The Kagurabachi Anime World Tour is adding another stop—in Washington, D.C. at Otakon. Head to the convention for a premiere screening of the first 20 minutes of Episode 1 on Sunday, August 2
Kagurabachi is a popular Japanese manga (comic book) series by Takeru Hokazono. The series follows a young swordsman, Chihiro Rokuhira, on his quest to avenge his blacksmith father. An anime adaptation has been officially announced for April 2027. This will be the first chance for fans to get a glimpse of it.
Otakon 2026 takes place July 31 to August 3 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.
To help boost the marketing and anime, manga, and other forms of entertainment overseas, the Japanese government is considering subsidies totaling ¥11.5 billion (about $7.5 million US dollars). The subsidies would go to 15 companies and aim to triple overseas sales to ¥20 trillion by 2033.
Companies eligible for the support would include five in the anime sector, six in music/gaming/live-action sectors, and 4 in manga. Companies mention include Crunchyroll, Bandai Namco Holdings Inc., Shueisha, Kodansha Ltd., Square Enix Co. and NTT Solmare Corp.
Overseas sales of manga and other forms of entertainment have reached ¥6.13 trillion (about $4 million US dollars) in 2024. That’s more than semiconductor exports which were ¥6.08 trillion.
The manga and anime industry have faced issues with piracy with estimates that 2025 losses were ¥5.7 trillion which was up from ¥2 trillion in 2022.
The subsidies would aim to boost the speed by which releases could make it to overseas markets by using generative artificial intelligence to translate the work. By increasing the translation speed and number of languages it might decrease piracy.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has names the “content industry” as one of 17 fields for investment as part of the government’s growth strategy.
Crunchyroll’s latest Ani-Maycampaign features K-pop artist REI AMI, known as the singing voice for Zoey in the Oscar-winning KPop Demon Hunters, as she joins our month-long celebration of all things anime, with a dedicated curation of her own anime-inspired playlist on Spotify.
REI AMI’s Anime Favorites playlist is an extension of our ongoing partnership with Spotify to place anime content outside of traditional fandom channels, leveraging artists across genres to amplify the celebration to a crowd of diverse audiences. REI AMI’s unique blend of K-pop influence and authentic love for anime allows her to create her own dynamic playlist that sparks interest and conversation to provide a unique entry point for music and pop culture fans.
Additional anime fans joining Crunchyroll throughout the month include:
Amber Glenn – The Olympic figure skating gold medalist showed us what anime means to her and gave fans a look into her very own “My Anime Routine.”
Big Sean – The multi Grammy-nominated artist will work with Crunchyroll and step into the recording booth to learn how voice over acting works and getting to dub some of his favorite anime characters.
Noah Lyles – The fastest man in the world and Olympic gold medalist will be cosplaying of one of his favorite characters in celebration of Ani-May.
Thea Trinidad – The wrestling superstar will also be dressing up and showing off her cosplay skills of one of her favorite anime characters.
Crunchyroll has unveiled a new lineup of celebrity presenters who are headed to the tenth annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards in Tokyo. Joining the star-studded event are Thai K-pop artist BamBam, contemporary musician Ethan Bortnick, Thai K-pop singer and dancer TEN, and GRAMMY-nominated recording artist from Puerto Rico Young Miko.
These global artists join a growing lineup of celebrity anime-fan presenters shaped by anime’s influence on culture and creativity worldwide, including: Asuka Saito, RZA, Rashmika Mandanna, The Weeknd, Winston Duke, and more.
The newly announced presenters are listed below:
BamBam—Thai-born rapper of K-pop’s leading boy idol group GOT7. Since 2021, BamBam has been actively expanding his career as a solo artist, showcasing various sides of his artistry, including his cheerful vocals that were not fully highlighted during his activities as a rapper in GOT7.
Ethan Bortnick—Contemporary musician, pianist and songwriter blending classical roots with a modern sound. His breakout singles “cut my fingers off” and “engravings” have earned over 135 million Spotify streams. Currently, Ethan is honing an artistic vision aimed at bringing classical music to the mainstream in a bold new way.
