Over the weekend, anime streaming platform CrunchyRoll hosted their seventh annual CrunchyRoll Anime Awards, this time as part of a live ceremony in Japan – seeking to acknowledge “the creators, musicians, and performers powering the international love of the medium”.
While the event could have been presented by some of the big names in the Japanese and international anime scene, this live event was presented by a range of talent from the wider entertainment and sports industries, including:
- Hosts: Sally Amaki (Voice Actor) and Jon Kabira (Entertainer)
- Justin Lin (upcoming One Punch Man live action adaptation, Fast and the Furious films)
- Robert Rodriguez (Desperado, From Dusk Till Dawn)
- Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things, Pinocchio, Ghostbusters, IT)
- Hunter Schafer, (Euphoria and the upcoming The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes)
- Jacob Bertrand (Cobra Kai)
- Juju Smith-Schuster (Super Bowl winner, Kansas City Chiefs)
- Aidan Hutchinson (Detroit Lions)
- Zelina Vega (WWE)
- Valkyrae (Streamer)
- Sykkuno (Streamer)
- Haruka Kaki (singer and actor)
- Kendo Kobayashi (comedian)
- Roland (host, entrepreneur, and TV personality)
- Sawa Suzuki (actress)
In total, 18 million votes were made by anime fans in 200 countries and territories, with some of the “most engaged” regions noted by CrunchyRoll including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Mexico, and the United States. This led to the following awards being presented to the following winners, the piece de resistance being Netflix’s Cyberpunk: Edgerunner, not even available on CrunchyRoll, taking the top spot as Anime of the Year:
Anime of the Year – Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Best Action – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc
Best Animation – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc
Best Anime Song – “The Rumbling,” SiM, Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2
Best Character Design – Akira Matsushima, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc
Best Comedy – SPY x FAMILY
Best Continuing Series – ONE PIECE
Best Director – Haruo Sotozaki, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc
Best Drama – Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2
Best Ending Sequence – “Comedy,” Gen Hoshino, SPY x FAMILY
Best Fantasy – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc
Best Film – JUJUTSU KAISEN 0
Best Main Character – Eren Jaeger, Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2
Best New Series – SPY x FAMILY
Best Opening Sequence – “The Rumbling,” SiM, Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2
Best Original Anime – Lycoris Recoil
Best Romance – Kaguya-sama: Love Is War -Ultra Romantic-
Best Score – KOHTA YAMAMOTO and HIROYUKI SAWANO, Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2
Best Supporting Character – Anya Forger, SPY x FAMILY
Best Voice Artist Performance (English) – Zach Aguilar, David Martinez, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Best Voice Artist Performance (Japanese) – Yuki Kaji, Eren Jaeger, Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2
Best Voice Artist Performance (Arabic) – Amal Hawija, Gon Freecss, Hunter x Hunter
Best Voice Artist Performance (Castilian) – Jaime Pérez de Sevilla, Yuta Okkotsu, JUJUTSU KAISEN 0
Best Voice Artist Performance (French) – Brigitte Lecordier, Bojji, Ranking of Kings
Best Voice Artist Performance (German) – Nicolás Artajo, Yuta Okkotsu, JUJUTSU KAISEN 0
Best Voice Artist Performance (Italian) – Elisa Giorgio, Maki Zen’in, JUJUTSU KAISEN (Cour 1)
Best Voice Artist Performance (Portuguese) – Nina Carvalho, Anya Forger, SPY x FAMILY
Best Voice Artist Performance (Spanish) – Alejandro Orozco, Gyutaro, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc
“Must Protect At All Costs” Character – Anya Forger, SPY x FAMILY
A few surprises, and a few not-so-surprises. Keep an eye out over the coming year, to see what could be up to win an award at next year’s CrunchyRoll Anime Awards.
