The winners of the Anime of the Year category at the international animation film festival "Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2025 (TAAF2025)" (sponsored by the executive committee and the Association of Japanese Animations) were announced on January 31st, and it was revealed that the film version of the sixth season of the TV anime " GeGeGe no Kitaro ," based on the manga by the late Shigeru Mizuki , "Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of GeGeGe" (directed by Go Koga), won the "Anime Fan Award," chosen by fan vote. The award is given to the "most beloved work of 2024," and it took first place out of a total of 21,316 votes.
The Anime Fan Award went to "Idolish Seven LIVE 4bit BEYOND THE PERiOD" in 2023, "Mecha Amato" in 2022, the first season of the TV anime "Idolish Seven Third BEAT!" in 2021, "Idolish Seven Second BEAT!" in 2020, " Uta no Prince-sama Maji LOVE Kingdom the Movie" in 2019, "BANANA FISH" in 2018, "Yuri on Ice" in 2017 and 2016, "Gintama" in 2015, "TIGER & BUNNY -The Rising-" in 2014, and "Danball Senki Wars" in 2013.
"Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of GeGeGe" was released in November 2023 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Mizuki's birth. Kitaro's father (formerly known as Medama Oyaji) and Mizuki are the main characters, and the "story of Kitaro's fathers" was told for the first time. It also attracted attention when it was selected for the Best Animation Award at the 47th Japan Academy Awards. A "real version" that re-dubbed 327 cuts was released in October 2024.
The Anime of the Year category will be selected from the "Everyone's Best 100" chosen by fan vote from all 417 anime works screened, broadcast or streamed between October 1, 2023 and September 30, 2024. The "Best Work" and "Individual Award" will be selected by votes from producers, creators, and stores selling anime goods active in the anime industry, while the "Anime Fan Award" will be selected by fan vote.
TAAF has been held since 2014 with the aim of promoting anime culture and industry, and discovering and nurturing new talent. It selects winners in categories such as the "Competition Section" for anime from around the world that have not yet been screened in Japan, and the "Anime of the Year Section" for anime released in Japan. It will be held in Ikebukuro, Tokyo from March 7th to 10th.
