Dandadan, Gachiakuta and Chainsaw Man Dominate 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards Nominations

In a livestream on April 3, 2026, Crunchyroll unveiled the 10th Anime Awards nominees, with Dandadan Season 2 (Science Saru) leading the competition with 20 nominations, The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 (OLM) with 17, Gachiakuta (Bones) with 16, My Hero Academia Final Season (Bones) closing in with 15 nominations.

Among the movies, Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc (MAPPA) leads with 13 nominations over Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle’s (ufotable) 8 nominations.

Surprisingly, from the new anime category, Gachiakuta leads the way, with The Summer that Hikaru Died (Cygames Pictures) with 11.

Among the animation studios, MAPPA dominates with 6 entries (Chainsaw Man and The Rose of Versailles films, Zenshu, Lazarus, Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill and Ranma 1/2)

Chainsaw Man is notable for having both its opening and ending theme songs, Iris Out and Jane Doe respectively, nominated for Best Anime Song, with Kensuke Ushio nominated twice for Best Anime Score via his works on Dandadan and Chainsaw Man.

Also notably, both Dandadan and The Apothecracy Diaries, the two leads among the nominees, both have two characters in the gunning for Best Supporting Character and Dandadan’s two leads, Momo and Okarun, are also nominated for Best Anime Main Character

Anime of the Year

• The Apothecary Diaries Season 2
• Dandadan Season 2
• Gachiakuta
• My Hero Academia Final Season
• The Summer Hikaru Died
• Takopi’s Original Sin

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
• The Rose of Versailles
• Scarlet

Best Continuing Series

• Dandadan Season 2
• Kaiju No. 8 Season 2
• My Hero Academia Final Season
• ONE PIECE
• Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-
• SPY x FAMILY Season 3

Best New Series

• Clevatess
• The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity
• Gachiakuta
• SAKAMOTO DAYS
• The Summer Hikaru Died
• Takopi’s Original Sin

Best Original Anime

• Apocalypse Hotel
• DIGIMON BEATBREAK
• Lazarus
• Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX
• Moonrise
• ZENSHU

Best Animation

• Dandadan Season 2
• Gachiakuta
• My Hero Academia Final Season
• ONE PIECE
• Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-
• Takopi’s Original Sin

Best Character Design

• The Apothecary Diaries Season 2
• Dandadan Season 2
• Gachiakuta
• My Dress-Up Darling Season 2
• ONE PIECE
• Takopi’s Original Sin

Best Director

• Akinori Fudesaka, Norihiro Naganuma (The Apothecary Diaries Season 2)
• Fuga Yamashiro and Abel Góngora (Dandadan Season 2)
• Fumihiko Suganuma (Gachiakuta)
• Kenji Nagasaki, Naomi Nakayama (My Hero Academia Final Season)
• Ryohei Takeshita (The Summer Hikaru Died)
• Shinya Iino (Takopi’s Original Sin)

Best Background Art

• The Apothecary Diaries Season 2
• CITY THE ANIMATION
• Dandadan Season 2
• Gachiakuta
• Kowloon Generic Romance
• The Summer Hikaru Died

Best Romance Anime

• Blue Box
• Dandadan Season 2
• The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity
• Honey Lemon Soda
• My Dress-Up Darling Season 2
• Ranma 1/2 Season 2

Best Comedy Anime

• CITY THE ANIMATION
• Dandadan Season 2
• My Dress-Up Darling Season 2
• Ranma1/2 Season2
• SPY x FAMILY Season 3
• WITCH WATCH

Best Action Anime

• Dandadan Season 2
• Gachiakuta
• Kaiju No. 8 Season 2
• My Hero Academia Final Season
• ONE PIECE
• Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-

Best Isekai Anime

• Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill Season 2
• Disney Twisted-Wonderland: The Animation — Season 1 “Episode of Heartslabyul”
• From Bureaucrat to Villainess: Dad’s Been Reincarnated!
• KONOSUBA -God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World! 3 -BONUS STAGE-
• Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 3
• ZENSHU

Best Drama Anime

• Anne Shirley
• The Apothecary Diaries Season 2
• Blue Box
• Orb: On the Movements of the Earth
• The Summer Hikaru Died
• Takopi’s Original Sin

Best Slice of Life Anime

• Anne Shirley
• Blue Box
• CITY THE ANIMATION
• The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity
• My Dress-Up Darling Season 2
• SPY x FAMILY Season 3

