The 2026 Race Is On: Top Contenders for Crunchyroll’s Anime Movie of the Year

Crunchyroll's 2026 Anime Movie of the Year race is shaping up to be a brawl. Last year, 'Look Back' walked away with the crown and set a surprisingly artsy bar for what wins. This time, the slate is bigger, louder, and a lot more competitive. Here are the five films I think actually have a shot, why they matter, and how the rules work this year.

The contenders (and why they could win)

• Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Movie: Infinity Castle (Ufotable) — IMDb: 8.5/10
  This one enters with 'final boss energy.' Ufotable went full posters-on-posters, delivering wall-to-wall spectacle that also lands the heartbreak. It isn't just flashy; it tore up worldwide box-office records, too. If voters lean toward scale, polish, and sheer technical flex, this is your frontrunner.

• Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc (MAPPA) — IMDb: 8.5/10
  If Demon Slayer is the safe bet, this is the stylish swing. MAPPA leans into mood and mayhem: tragic, violent, and weirdly beautiful. Reze's storyline is one of Fujimoto's most devastating favorites, and the film's been getting love from fans across the globe. If the room rewards bold choices over mainstream momentum, watch this one steal it.

• Jujutsu Kaisen: Hidden Inventory / Premature Death (MAPPA) — IMDb: 7.9/10
  Not a world-ending blockbuster on purpose. This prequel zeroes in on Gojo and Geto's early days, building out the emotional backbone that powers the main series. It's cleanly paced, elegantly animated, and does the thing prequels almost never do: it makes the original story hit harder.

• Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye (Science SARU) — IMDb: 7.8/10
  The wildcard. It's a mash-up of supernatural comedy, sci-fi chaos, and pure 'what did I just watch?' energy. Science SARU's elastic, expressive style fits like a glove and gives it that art-meets-anarchy vibe awards voters sometimes love to champion.

• Kaiju No. 8: Mission Recon (Production I.G) — IMDb: 6.8/10
  The newcomer with dark horse energy. It hits a tonal sweet spot: more serious than My Hero Academia, less bleak than Chainsaw Man, and somehow more relatable than Jujutsu Kaisen. If voters respond to heart, hope, and a grounded hero angle, this could surprise.

Wait, what actually qualifies for 2026?

'Any anime film released between Jan 1, 2025 and Dec 31, 2025 qualifies for Crunchyroll's 2026 Awards.'

That includes theatrical runs, streaming premieres, and hybrid releases. Last year used a messy overlap window (Oct 1, 2023 through Dec 31, 2024), but for 2026, Crunchyroll switched to a clean calendar year. Simple. Finally.

So who takes it?

It isn't a predictable field. Demon Slayer has the 'big and shiny' vote locked. Chainsaw Man brings the daring, memorable swing. JJK delivers character-first tragedy that actually elevates its parent series. Dan Da Dan is the left-field art bomb. Kaiju No. 8 has the broad-appeal underdog story. However it breaks, this is one of those years fans won't forget.

Your turn: which one gets your vote for Crunchyroll's 2026 Anime Movie of the Year?