
The Crunchyroll Anime Awards celebrate every facet of anime production, from groundbreaking new series to unforgettable voice performances. Here’s a glimpse at some of the other key categories and their nominees:
Best Original Anime
- Apocalypse Hotel
- DIGIMON BEATBREAK
- Lazarus
- Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX
- Moonrise
- ZENSHU
Best Continuing Series
- DAN DA DAN Season 2
- Kaiju No. 8
- My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
- ONE PIECE
- Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-
- SPY x FAMILY Season 3
Best New Series
- Clevatess
- Gachiakuta
- SAKAMOTO DAYS
- Takopi's Original Sin
- The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity
- The Summer Hikaru Died
Standout Performances and Technical Brilliance
From the heart-pounding action of Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow- and Kaiju No. 8 to the captivating drama of The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 and The Summer Hikaru Died, every genre is represented. Technical categories like Best Animation see strong contenders in DAN DA DAN Season 2, Gachiakuta, and My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON. For Best Director, we see talents like Fuga Yamashiro and Abel Góngora for DAN DA DAN Season 2, and Akinori Fudesaka and Norihiro Naganuma for The Apothecary Diaries Season 2.
Character awards highlight fan favorites such as Maomao from The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 and Momo and Okarun from DAN DA DAN Season 2 for Best Main Character. Anya Forger from SPY x FAMILY Season 3 and Maomao are also nominated for the coveted "Must Protect At All Cost" Character.
Music continues to be a powerful force in anime, with nominations for Best Anime Song including "In Bloom" from The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 and "On The Way" from DAN DA DAN Season 2. The Best Score category features composers like kensuke ushio for Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc and DAN DA DAN Season 2, and the legendary Hiroyuki Sawano for Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-.
A Global Voice: Celebrating Voice Artist Performances
The awards also honor exceptional voice talent across multiple languages. In Japanese, nominees include Aoi Yuki (Maomao from The Apothecary Diaries) and Daiki Yamashita (Izuku Midoriya from My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON). English voice artists like Emi Lo (Maomao) and Justin Briner (Izuku Midoriya) are also recognized. The extensive list also covers performances in Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Castilian Spanish, French, German, Hindi, Italian, and Latin Spanish, showcasing the global reach of anime and its dedicated talent.
Cast Your Vote!
With such an incredible lineup, choosing your favorites will be tough! Don't miss your chance to make your voice heard. Head over to the official Crunchyroll Anime Awards voting page before April 15 to support your most beloved series, films, and creators. The anticipation builds as we await the results on May 23, celebrating a fantastic year in anime!
For more details on the spring anime season and other anticipated shows, check out TV Guide's complete guide to spring TV 2026.
