Published May 23, 2026, 9:00 PM EDT
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The Crunchyroll Anime Awards just hit the ten-year mark with the 2026 award ceremony. The event brings plenty of fun categories to the table, honoring everything from the best action sequences to the greatest protagonists. Still, Anime of the Year is the one prize that draws everyone's attention. It is supposed to crown the absolute best anime of the past year.
Lately, though, there's been a popular sentiment that the ceremony plays out more like a popularity contest instead of an award ceremony. Depending on the year, it can feel like deserving series often lose out to more mainstream anime with huge popularity.
Handing the biggest award to the most hyped anime can ignore truly well-made stories. This habit has left a long trail of frustrating snubs. Looking back over the last decade paints a more muddled picture, however. While a handful of Anime of the Year awards went out to undeserving recipients, there are more than a few where the most deserving anime did indeed take away the night's biggest award.
Yuri on Ice (2017)
Deserving Winner: Re:Zero
The 2017 Crunchyroll Anime Awards saw tough competition between the nominees, with hit series such as My Hero Academia, Re:Zero, and Mob Psycho battling for the first Anime of the Year crown. While Yuri on Ice gave the audience the most distinct taste out of all the nominated ones with its beautiful choreography and emotional storyline, another anime had a much bigger impact on the industry.
Re:Zero gave the isekai genre a new look with its darker, psychological direction. If Sword Art Online made the genre popular, it was this new psychological thriller that further solidified it. Subaru’s endless loop of suffering and unforgiving plot of the series kept viewers glued to the screen. By being at the center of the conversation in its debut year, Re:Zero was clearly the defining anime of that year.
Made in Abyss (2018)
Deserving Winner: Made in Abyss
Looking back, the 2018 Anime Awards featured a refreshingly distinct lineup rather than being heavily dominated by typical shōnen series. Blockbuster hits like My Hero Academia Season 2 went up against celebrated critical darlings such as March Comes in Like a Lion and Land of the Lustrous. Despite this tough battle for the top spot, the voters made the perfect call by handing the crown to Made in Abyss.
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Devilman Crybaby (2019)
Deserving Winner: Devilman Crybaby
When it first arrived on Netflix, Masaaki Yuasa’s Devilman Crybaby completely shattered expectations, making it a highly deserving award winner of 2019’s AOTY. The raw, trippy animation and bold story successfully pushed the established boundaries of streaming anime. While fans desperately wanted Devilman Crybaby to take the top prize, nobody actually thought it would happen because Netflix held the exclusive streaming rights.
Yet, picking just one champion from this unbelievable roster feels almost criminal. Kyoto Animation's Violet Evergarden established a completely new visual standard, delivering vibrant animation right alongside deeply emotional stories of grief and healing.
At the same time, A Place Further Than the Universe captured absolute perfection. It tells a deeply heartfelt, uplifting journey of four high schoolers traveling to the harsh landscape of Antarctica, hitting every right emotional note along the way. While Akira’s demonic tragedy absolutely earned its reigning crown, sharing the spotlight with such a flawless adventure would have perfectly highlighted the undeniable quality of that year's releases.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (2020)
Deserving Winners: Mob Psycho 100 II or Vinland Saga
Though Demon Slayer became the talk of the town due to its fluid animation and old-school shōnen sensibilities, there were several other anime that deserved Anime of the Year just a little more.
While Tanjiro’s journey gave viewers an entertaining weekly watch, it lacked the same level of depth found in its competitors. Vinland Saga, in comparison, gave viewers a powerful historical drama centered around Thorfinn’s quest for revenge and complicated morals. What began as a chain of hatred turned into Thorfinn questioning the purpose of his own life by the time the credits rolled.
Meanwhile, Mob Psycho 100 Season 2 delivered one of the best character growth seen in anime in years. Watching Mob slowly learn how to express himself, stand up for himself, and grow as a person made the story hit on a much deeper emotional level. Both series pushed storytelling and character writing much further, while Demon Slayer mostly played it safe as a traditional shōnen.
Jujutsu Kaisen (2021)
Deserving Winners: Great Pretender or Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!
Jujutsu Kaisen completely dominated the 2021 Crunchyroll Anime of the Year category, with nothing else in the lineup really standing a chance. While the hit shonen was a deserving winner in many ways, its entry in the nomination felt quite strange. By the time the nominees for Anime of the Year were announced, Jujutsu Kaisen hadn’t even completed its broadcast run.
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01
Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin) became one of the most-watched anime on Crunchyroll. The story takes place in a world where humanity lives behind massive walls to protect themselves from giant humanoid creatures. What are these creatures called?
AKaiju BTitans CHollows DDemons
✓ Correct! The giant humanoid creatures are called Titans. In the original Japanese, they’re referred to as “Kyojin” (giants). Eren Yeager’s quest to destroy all Titans after they breach Wall Maria became one of the most gripping storylines in anime history.
