The polls are open for the 10^th annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards! Fans worldwide can vote for their favourite series, characters, opening and ending themes, genres, voice actors, and, of course, the coveted Anime of the Year.

Since its inception in 2017, the Crunchyroll Anime Awards has grown significantly from its original 12 categories. A welcome improvement this year allows voters to resubmit their ballot from the previous day.

Nominees were selected by a panel of industry veterans and creators. (Disclosure: I was among the judges who selected the nominees) From those initial selections, fans can cast one vote per day in each category until the event concludes.

Categories this year include:

• Anime of the Year
• Film of the Year
• Best Continuing Series
• Best New Series
• Best Original Anime
• Best Animation
• Best Character Design
• Best Director
• Best Background Art
• Best Romance
• Best Comedy
• Best Action
• Best Isekai Anime
• Best Drama
• Best Slice of Life
• Best Main Character
• Best Supporting Character
• “Must Protect At All Costs” Character
• Best Anime Song
• Best Score
• Best Opening Sequence
• Best Ending Sequence
• Best Voice Artist Performance (Japanese)
• Best Voice Artist Performance (Arabic)
• Best Voice Artist Performance (Brazilian Portuguese)
• Best Voice Artist Performance (Castilian Spanish)
• Best Voice Artist Performance (English)
• Best Voice Artist Performance (French)
• Best Voice Artist Performance (German)
• Best Voice Artist Performance (Italian)
• Best Voice Artist Performance (Latin Spanish)
• Best Voice Artist Performance (Hindi)

Voting is open from 9:00 am PDT on Thursday, April 2^nd, 2026, until 11:59 pm PDT on Wednesday, April 15^th, 2026.

Winners will be announced during a gala event at the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa in Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday, May 23^rd, 2026. Guests this year include Yoko Takahashi who returns to perform the opening theme of Neon Genesis Evangelion for its 30^th anniversary.

Crunchyroll, LLC is an independently operated joint venture between U.S.-based Sony Pictures Entertainment and Japan’s Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., under the Sony Group.

 

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