The winners of the Anime of the Year category at the international animated film festival "Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2026 (TAAF2026)" (sponsored by the TAAF Executive Committee and the Association of Japanese Animations) were announced on February 2nd, with "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Castle Arc Chapter 1 - Akaza Returns" winning the Best Picture award in the theatrical film category, and "Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX" winning the TV series award.
The individual awards went to manga artist Uoto, known for works such as "Chi. - About the Movement of the Earth -" and "Hyakuem.", in the original story/script category; Kameyama Yohei, who worked on "Galaxy Express Milky Subway," in the director/director category; Enomoto Shuto, who was the animation director and storyboard artist for episode 7 of "Dandadan," in the animator category; Takeda Yusuke, who has worked on "Chainsaw Man" and "Prism Rondo," in the art, color and video category; and Yonezu Kenshi, who worked on the theme songs "Plazma" for "Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning-" and "IRIS OUT" for Chainsaw Man Reze Arc, in the sound/performance category.
The "Anime Fan Award," chosen by fan vote, was also announced, with the movie "Hypnosis Mic: Division Rap Battle" winning. The award is given to the "most beloved work of 2025," and it came in first place out of a total of 17,412 votes.
The Anime of the Year category is open to all 452 anime works screened, broadcast, or streamed between October 1, 2024 and September 30, 2025. The Best Picture and Individual Awards 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. The event selects winners in categories such as the Competition Division, which is open to anime from around the world that have not yet been screened in Japan, and the Anime of the Year Division, which is open to anime released in Japan. The event will be held in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, from March 13th to 16th.