Best Anime Main Character

• Izuku Midoriya (My Hero Academia Final Season)
• Maomao (The Apothecary Diaries Season 2)
• Momo (Dandadan Season 2)
• Okarun (Dandadan Season 2)
• Rudo (Gachiakuta)
• Sung Jinwoo (Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-)

Best Anime Supporting Character

• Enjin (Gachiakuta)
• Jin Enjoji (Jiji) (Dandadan Season 2)
• Jinshi (The Apothecary Diaries Season 2)
• Katsuki Bakugo (My Hero Academia Final Season)
• Loulan/Shisui (The Apothecary Diaries Season 2)
• Turbo Granny (Dandadan Season 2)

Best Anime “Must Protect At All Costs” Character

• Anya Forger (SPY x FAMILY Season 3)
• Izuku Midoriya (My Hero Academia Final Season)
• Kaoruko Waguri (The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity)
• Maomao (The Apothecary Diaries Season 2)
• Suika (Dr. STONE SCIENCE FUTURE)
• Takopi (Takopi’s Original Sin)

Best Anime Song

• “In Bloom” by Lilas Ikuta (The Apothecary Diaries Season 2)
• “IRIS OUT” by Kenshi Yonezu (Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc)
• “JANE DOE” by Kenshi Yonezu and Hikaru Utada (Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc)
• “On The Way” by AiNA THE END (Dandadan Season 2)
• “ReawakeR (feat. Felix of Stray Kids)” by LiSA (Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-)
• “Watch Me!” by YOASOBI (WITCH WATCH)

Best Anime Score

• The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 (Satoru Kosaki, Kevin Penkin, Alisa Okehazama)
• Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc (Kensuke Ushio)
• Dandadan Season 2 (Kensuke Ushio)
• Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle (Yuki Kajiura, Go Shiina)
• Gachiakuta (Taku Iwasaki)
• Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow- (Hiroyuki Sawano)

Best Anime Opening Sequence

• “HUGs” by Paledusk (Gachiakuta)
• “Mirage” by Creepy Nuts (Call of the Night Season 2)
• “On The Way” by AiNA THE END (Dandadan Season 2)
• “ReawakeR (feat. Felix of Stray Kids)” by LiSA (Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-)
• “THE REVO” by PORNOGRAFFITTI (My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON)
• “Watch Me!” by YOASOBI (WITCH WATCH)

Best Anime Ending Sequence

• “Actor” by Lilas Ikuta (SPY x FAMILY Season 3)
• “Beautiful Colors” by OneRepublic (Kaiju No. 8 Season 2)
• “Doukashiteru” by WurtS (Dandadan Season 2)
• “I” by BUMP OF CHICKEN (My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON)
• “Kawaii Kaiwai” by PiKi (My Dress-Up Darling Season 2)
• “UN-APEX” by TK from Ling Tosite Sigure (Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-)

Best Anime Voice Artist Performance (Japanese)

• Aoi Yuki as Maomao (The Apothecary Diaries Season 2)
• Chiaki Kobayashi as Yoshiki Tsujinaka (The Summer Hikaru Died)
• Daiki Yamashita as Izuku Midoriya (My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON)
• Kikunosuke Toya as Denji (Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc)
• Mayumi Tanaka as Monkey D. Luffy (ONE PIECE)
• Reina Ueda as Reze (Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc)

Best Anime Voice Artist Performance (English)

• Alexis Tipton as Reze (Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc)
• Emi Lo as Maomao (The Apothecary Diaries Season 2)
• Justin Briner as Izuku Midoriya (My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON)
• Lucien Dodge as Akaza (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle)
• Morgan Berry as Shiori Fuyumura (SANDA)
• Paul Castro Jr. as Hikaru Indou (The Summer Hikaru Died)

Best Anime Voice Artist Performance (Arabic)

• Hamoud Abu Hassoun as Loid Forger (Childhood) (SPY x FAMILY Season 3)
• Tariq Obaid as Taro Sakamoto (SAKAMOTO DAYS)
• Moataz El—Shazly as Heisuke Mashimo (SAKAMOTO DAYS)
• Raafat Bazo as Yuri Briar (SPY x FAMILY Season 3)
• Fatima Zakaria as Osaragi (SAKAMOTO DAYS)
• Ghada Omar as Yor Forger (SPY x FAMILY Season 3)

Best Anime Voice Artist Performance (Brazilian Portuguese)