✗ That answer needs more filler training! The answer is Titans. Kaiju are giant monsters from Japanese cinema like Godzilla, Hollows are the enemy creatures in Bleach, and Demons appear in series like Demon Slayer. In Attack on Titan, these towering humanoid creatures are specifically called Titans.
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02
Studio MAPPA has become one of the most prominent anime studios in recent years, producing several massive hit series. Which of these popular anime was NOT produced by MAPPA?
AJujutsu Kaisen BAttack on Titan: The Final Season CChainsaw Man DDemon Slayer
✓ Correct! Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba) is produced by ufotable, not MAPPA. Ufotable’s stunning animation quality — especially the breathtaking fight sequences — became a hallmark of the Demon Slayer franchise. MAPPA produced Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan: The Final Season, and Chainsaw Man.
✗ That answer needs more filler training! The answer is Demon Slayer. Demon Slayer is animated by studio ufotable, renowned for its gorgeous visual effects. MAPPA has produced Jujutsu Kaisen, took over Attack on Titan: The Final Season from WIT Studio, and animated Chainsaw Man.
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03
Solo Leveling became a massive hit anime in 2024 after being one of the most popular manhwa (Korean comics) in the world. The story follows a weak hunter who gains the unique ability to level up. What is the protagonist’s name?
AJin-Woo Sung BSung Jin-Woo CKim Dokja DYoo Joonghyuk
✓ Correct! Sung Jin-Woo is the protagonist of Solo Leveling. Originally the weakest E-Rank hunter, he gains the power of the mysterious System, allowing him to level up infinitely. His transformation from the “World’s Weakest Hunter” to the most powerful Shadow Monarch captivated millions of readers and viewers.
✗ That answer needs more filler training! The answer is Sung Jin-Woo. Jin-Woo Sung reverses the name order (Korean names place the surname first). Kim Dokja and Yoo Joonghyuk are protagonists from Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, another popular Korean series. Sung Jin-Woo is the iconic Shadow Monarch of Solo Leveling.
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04
The Crunchyroll Anime Awards celebrate the best in anime each year. Which anime won Anime of the Year at the 2024 Crunchyroll Anime Awards?
AJujutsu Kaisen Season 2 BFrieren: Beyond Journey’s End COshi no Ko DVinland Saga Season 2
✓ Correct! Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End won Anime of the Year at the 2024 Crunchyroll Anime Awards. This beautifully contemplative series about an elven mage reflecting on mortality and the passage of time after her hero party’s quest ends charmed audiences and critics alike with its unique, introspective storytelling.
✗ That answer needs more filler training! The answer is Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. While Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2, Oshi no Ko, and Vinland Saga Season 2 were all critically acclaimed, it was Frieren’s meditative exploration of time, memory, and connection that captured the top prize at the 2024 ceremony.
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05
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is consistently rated as one of the greatest anime of all time. The story follows two brothers who attempted a forbidden alchemical technique. What taboo did Edward and Alphonse Elric commit?
ACreating gold BHuman transmutation (trying to revive their dead mother) CDestroying a Philosopher’s Stone DKilling a homunculus
✓ Correct! Edward and Alphonse attempted human transmutation to bring their deceased mother back to life. The attempt failed catastrophically — Edward lost his left leg and then sacrificed his right arm to bind Alphonse’s soul to a suit of armor. This event drives the entire series as they search for the Philosopher’s Stone to restore their bodies.
✗ That answer needs more filler training! The answer is human transmutation — specifically, attempting to resurrect their dead mother. In the world of FMA, human transmutation is the ultimate taboo in alchemy. The brothers’ failed attempt cost Edward his limbs and Alphonse his entire body, setting the stage for their epic journey.
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06
Spy x Family became a worldwide phenomenon with its wholesome yet action-packed story of a found family. The father, Loid Forger, is secretly a spy. What is his spy codename?
AAgent Dusk BTwilight CShadow DNightfall
✓ Correct! Loid Forger’s spy codename is Twilight, and he’s considered the top agent of Westalis’s intelligence service, WISE. His mission, Operation Strix, requires him to build a fake family — leading him to adopt the telepathic Anya and marry the assassin Yor, creating one of anime’s most beloved found families.
✗ That answer needs more filler training! The answer is Twilight. Agent Dusk and Shadow are fictional names, while Nightfall is actually the codename of another WISE agent, Fiona Frost, who has a crush on Loid. Twilight is Westalis’s greatest spy and the heart of Spy x Family’s charming story.
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07
Crunchyroll merged with another major anime streaming service to become the dominant platform for anime. Which streaming service was absorbed into Crunchyroll?
