# Animation Kobe

The Animation Kobe (Japanese: アニメーション神戸) was an event established by Kobe in 1996 to promote anime and other visual media. The Animation Kobe Awards (アニメーション神戸賞) were given annually until 2015 by Kobe and the Organising Committee to creators and creations.

## Event

Animation Kobe was held annually in Kobe from 1996 to 2015. In addition to the awards ceremony, the event held talk shows and screenings of the prize winners. In 2006, the 11th event was carried live on the official website.
| No. | Event name | Date | Place |
| 1 | The 1st Animation Kobe | December 8, 1996 | Kobe Fashion Mart |
| 2 | The 2nd Animation Kobe | November 24, 1997 | Kobe Portopia Hotel |
| 3 | The 3rd Animation Kobe | November 22, 1998 | Kobe International Conference Center, Main Hall |
| 4 | The 4th Animation Kobe | November 13, 1999 | Kobe International Conference Center, Main Hall |
| 5 | The 5th Animation Kobe | November 12, 2000 | Kobe International Conference Center, Main Hall |
| 6 | The 6th Animation Kobe | September 16, 2001 | Kobe International Conference Center, Main Hall |
| 7 | The 7th Animation Kobe | November 10, 2002 | Kobe International Conference Center, Main Hall |
| 8 | The 8th Animation Kobe | November 9, 2003 | Kobe Chamber of Commerce and Industry Hall |
| 9 | The 9th Animation Kobe | November 14, 2004 | Xebec hall |
| 10 | The 10th Animation Kobe | October 2, 2005 | Kobe International Conference Center, Main Hall |
| 11 | The 11th Animation Kobe | November 19, 2006 | Xebec hall |
| 12 | The 12th Animation Kobe | November 4, 2007 | Nishiyama Kinen-kaikan |
| 13 | The 13th Animation Kobe | November 2, 2008 | Kobe International Conference Center, Main Hall |
| 14 | The 14th Animation Kobe | October 18, 2009 | Kobe International Conference Center, Main Hall |
| 15 | The 15th Animation Kobe | November 28, 2010 | Kobe International Conference Center, Main Hall |
| 16 | The 16th Animation Kobe | October 6, 2011 | Kobe International Conference Center, Main Hall |
| 17 | The 17th Animation Kobe | December 2, 2012 | Kobe International Conference Center, Main Hall |
| 18 | The 18th Animation Kobe | December 8, 2013 | Kobe International Conference Center, Main Hall |
| 19 | The 19th Animation Kobe | December 7, 2014 | Design and Creative Center Kobe |

### Major staff
#### Chairman of the Committee

* Yasuki Hamano, 1996–2005
* Akira Kamiya, 2006–2015

#### Chairman of the examination

The examination was done mainly by a panel of chief editors of magazines covering anime, such as Newtype, Animedia and Animage. Usually, a city employee sent by Kobe City would also participate. The panel voted for one of its members to serve as chairman:
* Nobuo Oda, 1998 – chief editor of Animedia
* Susumu Asaka, 1999 – chief editor of CD-ROM Fan
* Toshihiro Fukuoka, 2000 – chief editor of Weekly Ascii
* Masahito Arinaga, 2001 – chief editor of a new magazine of MediaWorks
* Akitaro Daichi, 2002–2003 – animation director
* Kenji Yano, 2004 – chief editor of Newtype
* Yasushi Nakaji, 2006 – chief editor of Animedia
* Toshihiro Fukuoka, 2007 – chief editor of Weekly Ascii
* Isao Fujioka, 2008 – chairman of MdN Corporation

## Winners

The committee chooses most of the winners. Only the Animation Kobe Theme Song Award is chosen by fans' votes in the first selection, though the decision is by the committee. Therefore, the tendency of the prize winners is a little different from other prizes by the fans' vote. (See: Animage Grand Prix)

