The AnimaniA Award is an award for Japanese popular culture that has been presented by the German magazine AnimaniA since 2006. The award ceremony takes place during the opening ceremony of AnimagiC.
Overview The AnimaniA Award is an audience award, which means that the winners of each category are determined by the audience or the readers of AnimaniA magazine in a Secret ballot. Each participant in the online voting can rate the nominees up to five points or leave no answer. The titles and artists receiving the most points at the end of the voting period will be recognized at the awards ceremony. Around 12,000 votes were cast for the AnimaniA Awards in 2018 and in 2019 and 2020 around 15,000. Participants in the online voting have the opportunity to win non-cash prizes provided by the sponsors of the award ceremony. In the past, votes could also be cast by post . Each reader was only allowed to vote once. Readers who submitted multiple ballots were disqualified.
Titles that were first published in Germany in the previous calendar year are up for voting. For this purpose, the participating publishers present titles from their program in the individual categories. However, the nominees in the categories of Best Director, Best Character Design, Best Studio and Best Online Series will be named by the AnimaniA editorial team. Nominations are announced annually in the second print edition of the magazine each year; the winners on the website and in the sixth issue of the magazine each year.
Prizes will be awarded in thirteen categories (as of 2021) :
Best Anime (Series, OVA, Movie) Best Online Series Best animation studio Best Director Best Character Design Best Manga (National, International) Best J-Music (Ani-Score, Ani-Song) Best J Game Best J-Movie/Series ( Live Action )
Winners and nominations
1st AnimaniA Award (2006) CategoriesWinnersBest TV SerieschobitsBest MovieInuyasha – Affections Touching Across TimeBest OVAFushigi Yuugi - The Mysterious PlayBest DirectorHayao Miyazaki for Nausicaä of the Valley of the WindBest Character DesignHayao Miyazaki for Nausicaä of the Valley of the WindBest studioStudio Ghibli for Nausicaä of the Valley of the WindBest Release TV Series/OVA (German)Chrono CrusadeBest Release Film (German)Nausicaä of the Valley of the WindMost WantedTsubasa-Reservoir ChronicleBest Manga/ ManhwaWolf's Rain by Iida Toshitsugu and Keiko Nobumoto
2nd AnimaniA Award (2007) CategoriesWinnersBest TV SeriesNarutoBest MovieFinal Fantasy VII: Advent ChildrenBest OVAHellsing Ultimate OVABest DirectorHayao Miyazaki for Howl's Moving CastleBest Character DesignHayao Miyazaki for Howl's Moving CastleBest studioStudio Ghibli for Howl's Moving CastleBest Manga/Manhwa InternationalDeath Note by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi ObataBest manga nationallyGothic Sports by Anike Hage
3. AnimaniA Award (2008) CategoriesWinnersBest TV SeriesFullmetal AlchemistBest MovieThe girl who jumped through timeBest OVASchool Rumble OVABest DirectorSeji Mizushima for Fullmetal AlchemistBest Character DesignHayao Miyazaki for My Neighbor TotoroBest studioStudio Ghibli for My Neighbor TotoroBest manga nationallyGrimm's Manga by Kei IshiyamaBest Manga InternationalVampire Knight by Matsuri Hino
4th AnimaniA Award (2009) CategoriesWinnersBest TV SeriesDeathNoteBest MovieFullmetal Alchemist - The Movie: Conqueror of ShamballaBest OVAMagister Negi Magi Negima!? OVABest DirectorTetsuro Aragi for Death NoteBest Character DesignNobuteru Yuki for Escaflowne - The MovieBest studioMadhouse for Death NoteANIMAX Most WantedRosario + vampiresBest manga nationallyStupid Story by Anna HollmannBest Manga InternationalVampire Kisses by Ellen Schreiber
5th AnimaniA Award (2010) CategoriesWinnersBest TV SeriesVampire KnightBest MovieDetective Conan - The Horror ScoreBest OVATsubasa Tokyo RevelationsBest DirectorKiyoko Sayama for Vampire KnightBest Character DesignAsako Nishida for Vampire KnightBest studioStudio Deen for Vampire KnightANIMAX Most WantedFullmetal Alchemist: BrotherhoodBest manga nationallyLife Tree's Guardian by Natalie WormsbecherBest Manga InternationalElfen Lied by Lynn Okamoto