TEN—Thai singer and dancer with one of K-pop’s most distinctive solo careers. A member of NCT and WayV, he debuted solo in 2024 with “Nightwalker,” then topped iTunes Albums in 19 countries with his 2025 EP “Stunner,” which Billboard named one of the year’s best K-pop songs.
Young Miko—GRAMMY-nominated recording artist from Puerto Rico and one of the most influential voices shaping global music today. With over 20 million monthly listeners on Spotify and more than 21 million followers across social media, she has built a massive global fanbase driven by her genre-defying sound and commanding presence.
The Crunchyroll Anime Awards will take place on Saturday, May 23, 2026, with the live ceremony hosted by popular entertainer Jon Kabira and renowned voice actress Sally Amaki. Beginning with the Orange Carpet Pre-Show at 5:00PM JST and main show ceremony at 6:00PM JST, the livestream will be available for global tune-in on Crunchyroll’s Twitch, TikTok, and YouTube channels as well as the Global and Japanese Sony Group Corp YouTube Channels. The 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards will be available in 9 languages, including English, Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Castilian Spanish, French, German, Hindi, Italian, and Latin Spanish.
The Crunchyroll Anime Awards is the leading yearly awards program honoring the creators, musicians, and performances powering the global love of anime. Sony Music Solutions Inc., part of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and Dempsey Productions will support Crunchyroll in the execution of the event. The event will be livestreamed for global audiences.
It’s an anime party—and everyone is invited. Crunchyroll has announced a limited-time Premium membership offer for Ani-May, its month-long, worldwide celebration spanning streaming, gaming, retail, and real-world experiences, bringing fans together during one of anime’s biggest years yet, spotlighted by the 10th Crunchyroll Anime Awards and a spring slate already off to an incredible start.
To mark the occasion, Crunchyroll is launching a global Premium membership sale across more than 35 countries, inviting new and returning fans to jump in at a pivotal moment. In the U.S., the offer unlocks three months of memberships to Crunchyroll Fan for $1.99/mo or Crunchyroll Mega Fan for $2.99/mo just as highly anticipated new titles and breakout hits from the April 1 spring lineup take center stage—alongside this year’s most celebrated and Anime Awards-nominated series.
Subscribers gain access to the world’s largest dedicated anime library, including new releases like Chainsaw Man –The Movie: Reze Arc, Witch Hat Atelier, and Daemons of the Shadow Realm, plus Anime Awards standouts such as Solo Leveling, Apothecary Diaries,My Hero Academia, My Hero Academia, and SPY X FAMILY. Additional perks include offline viewing on select tiers and Crunchyroll Store benefits like member discounts and early access to merch and collectibles.
The Ani-May Fan and Mega Fan discount is available from May 7 – May 21* in supported territories and platforms, including the United States, Canada, Peru, Colombia, Chile, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Spain, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Mexico, and India. Prices, discounts and content availability varies across regions.
*Offer dates and availability vary by region and platform types. Not all promotions are available if purchasing through a third-party offer. Certain promotions available in India, Indonesia, Mexico, and Thailand will be available through May 31.
Crunchyroll has revealed the nominees for the landmark tenth iteration of the Crunchyroll Anime Awards—the largest global celebration of excellence in Japanese animation. Fans can vote every day starting today through April 15 on the Anime Awards Official Website, Crunchyroll, and, for the first time, MyAnimeList! Voting is easier and in more places than ever before, empowering fans to fight for the anime they love and help determine the winners.
Crunchyroll has also revealed a star-studded first wave of anime-fan presenters who will announce the winners during the 2026 Anime Awards Pre-Show on Saturday, May 23 at 5:00 PM JST, and during the live Ceremony at 6:00 PM JST, respectively.
Asuka Saito—Actor admired for her magnetic presence and generational voice.
