Crunchyroll reveals the categories for the Anime Awards 2023

Crunchyroll recently announced the categories for the Anime Awards 2023. The nominees will be announced early next year and then the winners announced during a live ceremony to be streamed hosted by Sally Amaki And John Cabira on March 4, 2023. Speaking of the event in general, Raul PuriniPresident of Crunchyroll said:

We are thrilled to celebrate the outstanding storytelling that has captured the hearts and minds of anime fans around the world. We owe so much to the creators, artists and producers who crafted some of global pop culture’s most defining moments this past year.

The judges of the Anime Awards will select the nominees, but then the fans will vote for the winners. You can find the full list of judges on the Crunchyroll site, but they include over 50 anime creators, tastemakers, and influencers from around the world. The Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2023 will feature creators, musicians, performances, and pretty much everything you’ve come to expect from award shows. You can find all categories in the long list below. What do you think should be nominated? I imagine Spy x Family, The man with the chainsawAnd Bleach Thousand Year Blood War they will all be on the list.

• Categories to be announced during the Anime Awards live event in Tokyo include:

  • Anime of the Year – This is the show that sets the standard for anime over the past year, towering above all others. Its gripping story, beautiful artistic execution, unforgettable characters all combine in a unique way to create a masterpiece that deserves singular recognition. Whether the show was an unexpected hit or met high fan expectations, Anime of the Year represents absolute excellence.

  • Best Animation – Here we recognize anime that are visually stunning in the way they bring their stories to life. Regardless of the style of animation, these shows provide a visual feast for viewers, immersing the audience in previously unimaginable worlds.

  • Best Anime Song – This category recognizes a singer, instrument, soloist, duo, group, or collaborative recording performed during any part of an anime series. These are the songs that stick in your head, make you want to sing, or give you a rush of emotion.

  • Best Character Design -. This category celebrates artists who have created iconic anime characters or brought one to life from other sources such as manga or light novels. Thanks to their understanding of design principles, great character designers can tell a story from how someone is drawn, while legendary ones create characters you recognize by their silhouette.

  • Best Comedy – Whether they knock you off guard with a unique point of view, or the dialogue sounds like it was created by a stand-up comedian, these are the shows that make you laugh out loud and ultimately hurt you.

  • Outstanding Continuing Series – Sustaining excellence is no mean feat, particularly when it comes to anime. Considering all the creativity, effort and planning that goes into a season, the ability to hold a fan’s attention year after year is worth celebrating.

  • Best Director – To paraphrase Hayao Miyazaki, “An anime is a reflection of its director.” Crucially, directors work behind the scenes, imparting their vision and imagination to the animators, making critical decisions, and handling the creative aspects of the production.

  • Best Fantasy – Best Fantasy is about imagination, creativity and a little bit of magic. These shows don’t just take us to other worlds, they create deep and original universes filled with mythical creatures where even the smallest detail is fueled by ideas that weren’t thought of before.

  • Best Picture – Here we celebrate non-episodic anime with running times longer than a standard episode, whether released theatrically, on DVD or online. The best of the best lives up to the hype, leaving fans wondering where the time has gone.

  • Best Original Anime – An original anime is not adapted from the source material; it is entirely a one-of-a-kind creation. While this is an achievement in itself, these shows also feature an impactful and entertaining story that elevates the title to another level.

  • Best Romance – A great love story can thaw the heart of the coldest cynic. These captivating stories draw us in and remind us of the best part of being alive. With their messages of hope, these shows find a way to make you believe in the power of love.

  • Best Soundtrack – A vital part of an unforgettable anime is the original music composed for it. A well-crafted soundtrack adds another dimension of depth and emotion to any scene with compositions that are not only closely associated with an anime but can also be considered musical masterpieces.

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

  • Special Achievement Award – This award recognizes an individual, firm or company (past or present) who has made a significant impact on the industry. Without their contributions, anime would not be where it is today, so this award implies the achievement of legendary status. NOTE: This winner is determined by an industry judging panel selected by the Crunchyroll team.

• Additional categories to be announced during Crunchyroll’s global livestream event for fans include:

  • Character “You must protect at all costs” – These are the characters that make the world seem like a kinder and more special place. Whether it’s an earnest protagonist who always gets back up or a pure-hearted cinnamon bun who holds a group together, these characters remind us that there are some things in life worth protecting.

  • Best Action: This category honors a show that has action at its heart. These titles should leave the audience with their hearts pounding, palms sweaty and everyone gasping for the jaw-dropping sequences that have been depicted.

  • Best Drama – These anime convey something essential about the human experience. Their mastery of building and relieving tension has fans in suspense, feeling all their feelings, forcing them 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 art style can be taken in whole new directions, a big closing sequence allows viewers to catch their breath and enjoy little moments with a character.

  • Best Main Character – Whether hero, anti-hero or villain, a main character is the face of their series. But it’s not just their personalities or characteristics that make them beloved, it’s their well-developed stories and the journeys that lead us to make them worthy.

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

  • Best Opening Sequence – Through stunning visuals and irresistible music, a stunning opening sequence sets the table for what’s to come. Whether it’s setting a whimsical mood for an offbeat rom-com or setting a dark, serious tone for suspense, a memorable opener has as much creativity and passion as the show it introduces.

  • Best Supporting Character: This category celebrates companions as if they were number one. Supporting characters come in all shapes and sizes, but the best of them are able to shine like their main character counterparts when called upon.

  • Best Voice Actor Performance – Famous voice actors not only breathe further life into the design, they also reimagine how a character sounds in a different language. Through their mastery of tone and the emotion their voices evoke, these talented artists add depth, transforming anime characters into anime icons. This prize will be awarded to voice actors in Arabic, Castilian, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish.