Crunchyroll announced the categories for their 2023 Anime Awards. Each year, the Crunchyroll Anime Awards celebrates excellence in Japanese animation. Here are the categories for 2023.

Crunchyroll Anime Awards Categories

The categories for the seventh annual 2023 Crunchyroll Anime Awards will be held for the first time in Tokyo on Saturday, March 4, 2023. “We are thrilled to celebrate the exceptional storytelling that has captured the hearts and minds of anime fans around the world,” said Rahul Purini, President of Crunchyroll. “We owe so much to the creators, artists and producers that delivered some of the most meaningful moments in global pop culture this past year.”

Anime fans will be able to vote for their favorites in the following categories:

• Anime of the Year: This is the show that sets the standard for anime over the last year, towering over all others. Its compelling story, beautiful artistic execution, and unforgettable characters all combine in a unique way to create a masterpiece that deserves singular recognition. Whether the show was an unexpected hit, or delivered on fans’ high expectations, Anime of the Year represents absolute excellence.

• Best Animation: Here, fans recognize anime that are visually stunning in the ways they bring their stories to life. No matter the style of animation, these shows provide a visual feast for viewers to enjoy, immersing audiences into previously unimaginable worlds.

• Best Anime Song:  This category recognizes a vocalist, instrumental, soloist, duo, group, or collaborative recording played during any part of an anime series. These are the songs that get stuck in your head, make you want to sing along, or give you a rush of emotion.

• Best Character Design: This category celebrates artists who have either created iconic anime characters or breathed life into one from other sources, like manga or light novels. Great character designers can tell a story from how someone is drawn, while the legendary ones create characters fans can recognize by their silhouette.

• Best Comedy: Whether they catch fans off guard with a unique point of view, or the dialogue seems crafted by a stand-up comedian, these are the shows that make viewers laugh out loud.

• Best Continuing Series: Sustaining excellence is no small feat, particularly when it comes to anime. Considering all the creativity, effort, and planning that goes into one season, the ability to hold a fan’s attention year after year is worthy of celebration.

• Best Director: Of central importance, directors work behind the scenes, conveying their vision and imagination to animators, making critical decisions, and managing the creative aspects of production.

• Best Fantasy: Best Fantasy is all about imagination, creativity, and a bit of magic. These shows don’t  just take us to other worlds. They craft deep, original universes full of mythical creatures where even the smallest detail is fueled by ideas that may not have been seen before.

• Best Film: Here, fans celebrate non-episodic anime with runtimes longer than a standard episode. These anime were released in theaters, on DVD, or online. The best of the best live up to the hype, leaving fans wondering where the time went.

• Best Original Anime: An original anime is not adapted from source material; it is entirely a unique creation. While that itself is an accomplishment, these shows also present an impactful and entertaining story that elevates the title to another level.

• Best Romance: A great romance can thaw the heart of the coldest non-believer. These captivating stories draw viewers in and remind them of the best part of being alive. With their hopeful messages, these shows find a way to make fans believe in the power of love.

• Best Score: A vital part of an unforgettable anime is the original music composed for it. A well-crafted score adds another dimension of depth and emotion to any scene with compositions that are not only tightly associated with an anime, but can also stand alone as masterpieces of music.

• Presenter’s Choice: Crunchyroll has invited a special guest to present an award of their choice to an honored contributor. It is an opportunity to recognize a person, studio, or company for a variety of reasons, including celebrating a milestone, overcoming something daunting, or achieving something inspirational. NOTE: This winner is determined by the special guest(s).

• Special Achievement Award: This award serves to recognize a person, studio, or company (in the past or the present) that has impacted the industry in a remarkable way. Without their contributions, anime would not be where it is today, so this award implies reaching legendary status. NOTE: This winner is determined by an industry panel selected by the Crunchyroll team.

Additional Categories

There will also be additional categories announced during Crunchyroll’s global livestream of the 2023 Anime Awards. Here are the categories:

• “Must Protect At All Cost” Character:  These are the characters that make the world feel like a kinder, more special place. Whether they’re an earnest protagonist who always gets back up or a pure hearted cinnamon roll who holds a group together, these characters remind fans that there are some things in life worth protecting.

• Best Action: This category rewards a show that has action at its core. These titles should leave the audience with their hearts pounding, their palms sweaty, and everyone gasping for breath at the mind-blowing sequences.

• Best Drama: These anime convey something essential about the human experience. Their mastery of building and relieving tension sets fans on the edge of their seats and feeling all their feelings. These stories compel the audience to invest deeply in the characters and their stories.

• Best Ending Sequence: Similar to the opening, an unforgettable ending sequence pairs design and music to delight and surprise. Often a place where the art style can be taken in entirely new directions, a great closing sequence lets viewers catch their breath and enjoy small moments with a character.

• Best Main Character: Whether hero, anti-hero, or villain, a main character is the face of their series. However, it is not just their personalities or characteristics that make them beloved. Their well-developed stories and the journeys they take us on also make them worthy.

• Best New Series: While countless new anime are created each year, this category honors the series and spin-offs that stand out. These instant classics possess something unique that keep viewers engaged and awaiting the announcement of season two.

• Best Opening Sequence: Through striking visuals and irresistible music, a great opening sequence sets the table for what’s to come. Whether it’s creating a quirky mood for an off-beat romantic comedy or striking a dark and serious tone for suspense, a memorable opening has as much creativity and passion as the show it introduces.

• Best Supporting Character: This category celebrates sidekicks like they were number one. Supporting characters come in all shapes and sizes. Tthe best among them are able to shine as bright as their main character counterparts when they are called.

• Best Voice Actor Performance: Renowned voice artists not only breathe additional life into design, but they also re-envision what a character sounds like in a different language. Through their command of tone and the emotions, these talented artists add depth. They transform anime characters into anime icons. This award will be honored to voice actors across Arabic, Castilian, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Nominees for the 2023 Anime Awards will be announced early next year. Follow Crunchyroll for more updates!

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