DANNA—Internationally acclaimed singer, songwriter, and actress from Mexico.
Enako—Globally celebrated cosplayer known for bringing beloved characters to life.
hannah bahng—Australian singer-songwriter, producer, and visual artist.
Kasumi Arimura—Award-winning actor recognized for her emotional depth and versatility.
Mitorizu—Fan-favorite comedy duo known for sharp wit and electric chemistry.
Nanase Nishino—Acclaimed actor beloved for her heartfelt performances.
Nyvi Estephan—Leading esports and gaming host in Brazil.
RZA—Visionary producer, filmmaker, and founding architect of Wu-Tang Clan.
Rashmika Mandanna—Known as ‘India’s Sweetheart’, she’s the most prominent pan-India star.
Snitchery—creative powerhouse known for shaping viral moments through cosplay
Winston Duke—globally acclaimed actor, producer, and cultural visionary.
This year’s Crunchyroll Anime Awards will host a suite of musical tributes to anime. Japanese singer DEAN FUJIOKA will open the ceremony with “History Maker,” from Yuri!!! on ICE—the very first Crunchyroll Anime Awards’ Anime of the Year recipient. Iconic rock band PORNOGRAFFITTI will perform a tribute marking the 10th anniversary of the My Hero Academia anime and the show’s conclusion. Legendary rock band ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION will perform their beloved hit “Haruka Kanata”—the second opening theme for the seminal shounen series NARUTO. Previously announced performances also include a Neon Genesis Evangelion 30th anniversary tribute by Yoko Takahashi and melodic movements by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra to accent the show.
President and CEO of Sony Group Corporation, Hiroki Totoki will once again deliver opening remarks at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards live ceremony, which will be hosted by voice actress Sally Amaki and popular entertainer Jon Kabira.
Anime fans can vote daily for their favorite shows until 11:59 PM Pacific Time on April 15th. Voting is available on the Anime Awards Official Website and Crunchyroll.
In addition to the official website and Crunchyroll, for the first time ever, voting also comes to MyAnimeList—the home of anime fandom’s ongoing conversation about the medium’s greatest series and films. Fans can dive into their watch list, compare their favorites and vote right on show pages.
2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards Nominees
Anime of the Year
DAN DA DAN Season 2
Gachiakuta
My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
Takopi’s Original Sin
The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
The Summer Hikaru Died
Film of the Year
100 Meters
Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
Mononoke the Movie: Chapter II — The Ashes of Rage
Scarlet
The Rose of Versailles
Best Original Anime
Apocalypse Hotel
DIGIMON BEATBREAK
Lazarus
Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX
Moonrise
ZENSHU
Best Continuing Series
DAN DA DAN Season 2
Kaiju No. 8
My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
ONE PIECE
Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-
SPY x FAMILY Season 3
Best New Series
Clevatess
Gachiakuta
SAKAMOTO DAYS
Takopi’s Original Sin
The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity
The Summer Hikaru Died
Best Opening Sequence
HUGs – Paledusk – Gachiakuta
Mirage – Creepy Nuts – Call of the Night Season 2
On The Way – AiNA THE END – DAN DA DAN Season 2
ReawakeR (feat. Felix of Stray Kids) — LiSA — Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-
THE REVO — PORNOGRAFFITTI — My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
Watch Me! — YOASOBI — WITCH WATCH
Best Ending Sequence
Actor — Lilas Ikuta — SPY x FAMILY Season 3
Beautiful Colors — OneRepublic — Kaiju No. 8
Doukashiteru — WurtS — DAN DA DAN Season 2
I — BUMP OF CHICKEN — My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
Kawaii Kaiwai — PiKi — My Dress—Up Darling Season 2
UN-APEX — TK from Ling Tosite Sigure — Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-
Best Action
DAN DA DAN Season 2
Gachiakuta
Kaiju No. 8
My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
ONE PIECE
Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-
Best Comedy
CITY THE ANIMATION
DAN DA DAN Season 2
My Dress-Up Darling Season 2
Ranma1/2 Season2
SPY x FAMILY Season 3
WITCH WATCH
Best Drama
Anne Shirley
Blue Box
Orb: On the Movements of the Earth
Takopi’s Original Sin
The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
The Summer Hikaru Died
Best Isekai Anime
Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill Season 2
Disney Twisted-Wonderland: The Animation — Season 1 “Episode of Heartslabyul”
From Bureaucrat to Villainess: Dad’s Been Reincarnated!
