Attack on Titan studio’s new anime awards are not a reaction to the Crunchyroll Awards
Wit Studio founder George Wada announced a new anime awards initiative during the Production I.G x Wit Studio Industry Panel at Anime Expo 2026 on July 4. The awards show, called Tokyo Anime Next, is scheduled for October 30 to November 2 and aims to “judge, recognize, and give awards to anime in Japan, by the Japanese people.”
The statement generated immediate attention in fan communities and entertainment media, with many interpreting it as a competitive challenge to the internationally popular Crunchyroll Anime Awards. However, Wada has clarified that Tokyo Anime Next is not intended as a reaction to Crunchyroll’s platform. Japan already maintains an established ecosystem of domestic anime awards, including the long-running Anime Grand Prix (decided by Animage magazine reader votes) and the Tokyo Anime Awards (featuring industry professionals as judges).
The announcement reflects broader industry conversations about anime recognition and prestige—specifically whether international platforms or domestic institutions should lead in celebrating anime achievements. By positioning Tokyo Anime Next as Japanese-focused, Wada appears to advocate for stronger recognition within anime’s home market rather than positioning the new awards as adversarial to existing Western-based recognition programs. The initiative underscores Wit Studio’s commitment to elevating anime within Japan while acknowledging the diverse landscape of existing awards.