6th AnimaniA Award (2011) CategoriesWinnersBest TV SeriesBlack ButlerBest MovieEvangelion 2.22 – You Can (Not) AdvanceBest OVAVoices of a Distant StarBest DirectorToshiya Shinohara for Black ButlerBest Character DesignMinako Shiba for Black ButlerBest studioA-1 Pictures for Black ButlerBest J MovieDeath Note-The Last NameBest J GameDissidia 012 (Duodecim) Final FantasyBest J Music ActD'esparsRay - ImmortalBest manga nationallyThe cloud by Anike Hage and Gudrun PausewangBest Manga InternationalBlack Butler by Yana Toboso
7th AnimaniA Award (2012) CategoriesWinnersBest TV SeriesAngel beats!Best MovieArrietty - The wondrous world of borrowersBest OVAKakurenbo: Hide & SeekBest DirectorHayao Date for Naruto ShippudenBest Character DesignKatsuzo Hirata for Angel Beats!Best studioPA Works for Angel Beats!Best J MovieGantz – Game for Your Life ( Sunfilm )Best J GameDissidia 012 (Duodecim): Final Fantasy (Square Enix)Best J Music ActGackt for Attack of the Yellow Fried ChickenzBest manga nationallyVarious Artists for Grimm's Manga Special Edition (Tokyopop)Best Manga InternationalJun Mochizuki for Pandora Hearts (Carlsen manga)
8th AnimaniA Award (2013) CategoriesWinnersBest TV SeriesBlue ExorcistBest MovieOne Piece-Strong WorldBest OVA.hack//QuantumBest DirectorTensai Okamura for Blue ExorcistBest Character DesignTakahiro Kishida for Puella Magi Madoka MagicaBest studioA-1 Pictures for Blue ExorcistBest J MovieGantz - The ultimate answerBest J GameFinal Fantasy XIII-2Best J Music ActAn Cafe – Amazing BlueBest manga nationallyGrimm's manga fan book by Kei IshiyamaBest Manga InternationalBlue Exorcist by Kazue Kato
9th AnimaniA Award (2014) CategoriesWinners Best TV SeriesSword Art OnlineBest MovieOne Piece ZBest OVARurouni Kenshin—New Kyoto ArcBest DirectorTomohiko Itō for Sword Art OnlineBest Character DesignShingo Adachi for Sword Art OnlineBest studioA-1 Pictures for Sword Art OnlineBest J MovieRurouuni KenshinBest J GameNi no Kuni: The Curse of the White QueenBest J Music ActTM Revolution - Geisha BoyBest Manga InternationalMagi: The Labyrinth of Magic by Shinobu OtakaBest manga nationallySkull Party by Melanie Schober
10th AnimaniA Award (2015) CategoriesWinnersBest TV SeriesFullmetal Alchemist: BrotherhoodBest MovieBlue Exorcist-The MovieBest OVAHigh School of the Dead – Drifters of the DeadBest DirectorYasuhiro Irie for Fullmetal Alchemist: BrotherhoodBest Character DesignKeigo Sasaki for Blue Exorcist - The MovieBest studioA-1 Pictures for Blue Exorcist - The MovieBest J MovieBlack Butler - A devil of a butlerBest J GameTales of Xillia 2Best J Music ActDir En Gray – ArkBest Manga InternationalAttack on TitanBest manga nationallyLost Ctrl by Evelyne ParkSpecial Lifetime AchievementHayao Miyazaki
11th AnimaniA Award (2016) CategoriesWinnersBest TV SeriesTokyo GhoulBest MovieDragon Ball Z: Clash of the GodsBest OVAHellsing Ultimate OVABest DirectorTomohiko Itō for Sword Art Online IIBest Character DesignToshihiro Kawamoto for NoragamiBest studioBONES for NoragamiBest J MovieKiki's little delivery serviceBest J GameFinal Fantasy Type-0 HDBest J Music ActTM Revolution – TenBest Manga InternationalHiyokoi by Moe YukimuraBest manga nationallyFading Colors by Nightmaker
12th AnimaniA Award (2017) CategoriesWinnersBest TV SeriesAttack on TitanBest MovieThe boy and the beastBest OVABlack Butler-Book of MurderBest DirectorTetsuro Araki for Attack on TitanBest Character DesignKoji Odate for No Game No LifeBest studioKyoto Animation for Free!Best Online AnimeRe:Zero – Starting Life in Another WorldBest J MovieAssassination ClassroomBest J GamePokémon Sun and Moon (Handheld) Final Fantasy XV (Console)Best J Music Actgirugamesh — ChimeraBest Manga Internationalfood wars! by Shun Saeki and Yuki TsukudaBest manga nationallyGoldfish by Nana Yaa Kyere
