# Japan Academy Film Prize for Animation of the Year

The Animation of the Year (アニメーション作品賞) of the Japan Academy Film Prize is one of the annual Awards given by the Japan Academy Film Prize Association.

## History

Although the Japan Academy Film Prize has been awarded annually since 1978 to Japanese films, animation films were disregarded in the early years of the Prize. Animation films have included top grossing Japanese films of the year, such as Doraemon (1980, 1981, 1983, 1984), Studio Ghibli's Kiki's Delivery Service (1989), Only Yesterday (1991), Porco Rosso (1992), Pom Poko (1994), and Whisper of the Heart (1995). Yet no animated film received a nomination for a Japan Academy Film Prize during those years. This was notably different from other major Japanese film awards, such as the Mainichi Film Award and Kinema Junpo, which both awarded Picture of the Year to My Neighbor Totoro in 1988.
In 1990, the Japan Academy Film Prize Association gave a Special Award to Kiki's Delivery Service at the 13th the Japan Academy Film Prize, and again in 1995 to Takahata's Pom Poko. However, there were still no nominations for these animated box office hits.
But in 1998, the Japan Academy Film Prize Association's attitude toward animated films changed with the hugely successful Princess Mononoke, the highest box-office record ever in the history of Japanese cinema, which dominated the other major film prizes (See: Awards). As a result, at the 21st Japan Academy Film Prize that year, Studio Ghibli's Princess Mononoke became the first-ever animation film to be nominated for, and win the Japan Academy Film Prize Picture of the Year. Yoshiyuki Tomino, famed for Gundam, mentioned it: "A hole that Hayao Miyazaki made spending ten years".
In 2002, at the 25th Japan Academy Film Prize, another animated film by Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, Spirited Away, was again nominated and won the Picture of the Year.
In 2007, the Japan Academy Film Prize followed the American Academy Awards, which instituted the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2002, by creating the Japan Academy Film Prize for Animation of the Year. Only one film is awarded Best Animation of the Year (最優秀アニメーション作品賞), but all five nominees are recognized by the association with the awarding of Excellent Animation of the Year (優秀アニメーション作品).

## List of winners and nominees

Studio Ghibli with 5 films has the most awards as a studio while Studio Chizu & Madhouse feature prominently. No franchise has ever won the award twice but Detective Conan is the most nominated franchise with 12 nominations while Doraemon, One Piece, Evangelion, Dragon Ball & Lupin III feature prominently.
| Year | Best Animation of the Year | Excellent Animation of the Year |
| 2007 | The Girl Who Leapt Through Time | Arashi no Yoru Ni Tales from Earthsea Brave Story Detective Conan: The Private Eyes' Requiem |
| 2008 | Tekkon Kinkreet | Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone Summer Days with Coo Piano no Mori Detective Conan: Jolly Roger in the Deep Azure |
| 2009 | Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea | Doraemon: Nobita and the Green Giant Legend 2008 The Sky Crawlers Detective Conan: Full Score of Fear One Piece - The Movie: Episode of Chopper Plus: Bloom in the Winter, Miracle Sakura |
| 2010 | Summer Wars | Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser Doraemon: The New Record of Nobita: Spaceblazer Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror |
| 2011 | The Secret World of Arrietty | Detective Conan: The Lost Ship in the Sky Colorful Doraemon: Nobita's Great Battle of the Mermaid King One Piece Film: Strong World |
| 2012 | From Up on Poppy Hill | K-On! Movie Buddha Tōfu-kozō Detective Conan: Quarter of Silence |
| 2013 | Wolf Children | Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo Friends: Naki on the Monster Island A Letter to Momo One Piece Film: Z |
| 2014 | The Wind Rises | The Tale of Princess Kaguya Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Rebellion Space Pirate Captain Harlock Lupin the 3rd vs. Detective Conan: The Movie |
| 2015 | Stand by Me Doraemon | When Marnie Was There Giovanni's Island Detective Conan: Dimensional Sniper Buddha 2: Tezuka Osamu no Buddha - Owarinaki Tabi |
| 2016 | The Boy and the Beast | The Anthem of the Heart Miss Hokusai Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' Love Live! The School Idol Movie |
| 2017 | In This Corner of the World | Your Name A Silent Voice Rudolf the Black Cat One Piece Film: Gold |
| 2018 | Night Is Short, Walk On Girl | Fireworks, Should We See It from the Side or the Bottom? Napping Princess Mary and the Witch's Flower Detective Conan: Crimson Love Letter |
| 2019 | Mirai | Dragon Ball Super: Broly Penguin Highway Detective Conan: Zero the Enforcer Okko's Inn |
| 2020 | Weathering with You | Her Blue Sky Detective Conan: The Fist of Blue Sapphire Lupin III: The First One Piece: Stampede |
| 2021 | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train | Violet Evergarden: The Movie Poupelle of Chimney Town Josee, The Tiger and The Fish Stand by Me Doraemon 2 |
| 2022 | Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time | Sing a Bit of Harmony Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko Jujutsu Kaisen 0 Belle |
| 2023 | The First Slam Dunk | Inu-Oh Lonely Castle in the Mirror One Piece Film: Red Suzume |
| 2024 | The Boy and the Heron | Birth of Kitarō: The Mystery of GeGeGe Totto-Chan: The Little Girl at the Window Detective Conan: Black Iron Submarine Blue Giant |
| 2025 | Look Back | Give It All Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle Detective Conan: The Million-dollar Pentagram |