The anime industry is preparing an international award for 2027

The anime industry wants an award that speaks directly to the global audience. As part of TIFFCOM, the market of the Tokyo International Film Festival, the symposium Toward the Launch of a New Anime Award in 2027 was held, a space to discuss what this new international award dedicated to Japanese animation should look like.

The moderator, Ryota Fujitsu, animation programming advisor for the festival, made it clear that this was not an official announcement: that will come next year. What did happen was a conversation about what the award could change within the industry.

Panel of the Toward the Launch of a New Anime Award symposium at TIFFCOM.cartoonbrew.com

At the table were Yuichiro Saito, producer at Studio Chizu for The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Summer Wars, and Wolf Children; Akira Shimizu, director of the Association of Japanese Animations and president of A-1 Pictures; and Masaya Saito, head of Toho's animation division.

What is an award like this for?

Masaya Saito put numbers on the table: more than 300 TV series and 80 anime films are produced every year. "No one can watch them all," he admitted. That is why, he said, peer evaluation can make connections within the sector easier and generate mutual inspiration. The idea is for the award to work as a collective view of the entire industry.

The main goal, he explained, is to communicate anime's progress to the world more directly: "Anime is the most globally localized entertainment across different cultures and languages." He added that he would like international audiences to discover what Japanese audiences are already enjoying.

Yuichiro Saito, from Studio Chizu, argued that what is Japanese about anime is a third element that breaks into a cultural equation dominated by two great traditions: the history of European art and the aesthetic value system centered on the United States. "If we say anime comes from Japan, from Asia, we introduce a third element into this world that previously had two," he explained. For him, the award can push that kind of aesthetic communication.

Participants of the symposium about the new anime award.cartoonbrew.com

He also recalled how the industry came together to raise funds after the California wildfires two years ago. He used it as an example of community, but also of reach: "The uniqueness of Japanese anime can show how connected the world is. The absence of borders is very important in presenting our works."

Diversity of genres and a new generation

Akira Shimizu, from A-1 Pictures, spoke about the responsibility of "becoming global" as a core mission. And he asked an uncomfortable question: now that anime is broadcast internationally, fantasy and action dominate. "We are often asked: 'A-1 Pictures, can you make a fantasy and action work?'" he said. "I am interested in making romantic works, but action fantasy is popular all over the world, so we should make it. But is that enough? We should question it."

The award, in his opinion, could help define and communicate the context of Japanese anime creation, including the unique skills and technologies it involves. Also to remind people that the diversity of genres and aesthetics is one of its great attractions.

On the ten-year impact, Masaya Saito spoke about critical mass and a third criterion for evaluating creators: in addition to novelty and emotion, he proposed "industrial empathy," a way of taking care of those who make anime. Shimizu was more direct: "In ten years I will already be retired, but I would like those who enter the industry to aspire to this award. That is what I want for the next generation."

The official announcement of the award will come in 2027. What genres would you like to see recognized in an award like this? Tell us in the comments.