Anime

Top Anime Series Up for Annie Awards Recognition in 2026

The 53rd Annual Annie Awards, presented by the International Animated Film Society, ASIFA-Hollywood, have unveiled their nominees. The ceremony, set to take place on February 21, honors outstanding achievements in animation across various categories.

One of the standout nominees is the highly anticipated anime film Scarlet, directed by Mamoru Hosoda and produced by Studio Chizu. The film, titled “Hateshi naki Scarlet” in Japanese, which translates to “Scarlet Without Limits,” has garnered nominations for “Best Feature – Independent,” “Best Direction – Feature,” and “Best Writing – Feature.” This recognition underscores the film’s anticipated impact on the animation industry.

Another notable contender is KPop Demon Hunters, directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans. This animated feature has received an impressive array of nominations, including “Best Feature,” “Best FX – Feature,” “Best Character Animation – Feature,” “Best Character Design – Feature,” “Best Direction – Feature,” “Best Music – Feature,” “Best Production Design – Feature,” “Best Voice Acting – Feature,” “Best Writing – Feature,” and “Best Editorial – Feature.” The film’s diverse nominations highlight its comprehensive excellence in various aspects of animation.

The Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc has also made a mark with a nomination for “Best Direction – Feature.” This film continues to build on the popularity of the original series, showcasing its strong narrative and directorial prowess.

In the television and media categories, the DAN DA DAN anime has been nominated for “Best Direction – TV/Media” for its episode “Clash! Space Kaiju vs. Giant Robot!” This recognition highlights the episode’s dynamic storytelling and direction. Additionally, the stop-motion animation series My Melody & Kuromi has been nominated for “Best TV/Media – Children” with its episode “All For Our Best Friend.” This nomination celebrates the series’ charm and appeal to younger audiences.

The Star Wars: Visions Volume 3 anthology project has received nominations in two categories: “Best TV/Media – Limited Series” for the “BLACK” short by david production and “Best FX – TV/Media” for the “The Bird of Paradise” short by Polgyon Pictures. These nominations underscore the project’s innovative storytelling and visual effects.

The animated series of CAPCOM’s Devil May Cry video game franchise has earned a nomination for “Best Music – TV/Media,” recognizing the series’ exceptional soundtrack. The animation project for Sega’s Sonic Racing CrossWorlds game has been nominated in the “Best Sponsored” category, highlighting its promotional value. Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding 2: On the Beach game has also received a nomination in the “Best Character Animation – Video Game” category, showcasing its advanced animation techniques.

The Annie Awards have a rich history of recognizing both mainstream and independent animated works. The Best Animated Independent Feature award, introduced in 2016, aims to highlight the contributions of independent animators, international studios, and anime that might otherwise go unnoticed. Mamoru Hosoda’s film Mirai won this award in 2019, underscoring the significance of independent animation.

In 2024, notable achievements included Hayao Miyazaki winning the award for Best Storyboarding for a feature film and Takeshi Honda winning for Best Character Animation for a feature film, both for The Boy and the Heron. Studio Ghibli composer Joe Hisaishi received the prestigious Winsor McCay Award for his lifetime contributions to animation.

The CGI animated series Oni: Thunder God’s Tale by Tonko House received awards in 2023 for Best TV/Media – Limited Series and Best Production Design – TV/Media, showcasing the studio’s innovative approach to animation.

The Annie Awards have a history of recognizing both mainstream and independent animated works. The Best Animated Independent Feature award, introduced in 2016, aims to highlight the contributions of independent animators, international studios, and anime that might otherwise go unnoticed. Mamoru Hosoda’s film Mirai won this award in 2019, underscoring the significance of independent animation.

The 53rd Annual Annie Awards promise to be a celebration of the best in animation, recognizing the talent and creativity that drive the industry forward.