The Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2026 winners have been announced already; however, the general synchrony in the public sentiment and the choice of winners does not resonate through all the categories. While most of the picks seem to be deserving according to their merits, Takopi's Original Sin and Gachiakuta, in particular, seem to have had the scale tipped away from them. My Hero Academia Final Season as Anime of the Year is surely deserving of the accolade, as it gave a befitting ending to the beloved legacy of the anime. Similarly, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle was the best choice for Film of the Year. 

There has surely been some anime deserving of certain titles, but lost anyway tonight, showing how justice might not always be fair. 

While Gachiakuta has its strengths in its fresh perspective on action, animation, and visual arts, Takopi’s Original Sin’s tragic setup and its running commentary on the complex psychological trauma of severely abused kids were far more hard-hitting and impactful. The series definitely deserved the Best New Series title, more than Gachiakuta.

Even though Gachiakuta seems to be a bit weak here, it is strong in the next category.

No one can deny the fact that Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow- had one of the most impressive animations this year, with its sleek and cinematic aesthetics grounding the fast-paced action of the anime. But the creativity showcased by Studio Bones through Gachiakuta’s gritty and graffiti-inspired animation style remains unparalleled this year. The animation was highly expressive with a subversive visual flair that deserved the highest recognition this year.

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The superiority of Gachiakuta over Solo Leveling does not stop animation, but extends to action as well.

Again, the fact remains that Solo Leveling Season 2 is not lacking in any way for this honor, but based on what Gachiakuta offered was new and daring, it should have won in this category. Solo Leveling action feels something straight out of a video game, but a good one, with cinematic experience, which has been attempted before. On the other hand, Gachiakuta has team fights that take the shape of creative brawls, and to pack the punch even harder, the story gives some psychological depth to these fights, making the whole experience far more immersive.

The next and last category brings Takopi’s Original Sin back in the deserving seat in yet another category.

The choice for a better drama between Takopi’s Original Sin and The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 is a tough one. Both come from entirely different sub-genres of drama. While the former is a dark, devastating psychological drama, the latter is a smart and witty mystery-drama. Both the nominees look strong from the narrative viewpoint, having an excellent flow without any gaps. But where Tapoki’s Original Sin wins is the overall impact of the story. It ventures deep into heavy themes without letting the story loosen its grip on the viewers.

It is not new with award shows, having some picks that many disagree on. What one should keep in mind is that the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2026 winners were chosen through a hybrid voting system, so their popularity played a major role in getting them the accolades. If it were decided totally on the critical assessment of the merits of the anime, then these deserving titles might have bagged awards in the said categories.

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What are your thoughts on these equally deserving anime that lost the Crunchyroll awards? Share your thoughts in the comments.