KONOSUBA -God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World! 3 -BONUS STAGE-
Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 3
ZENSHU
Best Romance
Blue Box
DAN DA DAN Season 2
Honey Lemon Soda
My Dress-Up Darling Season 2
Ranma1/2 Season2
The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity
Best Slice of Life
Anne Shirley
Blue Box
CITY THE ANIMATION
My Dress-Up Darling Season 2
SPY x FAMILY Season 3
The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity
Best Animation
DAN DA DAN Season 2
Gachiakuta
My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
ONE PIECE
Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-
Takopi’s Original Sin
Best Background Art
CITY THE ANIMATION
DAN DA DAN Season 2
Gachiakuta
Kowloon Generic Romance
The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
The Summer Hikaru Died
Best Character Design
DAN DA DAN Season 2
Gachiakuta
My Dress-Up Darling Season 2
ONE PIECE
Takopi’s Original Sin
The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
Best Director
Akinori Fudesaka, Norihiro Naganuma — The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
Fuga Yamashiro and Abel Góngora — DAN DA DAN Season 2
Fumihiko Suganuma — Gachiakuta
Kenji Nagasaki, Naomi Nakayama — My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
Ryohei Takeshita — The Summer Hikaru Died
Shinya Iino — Takopi’s Original Sin
Best Main Character
Izuku Midoriya — My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
Maomao — The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
Momo — DAN DA DAN Season 2
Okarun — DAN DA DAN Season 2
Rudo — Gachiakuta
Sung Jinwoo — Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-
Best Supporting Character
Enjin — Gachiakuta
Jin Enjoji (Jiji) — DAN DA DAN Season 2
Jinshi — The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
Katsuki Bakugo — My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
Loulan/Shisui — The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
Turbo Granny — DAN DA DAN Season 2
“Must Protect At All Cost” Character
Anya Forger — SPY x FAMILY Season 3
Izuku Midoriya — My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
Kaoruko Waguri — The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity
Maomao — The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
Suika — Dr. STONE SCIENCE FUTURE
Takopi — Takopi’s Original Sin
Best Anime Song
In Bloom — Lilas Ikuta — The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
IRIS OUT — Kenshi Yonezu — Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
JANE DOE — Kenshi Yonezu and Hikaru Utada — Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
On The Way — AiNA THE END — DAN DA DAN Season 2
ReawakeR (feat. Felix of Stray Kids) — LiSA — Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-
Watch Me! — YOASOBI — WITCH WATCH
Best Score
Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc — kensuke ushio
DAN DA DAN Season 2 — kensuke ushio
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle — Yuki Kajiura, Go Shiina
Gachiakuta — Taku Iwasaki
Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow- — Hiroyuki Sawano
The Apothecary Diaries (season 2) — Satoru Kosaki, Kevin Penkin, Alisa Okehazama
Best Voice Artist Performance (Japanese)
Aoi Yuki — Maomao — The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
Chiaki Kobayashi — Yoshiki Tsujinaka — The Summer Hikaru Died
Daiki Yamashita — Izuku Midoriya — My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
Kikunosuke Toya — Denji — Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
Mayumi Tanaka — Monkey D. Luffy — ONE PIECE
Reina Ueda — Reze — Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
Best Voice Artist Performance (English)
Alexis Tipton — Reze — Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
Emi Lo — Maomao — The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
Justin Briner — Izuku Midoriya — My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
Heena Malik — Reze — Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
Merlyn James — Anya Forger — SPY x FAMILY Season 3
Rajesh Shukla — Sung Jinwoo — Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-
Shilpie Pandey — Lufas Maphaahl — A Wild Last Boss Appeared!