ANetflix Anime BFunimation CHIDIVE DAnimeLab
✓ Correct! Funimation was merged into Crunchyroll after Sony’s acquisition of Crunchyroll from AT&T in 2021. The merger consolidated the anime streaming market, bringing Funimation’s massive library of dubbed anime together with Crunchyroll’s simulcast catalog, making Crunchyroll the world’s largest dedicated anime platform.
✗ That answer needs more filler training! The answer is Funimation. Netflix Anime is part of Netflix and operates independently, HIDIVE is Sentai Filmworks’ streaming service, and AnimeLab was a smaller Australian service. Funimation — once Crunchyroll’s biggest rival — was fully absorbed into the Crunchyroll platform.
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08
Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli are legendary in the anime world. Miyazaki’s final film was released in 2023 and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. What is the title of this film?
ASpirited Away 2 BThe Wind Rises CThe Boy and the Heron DPonyo Returns
✓ Correct! The Boy and the Heron (Kimitachi wa Dō Ikiru ka) was released in 2023 and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2024. The deeply personal, surrealist fantasy film was widely considered Miyazaki’s farewell masterpiece, exploring themes of grief, imagination, and the passage between worlds.
✗ That answer needs more filler training! The answer is The Boy and the Heron. Spirited Away 2 and Ponyo Returns don’t exist. The Wind Rises was Miyazaki’s previous “final” film from 2013. The Boy and the Heron marked his true farewell, winning the Oscar and cementing his legacy as anime’s greatest storyteller.
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With a series as massive as Jujutsu Kaisen securing a major spot among the nominees, other critically praised anime never really stood a chance.
Series like Great Pretender and Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! gave viewers a distinct watch than the typical storyline found in shōnen anime. When it came down to it, an original masterpiece like Great Pretender ended up losing out to the popularity of a mainstream giant.
Attack on Titan: The Final Season Part 1 (2022)
Deserving Winner: Attack on Titan: The Final Season Part 1
After years of dominating anime discussions, Attack on Titan finally secured the Anime of the Year win in 2022 with The Final Season Part 1 after missing out on a nomination in 2020. While the series had a massive popularity advantage, the season still backed up its victory with incredible storytelling, unforgettable OSTs, one of the best openings of the year, and intense action sequences that kept viewers hooked.
Even with this well-deserved win, the Crunchyroll Anime Awards couldn't dodge the usual controversy. While Attack on Titan absolutely deserved the win, it was surprising to see Mushoku Tensei completely absent from the list of nominees. Despite the abundant controversy surrounding Mushoku Tensei, its impressive animation and world-building should have at least earned it a nomination or two.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (2023)
Deserving Winner: Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
The 2023 awards finally broke the predictable pattern. For the very first time, an original anime stepped up to beat the biggest names in the industry. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners won the 2023 AOTY award over the mainstream hits like Attack on Titan, Demon Slayer, and Spy x Family.
Pulling that off was definitely no small task. After all, those mainstream series were airing some of their best arcs to date. Demon Slayer delivered the visually gorgeous Entertainment District storyline, and Attack on Titan finally showcased the long-awaited rematch between Eren and Reiner. Even against that stiff competition, the standalone sci-fi project from Studio Trigger easily stole the spotlight. By packing such a devastating, heartbreaking story into just ten episodes, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners served as a breath of fresh air compared to the never-ending sequels.
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 (2024)
Deserving Winner: Vinland Saga Season 2
The 2024 awards delivered the biggest snub in the event's history. The internet practically exploded when Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 took the top prize instead of Vinland Saga Season 2. The issue was simple. Technically, only the brief Hidden Inventory arc actually made the cutoff date. Yet, a great deal of promotional artwork for the series' Anime of the Year awards campaign showed the Shibuya Incident instead.
Vinland Saga Season 2 delivered one of anime's best redemption arcs. Thorfinn's emotional journey from a broken killer to a man seeking peace profoundly resonated with the anime community. While Jujutsu Kaisen's Hidden Inventory Arc is indeed strong, it isn't the series' strongest, making its win over Vinland Saga all the more frustrating.
Solo Leveling (2025)
Deserving Winner: Frieren: Beyond Journey's End
Custom Image by Hannah DiffeyThe controversial trend of major snubs certainly did not stop in 2025. This time, Solo Leveling snatched the victory over the critically praised Frieren: Beyond Journey's End. Frieren made history that year by dethroning Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood’s reign as the highest-rated anime on MyAnimeList, capturing hearts with a fresh approach to fantasy storytelling.
Instead of honoring that achievement, the top prize went straight to the loudest mainstream hit. Solo Leveling undeniably brings incredible action and endless hype to the table, making it a strong contender. Yet, the core story completely lacks the deep originality and profound emotional weight found in Frieren. Watching a straightforward power fantasy defeat a generational masterpiece felt disappointing.
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