### Individual Award

The activities from September of the previous year to August of the event year become objects for the examination. Newcomers expected to have future prominence are noted.
| No. | Year | Winner | Notable work of the year |
| 1 | 1996 | Hideaki Anno | Director (Neon Genesis Evangelion) |
| 2 | 1997 | Hayao Miyazaki | Director (Princess Mononoke) |
| 3 | 1998 | Shinichi Watanabe | Director (Hare Tokidoki Buta)* |
| 4 | 1999 | Akitaro Daichi | Director (Ojarumaru, Jubei-chan) |
| 5 | 2000 | Hiroyuki Okiura | Director (Jin-Roh)* |
| 6 | 2001 | Hiroyuki Kitakubo | Director (Blood: The Last Vampire) |
| 7 | 2002 | Keiichi Hara | Director (Crayon Shin-chan television series and movie) |
| 8 | 2003 | Yōsuke Kuroda | Screenwriter (Ground Defense Force! Mao-chan, Please Twins! ) |
| 9 | 2004 | Kenji Kamiyama | Director (Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG) |
| 10 | 2005 | Ken'ichi Yoshida | Animator (for the character design of Eureka Seven) |
| 11 | 2006 | Hiroshi Nagahama | Director (Mushishi )* |
| 12 | 2007 | Hiroyuki Imaishi | Director (Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann) |
| 13 | 2008 | Mitsuo Iso | Director (Dennō Coil )* |
| 14 | 2009 | Kunio Katō | Director (La Maison en Petits Cubes)* |
| 15 | 2010 | Mamoru Hosoda | Director (Summer Wars)* |
| 16 | 2011 | Mari Okada | Screenwriter (Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai ) |
| 17 | 2012 | Noriyasu Agematsu | Music producer, composer, lyricist (Senki Zesshō Symphogear ) |
| 18 | 2013 | Tsutomu Mizushima | Director (Girls und Panzer) |
| 19 | 2014 | Seiji Kishi | Director (Hamatora: The Animation) |
| 20 | 2015 | Seiji Mizushima | Director (Expelled from Paradise) |
* Watanabe, Okiura, Nagahama, Iso and Katō received the award for their first films as director.

### Special Award

Awards for individual(s) or group that contributed to Japanese anime during a long period.
In the first year, the Yomiuri Award was posthumously given to Fujiko F. Fujio who died two months before the event.
| No. | Year | Winner | Note |
| 1 | 1996 | Fujiko F. Fujio | Yomiuri Award. Manga artist: the creator of Doraemon etc. |
| 2 | 1997 | Masako Nozawa | Voice actor |
| 3 | 1998 | Yasuo Ōtsuka | Animator |
| 4 | 1999 | Takao Koyama | Screenwriter |
| 5 | 2000 | Shigeharu Shiba | Audio director |
| 6 | 2001 | Kunio Okawara | Mechanical designer |
| 7 | 2002 | Masao Maruyama | Producer (Madhouse) |
| 8 | 2003 | Leiji Matsumoto | Manga artist |
| 9 | 2004 | Shigeru Watanabe | Producer (Bandai Visual) |
| 10 | 2005 | Ippei Kuri (Toyoharu Yoshida) | A founder of Tatsunoko Production, awarded for his activities as general producer. |
| 11 | 2006 | Group TAC | Studio |
| 11 | 2006 | Nobuyo Ōyama Noriko Ohara Michiko Nomura Kazuya Tatekabe Kaneta Kimotsuki | Voice actors: main cast of Doraemon (1979–2005) |
| 12 | 2007 | Isao Takahata | Director (Studio Ghibli) |
| 13 | 2008 | Masaki Tsuji | Screenwriter |
| 14 | 2009 | Shun-ichi Yukimuro | Writer |
| 15 | 2010 | Studio Biho | Studio (anime background art) |
| 16 | 2011 | Osamu Dezaki | Director |
| 16 | 2011 | Detective Conan | Production Team |
| 17 | 2012 | Sanzigen | Studio (3DCG Animation) |
| 18 | 2013 | Shōji Kawamori | Director, mecha designer, vision creator |
| 18 | 2013 | Izumi Todo | Creative team |
| 19 | 2014 | Kyoto Animation | Studio |