13th AnimaniA Award (2018) CategoriesWinnerslife's workIsao Takahata (posthumous) Best TV SeriesOne Punch ManBest Online SeriesThe Magician's BrideBest MovieSword Art Online – The Movie: Ordinal ScaleBest OVATokyo Ghoul: Jack/PintoBest DirectorTomohiko Itō for Sword Art Online - The Movie: Ordinal ScaleBest Character DesignShingo Adachi for Sword Art Online - The Movie: Ordinal ScaleBest studioA-1 Pictures for Sword Art Online - The Movie: Ordinal ScaleBest J MovieAttack on Titan - Movie 1Best J GameThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Console) Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon (Handheld)Best J MusicMUCC for MyakuhakuBest Manga Internationalyour name. by Makoto Shinkai and Ranmaru KotoneBest manga nationallyKamo - Pact with the spirit world of Ban Zarbo
14th AnimaniA Award (2019) CategoriesWinnersBest TV SeriesViolet EvergardenBest Online SeriesThat Time I Got Reincarnated as a SlimeBest Movieyour nameBest OVADanmachiBest DirectorMakoto Shinkai for Your Name.Best Character DesignMasahi Ando and Masuyoshi Tanaka for Your Name.Best studioCoMix Wave Films for Your Name.Best J MovieUsagi Drop - The MovieBest J GameSword Art Online: Fatal Bullet (Console) Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! (handheld)Best J MusicDir en gray for The Insulated WorldBest Manga InternationalMy rebirth as a slime in another world by Fuse & Taiki Kawakami & Mitz VahBest manga nationallyWhispering Blue by CHASM ( Marika Herzog and Michel Decomain )
15th AnimaniA Award (2020) CategoriesWinners 2nd place 3rd place Best TV SeriesGoblin SlayersSword Art Online AlicizationRe:Zero – Starting Life in AnotherBest Online SeriesDEMON SLAYER – Kimetsu no Yaibadr StoneFruit's BasketBest MovieI want to eat your pancreasPokémon the Movie: The Power WithinDragon Ball Super: Broly-The MovieBest OVAViolet Evergarden - Extra EpisodeThe Seven Deadly Sins - Signs of a Holy War91 daysBest DirectorTakaharu Ozaki for Goblin SlayerManabu Ono for Sword Art Online AlicizationMasaharu Watanabe for Re:Zero - Starting Life in AnotherBest Character DesignKyūta Sakai for Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another WorldTakashi Nagayoshi for Goblin SlayerGou Suzuki / Shingo Adachi for Sword Art Online AlicizationBest studioA-1 Pictures for Sword Art Online AlicizationWhite Fox for Goblin SlayerBONES for Bungo Stray DogsBest J MoviePokemon Detective PikachuNever Ending Man Hayao MiyazakiGANTZ:OBest J GameKingdom Hearts III (Console) Pokémon Sword & Pokémon Shield (Handheld)Fire Emblem: Three Houses (Console) The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Handheld)Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers (Console) Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth (Handheld)Best J MusicDir en gray for The World of Mercysukekiyo for INFINITIUMMatenrō Opera for Human DignityBest Manga Internationaldr Stone by Riichiro Inagaki & BoichiFullmetal Alchemist: Metal Edition by Hiromu ArakawaCells at Work! by Akane ShimizuBest manga nationally#plushmoon by horror cushionsBibi & Miyu by Hirara Natsume and Olivia ViewegLA Waves by PENGU
16th AnimaniA Awards (2021) CategoriesWinnersBest TV Series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no YaibaBest Online Series Jujutsu KaisenBest Movie Weathering with YouBest OVA Lupin III. vs. Detective Conan: The SpecialBest Director Haruo Sotozaki for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no YaibaBest Character Design Akira Matsushima for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no YaibaBest Studio Ufotable for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no YaibaBest J Movie Tokyo Ghoul SBest J Game Animal Crossing: New HorizonsBest Anime Score Go Shiina & Yuki Kajiura for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no YaibaBest Anime Song "Gurenge" by LiSA for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no YaibaBest Manga International Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba by Koyoharu GotougeBest manga nationally The Secret of Scarecrow by Gin Zarbo
17th AnimaniA Awards (2022)