The 8th Crunchyroll Anime Awards were held at the Main Banquet Hall of the Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa in Tokyo, Japan.[1] It was hosted by Sally Amaki and Jon Kabira, who hosted the previous ceremony. Anime released in full or partially between October 2022 and September 2023 are eligible for nominations for this edition. This edition featured 32 categories, most of which are presented in the previous ceremony and include industry awards for Best Cinematography and Art Direction for the first time, as well as the return of Best Slice of Life from 2018. Categories and the list of judges were revealed on December 5.[2] Nominees were revealed on the first day of public voting, January 17. Voting closed on January 27.[1][3] Presenters for the ceremony on March 2 was announced on January 17, and included American rapper Megan Thee Stallion, Canadian actress Iman Vellani, and Japanese singer LiSA, with Sony Group Corporation CEO Kenichiro Yoshida giving opening remarks.[4]
Chainsaw Man received the most nominations with a record 25, followed by Jujutsu Kaisen at 17, and Oshi no Ko and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba at 12.[5] The Anime of the Year contenders include previous winners Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan, and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. MAPPA is the most represented animation studio, with five series nominated in various categories, including a record three series for the top prize. One Piece was nominated again for Best Continuing Series after it won the award previously, along with Attack on Titan and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. Birdie Wing: Golf Girls' Story was nominated again for Best Original Anime, while Best Animation saw previous contenders and winners Attack on Titan, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Mob Psycho 100. Akira Matsushima received a nomination for Best Character Design for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba again, after winning it in the last edition. Yuichiro Hayashi was nominated again for Best Director for his work on Attack on Titan. Hiroyuki Sawano and Kohta Yamamoto was nominated again for Best Score, along with Yuki Kajiura and Go Shiina for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. Atsumi Tanezaki and Yuki Kaji were nominated again for Best VA Performance (Japanese) for Anya Forger and Eren Jaeger respectively.
Among genre categories, Spy × Family was nominated again for Best Comedy, and Attack on Titan, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba for Best Action. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba was also nominated again for Best Fantasy, along with Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation and Ranking of Kings. Attack on Titan was nominated again as well for Best Drama. For character categories, Eren Jaeger and Shigeo Kageyama was nominated for Best Main Character again. Two characters from Jujutsu Kaisen, Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto, was nominated for Best Supporting Character, while Anya Forger of Spy × Family and Bojji of Ranking of Kings were nominated again for "Must Protect At All Costs" Character. Three anime songs nominated for Best Anime Song were nominated for Best Opening Sequence as well: "Idol" by Yoasobi, "Kick Back" by Kenshi Yonezu, and "Where Our Blue Is" by Tatsuya Kitani. Both the opening and ending themes for Oshi no Ko, Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, and Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead were nominated in their respective categories.
The show begins with a pre-show, where winners of the voice acting categories, opening and ending sequences, cinematography, and genre categories except for Best Romance and Slice of Life, were announced. The main show opened with the performance of the awards' theme song, composed by Hiroyuki Sawano. An orchestral performance featuring classic anime opening themes were performed. Shing02 performed "Battlecry" from Samurai Champloo, and Yoasobi performed "Idol" after winning Best Anime Song. The Anime of the Year award was presented by American rapper Megan Thee Stallion.
Jujutsu Kaisen won 11 awards, including the Anime of the Year, which it previously won in 2020, becoming the first anime to win the top prize twice. Its director, Shōta Goshozono, won Best Director. Additionally, the series won the inaugural award for Best Cinematography. Suzume won Best Film; the award was received by its director Makoto Shinkai. One Piece and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba won again the awards for Best Continuing Series and Best Animation respectively. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba also won the inaugural award for Best Art Direction. Chainsaw Man won Best New Series, while Buddy Daddies won Best Original Anime. Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Horimiya: The Missing Pieces, Spy × Family, Bocchi the Rock!, and Attack on Titan won the genre awards for Best Action, Best Fantasy, Best Romance, Best Comedy, Best Slice of Life, and Best Drama respectively. Monkey D. Luffy of One Piece won Best Main Character, while Satoru Gojo of Jujutsu Kaisen won Best Supporting Character. Anya Forger won the "Must Protect at All Costs" Character award again. Meanwhile, both the opening and ending sequences of Jujutsu Kaisen, "Where Our Blue Is" by Tatsuya Kitani and "Akari" by Soushi Sakiyama, won the awards for Best Opening Sequence and Best Ending Sequence respectively. "Idol" by Yoasobi won Best Anime Song while Kohta Yamamoto and Hiroyuki Sawano won Best Score for their work on the first special in the final season of Attack on Titan. Yuichi Nakamura won Best Voice Acting (Japanese) for his work as Satoru Gojo in Jujutsu Kaisen, while Ryan Colt Levy won Best Voice Acting (English) for his work as Denji in Chainsaw Man.[6]