### Theatrical Film Award

Animation films released in Japan from September of the previous year to August of the event year become candidates. The candidates are selected not only from Japan, but also from other countries. However, the committee sees more importance in a point of view promoting young creators of Japan.
| No. | Year | Title | Studio | Director |
| 1 | 1996 | Ghost in the Shell | Production I.G | Mamoru Oshii |
| 2 | 1997 | Princess Mononoke | Studio Ghibli | Hayao Miyazaki |
| 3 | 1998 | Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back | OLM | Kunihiko Yuyama |
| 4 | 1999 | Cardcaptor Sakura The Movie | Madhouse | Morio Asaka |
| 5 | 2000 | Cardcaptor Sakura The Movie 2: The Sealed Card | Madhouse | Morio Asaka |
| 6 | 2001 | Spirited Away | Studio Ghibli | Hayao Miyazaki |
| 7 | 2002 | The Cat Returns | Studio Ghibli | Hiroyuki Morita |
| 8 | 2003 | Millennium Actress | Madhouse | Satoshi Kon |
| 9 | 2004 | Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence | Production I.G | Mamoru Oshii |
| 10 | 2005 | New Translation Zeta Gundam: Heirs to the Stars | Sunrise | Yoshiyuki Tomino |
| 11 | 2006 | The Girl Who Leapt Through Time | Madhouse | Mamoru Hosoda |
| 12 | 2007 | Paprika | Madhouse | Satoshi Kon |
| 13 | 2008 | Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone | Khara | Hideaki Anno |
| 14 | 2009 | WALL-E | Pixar | Andrew Stanton |
| 15 | 2010 | The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya | Kyoto Animation | Yasuhiro Takemoto |
| 16 | 2011 | Macross Frontier: Sayonara no Tsubasa | Satelight | Shōji Kawamori |
| 17 | 2012 | K-On! The Movie | Kyoto Animation | Naoko Yamada |
| 18 | 2013 | The Garden of Words | Shinkai Creative, CoMix Wave Films | Makoto Shinkai |
| 19 | 2014 | Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Rebellion | Shaft | Akiyuki Shinbo Yukihiro Miyamoto |
| 20 | 2015 | Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie | Production I.G | Kazuya Nomura |

### Television Award

The TV animations broadcast in Japan from September of the previous year to August of the event year, excluding rebroadcasts, become candidates. The candidates are selected not only from Japan but also from other countries. However, the committee sees more importance in a point of view promoting young creators of Japan.
| No. | Year | Title | Studio | Director | Screenwriter |
| 1 | 1996 | Neon Genesis Evangelion | Gainax & Tatsunoko | Hideaki Anno | Hideaki Anno |
| 2 | 1997 | Revolutionary Girl Utena | J.C.Staff | Kunihiko Ikuhara | Yōji Enokido |
| 3 | 1998 | Cowboy Bebop | Sunrise | Shinichirō Watanabe | Keiko Nobumoto |
| 4 | 1999 | ∀ Gundam | Sunrise | Yoshiyuki Tomino | Yoshiyuki Tomino |
| 5 | 2000 | Infinite Ryvius | Sunrise | Gorō Taniguchi | Yōsuke Kuroda |
| 6 | 2001 | Angelic Layer | Bones | Hiroshi Nishikiori | Ichirō Ōkouchi |
| 7 | 2002 | RahXephon | Bones | Yutaka Izubuchi | Chiaki J. Konaka |
| 8 | 2003 | Mobile Suit Gundam SEED | Sunrise | Mitsuo Fukuda | Yoshiyuki Tomino |
| 9 | 2004 | Fullmetal Alchemist | Bones | Seiji Mizushima | Shō Aikawa |
| 10 | 2005 | Gankutsuō: The Count of Monte Cristo | Gonzo | Mahiro Maeda | Natsuko Takahashi |
| 11 | 2006 | The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya | Kyōto Animation | Tatsuya Ishihara | Yutaka Yamamoto |
| 12 | 2007 | Code Geass | Sunrise | Gorō Taniguchi | Ichirō Ōkouchi |
| 13 | 2008 | Code Geass R2 | Sunrise | Gorō Taniguchi | Ichirō Ōkouchi |
| 14 | 2009 | Eden of the East | Production I.G | Kenji Kamiyama | Kenji Kamiyama |
| 15 | 2010 | K-On!! | Kyoto Animation | Naoko Yamada | Reiko Yoshida |
| 16 | 2011 | Puella Magi Madoka Magica | Shaft | Akiyuki Shinbo Yukihiro Miyamoto | Gen Urobuchi |
| 17 | 2012 | YuruYuri | Dogakobo | Masahiko Ohta | Takashi Aoshima |
| 18 | 2013 | Attack on Titan | Wit Studio | Tetsurō Araki | Yasuko Kobayashi |
| 19 | 2014 | Love Live! | Sunrise | Takahiko Kyōgoku | Jukki Hanada |
| 20 | 2015 | Shirobako | P.A.Works | Tsutomu Mizushima | Michiko Yokote |

