The Crunchyroll Anime Awards already took place at the beginning of 2026, and we’re eagerly waiting for the 2027 season organised in Tokyo, Japan. However, the winners for this year included a variety of movies and series from different genres, and the awards covered all the efforts it took for creating these animes.
Many of these series will be continuing in 2027, which is great news for figurine collectors and merch lovers, as artists will be working hard to bring anime characters to life. So, let’s talk about some of these must-watch series.
The category for anime of the year
The place for the best anime of the year is held by My Hero Academia, the final season, and it was one of the most awaited anime seasons of all time. This is especially true since the creator, Kohei Horikoshi, was on hiatus for some time and kept fans excited yet nervous about how long it would take for the story to end.
While most people who watched it were more than impressed with the visuals, others felt like the story was too fast-paced, like it usually happens with any last season of an anime or show. Regardless, the anime is pretty big, and related events will occur in many places around the world, such as the UK’s Eventim Apollo, where artists will perform a concert dressed in our favorite characters. It’s not just anime that the fans are interested in either, but animation in general, with Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 being one of the most popular at the moment. Many are already looking to gather collectibles and figures from the show to their merchandise, showing that the fandom continues to thrive.
The film of the year
In the category for film of the year sits, of course, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle. The film is very well-known for one of the best visuals in anime delivered by Ufotable animation studio and directed by Haruo Sotozaki. But no one could top the story written by Koyoharu Gotouge, who was included in Time’s list of “100 Most Influential People”.
Besides the Crunchyroll award, the movie received many other wins and nominations across the world, mostly for its score and voice artist performances for languages like English, Spanish, and German. But this is only the first part of the trilogy, as it’s expected for the second and third parts to arrive in 2027 and 2029, ending the arc. After that, the Sunrise Countdown act follows, which is still TBA.
The best new series
When it comes to new anime series, it’s difficult for these stories to top the well-known anime series, but in the case of Gachiakuta, the win for the best new series was easy. The anime was praised for its unique combination of style and substance, as the stunning visuals made by Studio Bones completed the serious subjects navigating the anime, such as class inequality and prejudice.
This is one of the reasons why Gachiakuta was Crunchyroll’s No. 1 anime for some time, and people compared its success with that of Demon Slayer, Chainsaw Man, and even Naruto. One of the most interesting things about the anime is the soundtrack choice that brought out the themes in the anime, such as Mori Calliope’s Let’s Just Crash, or karanoah’s BAN.
The leading continuing series
Of course, no top or award list could exist without One Piece, one of the longest anime in the industry that’s never finding an end to the story. The Toei Animation studio did a great job of keeping up with the story’s visual requirements by catching up to the Egghead arc, and it also delivered a considerable upgrade in the animation quality. However, it’s no wonder Eiichiro Oda’s story is still going strong, as fans around the world absolutely loved the characters.
But worry not, because the end of One Piece is still far from happening. When it comes to the animation, beyond the most recent one in 2026, Elbaph, more will be present on the screen in the future, as the two latest are supposed to be the Laughtale Arc and the Great War Arc, but as expected for such a dense story, several small arcs will be recorded, such as the Pirate Island, Lodestar Island, and the Moon arcs.
The best director of an anime
The winners of Best Director for 2026 are Akinori Fudesaka and Norihiro Naganuma for the second season of the Apothecary Diaries. While the anime had a slow start in the industry, it gained massive popularity with the second season showing the hidden talents of a young girl working as an apothecary in the Imperial Palace.
The animation surely contributed to the anime’s rise in the award world, as it was the result of combined efforts from Toho Animation Studio and OLM. However, what made it truly famous is the well-written story with huge plot twists in almost every episode. Some even compare it with the level of Sherlock by how Maomao, the main character, solves puzzles and brings the palace people together. Of course, the sublime and subtle romance between her and the Jinshi eunuch is also a reason to watch the series.
Bonus: the comedy you’d want to see
Ending the list with an anime that won Best Comedy for the second season, DAN DAN DAN isn’t what some would call comedy, as the anime tells the story of two teenagers who are exploring the possibilities of the world to contain aliens, ghosts, and other supernatural beings.
However, the show is so chaotic and fun to watch that it has all the support to become a comedy. The anime blends genres beautifully and in a complex way, working its way up from humor to action and terrifying moments.
Which of these anime do you like?
Crunchyroll serves as a leading source for the best anime series of the year, and for 2026, we had great titles hold important awards, such as My Hero Academia, One Piece, and DAN DAN DAN. The year is a mix of old and new, as the popularity of the anime didn’t matter based on its longevity but rather on visuals, message, and impact, so we’re excited to find out what Crunchyroll rewards in 2027.
Elara is a dynamic writer and blogger who specializes in pop culture and movie reviews. With a background in film studies and journalism, she combines her deep knowledge of the entertainment industry with a sharp, insightful writing style that keeps readers coming back for more.