• Bruno Sangregório as Levi Ackerman (Attack on Titan: THE LAST ATTACK)
• Charles Emmanuel as Akaza (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle)
• Erick Bougleux as Zanka Nijiku (Gachiakuta)
• Fabio Lucindo as Katsuki Bakugo (My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON)
• Gigi Patta as Maomao (The Apothecary Diaries Season 2)
• Ursula Bezerra as Son Goku (Dragon Ball DAIMA)

Best Anime Voice Artist Performance (Castilian Spanish)

• Adrián Pineda as Rudo (Gachiakuta)
• Carles Teruel as Akaza (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle)
• Cristina Peña as Reze (Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc)
• Joel Gómez Jiménez as Okarun (Dandadan Season 2)
• Marisa Marciel as Nami (ONE PIECE)
• Marta Barbará as Kaoruko Waguri (The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity)

Best Anime Voice Artist Performance (French)

• Bastien Bourlé as Izuku Midoriya (My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON)
• Bruno Mullenaerts as Enjin (Gachiakuta)
• Catherine Hanotiau as Nico Wakatsuki (WITCH WATCH)
• Clara Soares as Reze (Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc)
• Jonathan Gimbord as Hikaru (The Summer Hikaru Died)
• Véronique Augereau as Seiko (Dandadan Season 2)

Best Anime Voice Artist Performance (German)

• Dirk Bublies as Kogoro Mori (Detective Conan: One—eyed Flashback)
• Gerrit Schmidt—Foß as Akaza (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle)
• Laurine Betz as Reze (Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc)
• Magdalena Höfner as Kiui Watase (Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night)
• Markus Feustel as Rudo (Gachiakuta)
• Patricia Strasburger as Nico Wakatsuki (WITCH WATCH)

Best Anime Voice Artist Performance (Hindi)

• Abhishek Sharma as Jinshi (The Apothecary Diaries Season 2)
• Akshita Mishra as Koyuki (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle)
• Heena Malik as Reze (Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc)
• Merlyn James as Anya Forger (SPY x FAMILY Season 3)
• Rajesh Shukla as Sung Jinwoo (Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-)
• Shilpie Pandey as Lufas Maphaahl (A Wild Last Boss Appeared!)

Best Anime Voice Artist Performance (Italian)

• Katia Sorrentino as Momo (Dandadan Season 2)
• Leonardo Graziano as Naruto Uzumaki (BORUTO: NARUTO THE MOVIE)
• Luna Fogu as Maomao (The Apothecary Diaries Season 2)
• Martina Tamburello as Kikoru Shinomiya (Kaiju No. 8 Season 2)
• Mosè Singh as Denji (Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc)
• Simone Lupinacci as Izuku Midoriya (My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON)

Best Anime Voice Artist Performance (Latin Spanish)

• Desireé González as Maomao (The Apothecary Diaries Season 2)
• Dion González as Rudo (Gachiakuta)
• Erika Langarica as Marin Kitagawa (My Dress-Up Darling Season 2)
• Fernando Moctezuma as Sung Jinwoo (Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-)
• Jessica Ángeles as Reze (Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc)
• Jose Antonio Toledano as Akaza (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle)

Presenters

• Asuka Saito — Actor admired for her magnetic presence and generational voice.
• DANNA — Internationally acclaimed singer, songwriter and actress from Mexico.
• Enako — Globally celebrated cosplayer known for bringing beloved characters to life.
• hannah bahng — Australian singer-songwriter, producer and visual artist.
• Kasumi Arimura — Award-winning actor recognized for her emotional depth and versatility.
• Mitorizu — Fan-favorite comedy duo known for sharp wit and electric chemistry.
• Nanase Nishino — Acclaimed actor beloved for her heartfelt performances.
• Nyvi Estephan — Leading esports and gaming host in Brazil.
• RZA — Visionary producer, filmmaker and founding architect of Wu-Tang Clan.
• Rashmika Mandanna — Known as ‘India’s Sweetheart,’ she’s the most prominent pan-India star.
• Snitchery — Creative powerhouse known for shaping viral moments through cosplay
• Winston Duke — Globally acclaimed actor, producer and cultural visionary.

The 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards are live from Tokyo, Japan, on May 23, 2026!

Make sure to celebrate your favorites from the year by voting every day until voting closes on April 14 at 11:59:59 p.m. PT.

Source: Crunchyroll

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