### Packaged Work Award

The packaged media distributed in Japan from September of the previous year to August of the event year become candidates. The candidates are selected not only from Japan but also from other countries. However, the committee sees more importance in a point of view promoting young creators of Japan.
| No. | Year | Title | Developer / Anime Studio | Type |
| 1 | 1996 | Key the Metal Idol | Studio Pierrot | OVA |
| 2 | 1997 | Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz | Sunrise | OVA |
| 3 | 1998 | Sakura Taisen 2 ~Kimi, Shinitamou koto Nakare~ | Sega | Video game (SS) |
| 3 | 1998 | Sakura Taisen: Ouka Kenran | RADIX | OVA |
| 4 | 1999 | Blue Submarine No. 6 | GONZO | OVA |
| 5 | 2000 | Shenmue | Sega-AM2 | Video game (SDC) |
| 6 | 2001 | Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec | Polyphony Digital | Video game (PS2) |
| 7 | 2002 | Voices of a Distant Star | Makoto Shinkai | Hand-made anime |
| 8 | 2003 | Sentō Yōsei Yukikaze | GONZO | OVA |
| 9 | 2004 | Haré+Guu FINAL | Bandai Visual | OVA |
| 10 | 2005 | Diebuster | Gainax | OVA |
| 11 | 2006 | The Wings of Rean | Sunrise | OVA |
| 12 | 2007 | Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - Solid State Society | Production I.G | Television film |

### Network Award

Re-created in 2000 as Network Media Award, the anime-related media making the best use of interactive distribution in Japan from September of the previous year to August of the event year become candidates.
The word Network does not mean only Internet. The candidates are selected not only from Japan but also from other countries. However, the committee sees more importance in a point of view promoting young creators of Japan.
| No. | Year | Title | Developer / Anime Studio | Type | Note |
| 1 | 1996 | Jungle Park | DIGITALOGUE | Video game (Sega Saturn) | Best Interactive Software Award |
| 2 | 1997 | Girlfriend of Steel | Gainax | Video game (Win95) | Best Interactive Software Award |
| | 1998–1999 | Not awarded | Not awarded | Not awarded | Not awarded |
| 5 | 2000 | Pokémon Gold and Silver | Nintendo | Video game (GBC) | |
| 6 | 2001 | Phantasy Star Online | Sega | MMO (DC) | |
| 7 | 2002 | Final Fantasy XI | Square | MMO (PS2, MS Windows) | |
| 8 | 2003 | Grand-Ma | Cyberploc Studios | Digital animation | |
| 9 | 2004 | Ski Jumping Pairs | Riichiro Mashima | Hand-made digital animation | |
| 10 | 2005 | Mayutoro The Toons | XeNN STUDIOS | CG anime | |
| 11 | 2006 | Yawaraka Sensha (Soft Tank) | Rareko | Flash anime | |
| 12 | 2007 | Second Life | Linden Research, Inc. | Internet-based virtual world | |
| 13 | 2008 | Hatsune Miku | Crypton Future Media | Vocaloid character | |
| 14 | 2009 | Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya Nyorōn Churuya-san | Kyoto Animation | Internet anime spin-off from the main Haruhi Suzumiya series | |
| 15 | 2010 | Miku no Nichi Kanshasai 39's Giving Day | Sega, Crypton Future Media | | |
| 16 | 2011 | Hetalia: World Series | Studio Deen | Internet anime | |
| 17 | 2012 | Osawari Tantei: Nameko Saibai Kit (released in English as Mushroom Garden) | Beeworks | Spinoff game from the main Touch Detective series | |