Best Voice Artist Performance (Italian)
Katia Sorrentino — Momo — DAN DA DAN Season 2
Leonardo Graziano — Naruto Uzumaki — BORUTO: NARUTO THE MOVIE
Luna Fogu — Maomao — The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
Martina Tamburello — Kikoru Shinomiya — Kaiju No. 8
Mosè Singh — Denji — Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
Simone Lupinacci — Izuku Midoriya — My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
Best Voice Artist Performance (Latin Spanish )
Desireé González — Maomao — The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
Dion González — Rudo — Gachiakuta
Erika Langarica — Marin Kitagawa — My Dress-Up Darling Season 2
Fernando Moctezuma — Sung Jinwoo — Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-
Jessica Ángeles — Reze — Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
Jose Antonio Toledano — Akaza — Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
The Crunchyroll Anime Awards is the leading yearly awards program honoring the creators, musicians, and performers powering the global love of anime. The tenth annual Anime Awards will take place at the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa in Tokyo on Saturday, May 23, 2026. Sony Music Solutions Inc., part of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and Dempsey Productions will support Crunchyroll in the execution of the event.
In a world where only witches can cast magic, they must avoid being seen by ordinary people while casting. While Coco does her chores, she daydreams of becoming a witch. When a young witch named Qifrey visits her village, Coco uncovers the “absolute secret,” becomes Qifrey’s apprentice, and begins her studies. This is the story of children who encounter despair, yet reach out toward hope.
Witch Hat Atelieris based on the critically acclaimed manga series created by Kamome Shirahama. The ongoing manga began serialization by Kodansha in 2016 and has sold over seven million copies worldwide, earning numerous international awards including the Eisner Award and Harvey Award.
The anime series is directed by Ayumu Watanabe. Music is composed by Yuka Kitamura. Animation is produced by BUG FILMS.
Witch Hat Atelier premieres April 6, 2026 only on Crunchyroll.
Winner of the Excellence Award at the 18th MF Bunko J Light Novel Newcomer Awards and ranked #1 in the “New Works” category of Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! 2024 (published by TAKARAJIMASHA), SHIBOYUGI: Playing Death Games to Put Food on the Table will become available on select streaming services, alongside its Japanese television broadcast.
Worldwide: Netflix
North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, Indian subcontinent: Crunchyroll
Luminopia,a digital health company pioneering a new class of treatments for neuro-visual disorders, has announced a collaboration with Crunchyroll.
This collaboration will bring beloved anime content to Luminopia’s platform, diversifying and expanding its content options for children with amblyopia, or lazy eye, using Luminopia. By partnering with Crunchyroll, Luminopia is offering even more TV episodes that resonate with young audiences and providing kids with the option to watch a wider variety of content as treatment.
Lazy eye affects about one million pediatric patients nationwide and is the leading cause of vision loss in children. Luminopia offers a modern, FDA-cleared therapy that allows pediatric patients to watch TV within a VR headset for one hour a day, six days a week as treatment.
This is a completely reimagined approach to lazy eye therapy. For decades, patients have been required to undergo eye-patching, which forces them to cover their “good eye” and go through their lives with poor vision, making everyday tasks and activities difficult. Luminopia works differently from eye-patching and doesn’t require patients to cover up their good eye; instead, it encourages the brain to use both eyes together.
This collaboration with Crunchyroll, a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment, is a natural extension of Sony Innovation Fund’s investment in Luminopia. Crunchyroll joins Luminopia’s growing roster of content partners, including Nickelodeon, PBS Kids and Sesame Workshop. Most recently, Luminopia partnered with Pokémon to bring hundreds of episodes of the original animated series to its platform.
Parents and guardians of children with amblyopia can inquire about Luminopia with their eye doctors today. It’s being prescribed in top eye institutes, children’s hospitals and private practices across the U.S.
