2026 Saturn Awards - Anime Makes Categories
2026 nominations for the 53rd annual Saturn Awards, presented by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films, have been announced. Anime takes center stage – international stage.
A brand new category has been declared in Saturn Awards history: Best International Animated Film. A shining spotlight on outstanding animated features from around the world, introducing the category to highlight anime as a major film market.
2026 marks a major milestone for anime across film categories, reaching new heights and many taking honors.
What Are The Saturn Awards?
The Saturn Awards honor the best in science fiction, fantasy, and horror across film, television, and home entertainment. It seeks to honor more genre and storytelling for those who push creative boundaries. Recognition is a respectable credit for both Hollywood blockbusters and international works.
Best International Animated Film — A New Stage
Anime titles play a central role in this new category. A category that celebrates animation, looking beyond traditional fare, seeking something global. Anime’s excellence in art, design, and fluidity marks it as elite. The anime nominees include the most successful titles in modern anime, ranking among popular films.
Nominees:
Attack on Titan the Movie: The Last Attack – A cinematic culmination of the final arc of Attack on Titan. A bittersweet end to the beloved series, closing out character-defining moments and fatal, heartbreaking consequences.
Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc – MAPPA’s explosive adaptation of one of the most popular anime. Going beyond the praised story arcs from the Chainsaw Man series to a cinematic apex. A passionate high-stakes battle with an emotional climax.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle – A box‑office hit, fan-loved triumph. The breaker of broken records worldwide, it became one of 2025’s biggest films. A visceral, kinetic multi-fight scene film that exploded and moved audiences.
The Colors Within – A critically acclaimed animated drama selected for its mastery of artistry and storytelling that is both euphoric and vibrant.
Also nominated in the new international category are Ne Zha 2 and Stitch Head. The nominees prove to diversify the international field. This new category signals a growing recognition of anime and its global impact. It is more than mere cartoons or manga story adaptations. A platform of recognition for anime and animated films has emerged to celebrate anime alongside other popular genres.
Solo Leveling Season 2 Nominated in Television Animation
In addition to the honors of the Saturn Awards international headline, anime also made a noticeable mention on the television side. Solo Leveling Season 2 – Arise from the Shadow was nominated in the Best Animated Television Series or Special category. Going head‑to‑head with a slate of Western animated series.
What This Means for Anime
Anime films have often gone unrecognized in nominations for Western awards, despite blockbuster success. The new Saturn category and strong anime representation offer a meaningful shift, acknowledging the growth of anime as a worldwide sensation. Titles like Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle and Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc have earned huge box‑office acclaim. This marks their inclusion as a significant moment.
The Saturn Awards are scheduled for March 8, 2026. Anime fans eagerly anticipate the answer to which animated work will walk away with an award. The biggest question is if anime will take home the top prize in the new animation category. It is clear that 2026 signals the medium’s expanding influence as a global genre.
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