### Theme Song Award

The theme songs of either anime or other forms of animated media distributed in Japan from September of the previous year to August of the event year become candidates. The voting by fans is counted, and the five songs with the highest number of votes become the candidates for the final competition. Especially, the committee sees more importance in original songs made for an anime, sung in the 'spirit' of the work.
Only the Theme Song Award is influenced by the fans. This format started from the 4th event. The total number of votes in a year is about 10,000 votes. The result of the vote is also announced on the official sites of Radio Kansai, Anitama.com and the programs of Radio Kansai before the event. Though this is a preliminary vote to reduce the candidates to final, as of 2013, the candidates chosen in first by the vote have always won the award.
| No. | Year | Award | Song name | Associated work | Singer(s) | Note |
| No. | Year | Award | Song name | Associated work | Composer | Note |
| 1 | 1996 | Best Theme Song | Yuzurenai Negai | Magic Knight Rayearth | Naomi Tamura | |
| 2 | 1997 | Best Music Composing | Neon Genesis Evangelion soundtracks 1–3 | Neon Genesis Evangelion | Shirō Sagisu | |
| | 1998 | Not awarded | Not awarded | Not awarded | Not awarded | Not awarded |
| 4 | 1999 | AM Kobe Award | "Ojamajo Carnival!" | Ojamajo Doremi | Mahōdō | vote: 1st, with 288 of 8,545 votes |
| 4 | 1999 | AM Kobe Award | "Ojamajo Carnival!" | Ojamajo Doremi | Takeshi Ike | vote: 1st, with 288 of 8,545 votes |
| 5 | 2000 | AM Kobe Award | "We Are!" | One Piece | Hiroshi Kitadani | vote: 1st, with 875 of 13,988 votes |
| 5 | 2000 | AM Kobe Award | "We Are!" | One Piece | Kōhei Tanaka | vote: 1st, with 875 of 13,988 votes |
| 6 | 2001 | AM Kobe Award | "W-Infinity" | Gear Fighter Dendoh | Hitomi Mieno with Hironobu Kageyama | vote: 1st, with 1,182 of 10,298 votes |
| 6 | 2001 | AM Kobe Award | "W-Infinity" | Gear Fighter Dendoh | Little Voice | vote: 1st, with 1,182 of 10,298 votes |
| 7 | 2002 | AM Kobe Award | "For Fruits Basket" | Fruits Basket | Ritsuko Okazaki | vote: 1st, with 1,155 of 10,054 votes |
| 8 | 2003 | AM Kobe Award | "Asu e no brilliant road" | Stellvia of the Universe | angela | vote: 1st, with 1,209 of 11,590 votes |
| 8 | 2003 | AM Kobe Award | "Asu e no brilliant road" | Stellvia of the Universe | atsuko | vote: 1st, with 1,209 of 11,590 votes |
| 9 | 2004 | Radio Kansai Award | "DANZEN! Futari wa Pretty Cure" | Futari wa Pretty Cure | Mayumi Gojo | vote: 1st, with 1,276 of 8,254 votes |
| 9 | 2004 | Radio Kansai Award | "DANZEN! Futari wa Pretty Cure" | Futari wa Pretty Cure | Yasuo Kosugi | vote: 1st, with 1,276 of 8,254 votes |
