Image: Koyoharu Gotouge / Shueisha, Aniplex, ufotable
AMBot | 02/02/2026 | Reading Time: 3 Min.
The Tokyo Anime Award Festival (TAAF), an international animation film festival, has announced the winners for its main categories in 2026. The awards honor outstanding works and individual achievements from the anime industry.
The Anime of the Year award is presented in several subcategories. The winners in the categories Best Film and Best TV Series were determined by a professional jury consisting of industry producers, creatives, and media representatives. Another award, the Anime Fan Award, is determined by a public vote among anime fans.
This year, a total of 452 anime titles were eligible for the award. All nominated works were released or broadcast in Japan between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025.
The jury awarded the prize for Best Film to the theatrical film "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Infinity Castle Arc, Chapter 1: Akaza's Return" (Japanese title: 劇場版「鬼滅の刃」無限城編 第一章 猗窩座再来). In the Best TV Series category, "Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX" (Japanese title: 機動戦士ガンダム GQuuuuuuX) prevailed.
The Anime Fan Award, chosen by the fans, went to the film "Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle-" (Japanese title: ヒプノシスマイク -Division Rap Battle-). It received 8,024 out of a total of 17,412 votes cast in the public online poll.
In addition to the work awards, individual achievements in five creative disciplines were also honored:
- Best Original Work/Script: Uoto, known for works such as "Chi. - About the Movement of the Earth".
- Best Director: Yōhei Kameyama, director of "Milky☆Subway".
- Best Animator: Shūto Enomoto, who worked as an animator and storyboard artist on titles such as "Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!" and "Inu-Oh".
- Best Art Direction/Color/Image: Yūsuke Takeda, an experienced art director with work on films like "Blood: The Last Vampire" and series like "Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex".
- Best Sound/Performance: Kenshi Yonezu, a musician known for anime hits like "KICK BACK" (Chainsaw Man) and the song "Plazma" for the winning film "Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX".
TAAF is being held for the thirteenth time in 2026. The festival aims to make Tokyo a center of animation culture and promotes exchange between creatives and audiences from around the world. The official award ceremony for all mentioned categories is planned for March 16, 2026, as part of the festival in Tokyo.
The Anime of the Year award is presented in several subcategories. The winners in the categories Best Film and Best TV Series were determined by a professional jury consisting of industry producers, creatives, and media representatives. Another award, the Anime Fan Award, is determined by a public vote among anime fans.
This year, a total of 452 anime titles were eligible for the award. All nominated works were released or broadcast in Japan between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025.
The jury awarded the prize for Best Film to the theatrical film "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Infinity Castle Arc, Chapter 1: Akaza's Return" (Japanese title: 劇場版「鬼滅の刃」無限城編 第一章 猗窩座再来). In the Best TV Series category, "Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX" (Japanese title: 機動戦士ガンダム GQuuuuuuX) prevailed.
The Anime Fan Award, chosen by the fans, went to the film "Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle-" (Japanese title: ヒプノシスマイク -Division Rap Battle-). It received 8,024 out of a total of 17,412 votes cast in the public online poll.
In addition to the work awards, individual achievements in five creative disciplines were also honored:
- Best Original Work/Script: Uoto, known for works such as "Chi. - About the Movement of the Earth".
- Best Director: Yōhei Kameyama, director of "Milky☆Subway".
- Best Animator: Shūto Enomoto, who worked as an animator and storyboard artist on titles such as "Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!" and "Inu-Oh".
- Best Art Direction/Color/Image: Yūsuke Takeda, an experienced art director with work on films like "Blood: The Last Vampire" and series like "Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex".
- Best Sound/Performance: Kenshi Yonezu, a musician known for anime hits like "KICK BACK" (Chainsaw Man) and the song "Plazma" for the winning film "Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX".
TAAF is being held for the thirteenth time in 2026. The festival aims to make Tokyo a center of animation culture and promotes exchange between creatives and audiences from around the world. The official award ceremony for all mentioned categories is planned for March 16, 2026, as part of the festival in Tokyo.
This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical support and editorially reviewed before publication.
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