| 10 | 2005 | Radio Kansai Award | "Happy☆Material" | Negima!: Magister Negi Magi | Mahora Gakuen Chyuutoubu 2-A | vote: 1st, with 753 of 9,920 votes |
| 10 | 2005 | Radio Kansai Award | "Happy☆Material" | Negima!: Magister Negi Magi | Shigenobu Ōkawa | vote: 1st, with 753 of 9,920 votes |
| 11 | 2006 | Radio Kansai Award | "Hare Hare Yukai" | The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya | Aya Hirano, Minori Chihara & Yūko Gotō | vote: 1st, with 2,095 of 7,450 votes |
| 11 | 2006 | Radio Kansai Award | "Hare Hare Yukai" | The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya | Tomokazu Tashiro | vote: 1st, with 2,095 of 7,450 votes |
| 12 | 2007 | Radio Kansai Award | "Motteke! Sailor Fuku" | Lucky ☆ Star | Aya Hirano, Emiri Katō, Kaori Fukuhara & Aya Endo | vote: 1st, with 2,017 of 8,105 votes |
| 12 | 2007 | Radio Kansai Award | "Motteke! Sailor Fuku" | Lucky ☆ Star | Satoru Kōsaki | vote: 1st, with 2,017 of 8,105 votes |
| 13 | 2008 | Radio Kansai Award | "Triangler" | Macross Frontier | Maaya Sakamoto | - |
| 13 | 2008 | Radio Kansai Award | "Triangler" | Macross Frontier | Yoko Kanno | - |
| 14 | 2009 | Radio Kansai Award | "Don't say 'lazy'" | K-ON! | Aki Toyosaki, Yōko Hikasa, Satomi Satō & Minako Kotobuki | - |
| 14 | 2009 | Radio Kansai Award | "Don't say 'lazy'" | K-ON! | Hiroyuki Maezawa | - |
| 15 | 2010 | Radio Kansai Award | "only my railgun" | A Certain Scientific Railgun | fripSide | - |
| 15 | 2010 | Radio Kansai Award | "only my railgun" | A Certain Scientific Railgun | Satoshi Yaginuma | - |
| 16 | 2011 | Radio Kansai Award | "Shinryaku no Susume☆" | Shinryaku! Ika Musume! | ULTRA-PRISM with Hisako Kanemoto | - |
| 16 | 2011 | Radio Kansai Award | "Shinryaku no Susume☆" | Shinryaku! Ika Musume! | Masaya Koike | - |
| 17 | 2012 | Radio Kansai Award | "Taiyō Iwaku Moe yo Chaos" | Haiyore! Nyaruko-san | Kana Asumi, Miyu Matsuki and Yuka Ōtsubo | - |
| 17 | 2012 | Radio Kansai Award | "Taiyō Iwaku Moe yo Chaos" | Haiyore! Nyaruko-san | Hidekazu Tanaka | - |
| 18 | 2013 | Radio Kansai Award | "Guren no Yumiya" | Attack on Titan | Linked Horizon | - |
| 18 | 2013 | Radio Kansai Award | "Guren no Yumiya" | Attack on Titan | Revo | - |
| 19 | 2014 | Radio Kansai Award | "Sidonia" | Knights of Sidonia | angela | - |
| 19 | 2014 | Radio Kansai Award | "Sidonia" | Knights of Sidonia | atsuko & KATSU | - |
| 20 | 2015 | Radio Kansai Award | "JoJo, Sono Chi no Kioku ~end of THE WORLD~" | JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders | JO☆STARS ~TOMMY,Coda,JIN~ | - |
| 20 | 2015 | Radio Kansai Award | "JoJo, Sono Chi no Kioku ~end of THE WORLD~" | JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders | - | - |