About “Ani-Monozukuri Awards”
What are the “Ani-Monozukuri Awards”?
Japan’s First Festival of Anime and Diverse Industries!
In recent years, the expansion and mainstreaming of the anime fanbase have significantly broadened the market. As a result, companies and organizations traditionally unrelated to anime—such as those in the automobile, food, retail, technology, service, and tourism industries, as well as the public sector—are increasingly utilizing anime, manga, and characters for collaborative products and advertising promotions.
This represents new business opportunities for the anime industry, while allowing companies and organizations to approach the creation of products and experiences from a fresh perspective.
The “Ani-Monozukuri Awards” is an initiative aimed at further stimulating business collaboration between the anime industry and corporate sectors by recognizing outstanding products, advertising creatives, promotions, and business ventures.
Award Timeline
| May 11 – June 30, 2026 |
Entry Period*The application forms differ for the International Category and the (Tentative) Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Special Award. |
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| August 2026 |
Announcement of Nominees*Notification will be posted on this official website and sent to applicants via email. |
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| September 2026 |
The award ceremony will be held at “KYOTO INTERNATIONAL MANGA ANIME FAIR 2026 (KYOMAF).” |
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Application Guidelines
Eligibility
This award program accepts entries from companies and organizations for products, services, advertisements, and promotions that utilize anime, manga, or characters. Eligible projects must have been released, published, or conducted between January 1, 2024, and June 30, 2026..
Application Categories
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Animated Commercial CategoryRecognizes animated video advertisements broadcast or published on platforms such as TV and websites. |
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Content Tie-Up CategoryRecognizes merchandise and collaborations in products, services, and advertising promotions that leverage the unique characteristics and world-building of existing IPs (anime, manga, characters, etc.). |
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Original Content CategoryRecognizes product/service development and advertising promotions that utilize a company’s original characters or content (e.g., character-driven videos, voice actor content, reading materials). |
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International CategoryRecognizes corporate communications outside Japan—including TV commercials, content collaborations, and craft designs—that utilize Japanese anime, manga, games, or characters. |
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Regional Revitalization CategoryRecognizes initiatives by companies, organizations, or local governments that utilize anime, manga, or characters primarily for regional revitalization, such as promoting local industries. |
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Special Award for Collaboration in Promoting Japanese Cuisine AbroadRecognizes outstanding product collaborations and advertising promotions that utilize IP content or original characters to promote Japanese agricultural, forestry, and fishery products, as well as foods, processed foods, and seasonings related to Japanese food culture, to overseas consumers. |
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Grand PrizeThe highest honor awarded to the most outstanding entry selected from all the categories above. |
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By principle, applications must be self-submitted. Multiple submissions to different categories are permitted.
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Entries previously submitted to the 1st–3rd Ani-Monozukuri Awards, the 1st Kyoto Ani-Monozukuri Awards, and the Kyoto Ani-Monozukuri Awards 2022–2025 are ineligible for judging. However, if a new addition to a series (such as a new animated commercial or collaborative product) was released or published within the eligible timeframe, it may be submitted.
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Since the theme is “Anime × Diverse Industries,” items such as commercials for new anime by anime studios, promotions for new publications by publishers, or conventional character toys are ineligible. If you have any questions, please check the official website or contact the organizing committee.
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The categories and eligibility criteria are subject to change without prior notice.
How to Apply
Please download and complete the entry sheet from the “Ani-Monozukuri” official website, and submit it via email along with your supplementary materials.
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Supplementary materials may include key visual images, product/event photos, and/or website screenshots. No more than 10 items in total.
Eligible Applicants
Companies or creators who are directly involved in the submitted work.
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Prior to applying, please ensure you have obtained permission to submit the entry from the company that sold/implemented the project, as well as from the respective rights holders.
Entry Period
May 11, 2026 – June 30, 2026 (entries must be received by the deadline).
Selection Process and Announcement
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Selection: The “Ani-Monozukuri” Secretariat will conduct an initial screening of all submitted works, followed by final evaluation by the selection committee.
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Announcement
Announcement: Announcements for the award-winning works (Best Award and Excellence Award) in each category will be made at an event during the “KYOTO INTERNATIONAL MANGA ANIME FAIR (KYOMAF),” in Kyoto City in September. The results will also be published on the “Ani-Monozukuri” official website.
Selectors
Chair of the Selection Committee
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Takeshi NatsunoGraduated from Waseda University’s School of Political Science and Economics and joined Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. Later earned a degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. After serving as vice president at a venture company, he joined NTT DOCOMO, Inc. He launched numerous services including “i-mode” and “Osaifu-Keitai” (mobile payment system), eventually serving as an executive officer at NTT DOCOMO. Currently, he holds positions as Specially Invited Professor and Director of Cyber Informatics Research Institute, Kindai University, as well as Chief Executive Officer at KADOKAWA CORPORATION and DWANGO Co., Ltd. He also serves as Outside Director of transcosmos inc., GREE Holdings, Inc., U-NEXT HOLDINGS Co., Ltd., and Oracle Corporation Japan. Additionally, he serves as General Project Manager for METI’s MITOU Program and Co-Chairman of the Cabinet Office’s Cool Japan Public-Private Partnership Platform. |
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Selectors
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Tadashi Sudo
Journalist specializing in animation, conducting research, reporting, and writing on both domestic and international animation topics. He also conducts surveys and research on the Japanese animation business. After working at a major securities firm, he launched the information website “Anime! Anime!” in 2002 and served as its editor-in-chief. In 2012, he transferred the site’s operations to IID, Inc., and has since contributed to publications including the animation section of “Digital Content White Paper” and the “Anime Industry Report.” |
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Akinori NakamuraProfessor at the College of Image Arts and Sciences, Ritsumeikan University. His expertise lies in international management and the Chinese content industry. With regard to the anime industry, he has conducted research on CG and anime studios in Suzhou, Hangzhou, Shanghai, and Beijing as part of an investigation into China’s cultural industry promotion policies. The results were published in The History of China’s Game Industry (Chapter 7). Additionally, he has examined the relationship between anime and game studios using the Western concept of “transmedia storytelling,” with some of his findings presented at academic conferences. |
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Atsuo NakayamaEntertainment sociologist. He simultaneously serves as an entrepreneur (founder of Re entertainment, a management consulting firm specializing in entertainment), corporate executive at venture companies (Plott, Fandom), researcher (at Keio University and Ritsumeikan University), policy advisor (Specialist for METI, Committee Member for the Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters at the Cabinet Office), and association board member (Licensing International Japan, ATP). His lifework involves promoting Japan’s entertainment industry abroad. His published works include “Character Nation Japan,” “Creator Wonderland,” “Complete History of Entertainment Business,” “Masters of Entertainment,” “The Oshi Economy,” and “The Genesis of the Otaku Economic Sphere,” among others. |
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Kazuo RikukawaAfter working as an editor for specialized advertising and marketing journals and as a researcher at a marketing firm, he established Character Databank Co., Ltd. (CDB) in July 2000. While overseeing CDB’s operations, he also serves as an analyst for the character business, appearing as a commentator on television, radio, newspapers, and magazines, as well as writing and lecturing. In 2014, he participated in founding the Character Brand Licensing Association (CBLA), where he currently serves as Executive Director. He also holds the position of visiting researcher at the Content Business Research Institute at Sanno University. |
Special Selectors
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Shigeru SaitoRepresentative Director, Chairman and CEO at TOSE Co., Ltd.; Vice Chairman of the Kyoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and Chairman of the KYOTO Cross Media Experience Executive Committee. A native of Kyoto Prefecture. Since its founding in 1979, TOSE Co., Ltd. has been involved in the development of over 2,400 video game titles and smartphone applications, serving as an unsung powerhouse that has consistently driven the gaming industry forward. He has also served as a director and committee member for various economic and cultural promotion organizations centered in Kyoto. |
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Ryutaro HayashiAdvertising creator and producer. After working as an editor for publishing trade journals and culture magazines, he transitioned into the advertising industry. He has extensively worked on advertising promotions utilizing anime, manga, and other content, as well as collaborative product planning. As an expert in this field, he also engages in writing and lecturing. |
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Taro MakiRepresentative Director of GENCO, Inc. In 1977, he joined TOHOKUSHINSHA FILM CORPORATION, where he worked on foreign film acquisitions, film production and distribution, and anime production. He later joined Pioneer LDC, where he gained extensive experience in anime production before founding GENCO Inc. in 1997—a rare company in the industry specializing in project planning and production. He has since contributed to the production of over 100 anime titles, including “Patlabor: The Movie” (1995), “Millennium Actress” (2002), “Sword Art Online” (2012), and “In This Corner of the World” (2016). |
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Azusa MatsudaVP of Business Development at the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA). At Anime Expo—the largest Japanese pop culture event in North America—she oversees content and guest programming, new project development, and strategic partnerships.She also leads business initiatives and conferences that connect Japanese pop culture with the U.S. entertainment industry, supporting global IP expansion and cross-border collaborations.Through Anime Expo, she works to foster cultural exchange and mutual understanding between Japan and the United States, and regularly speaks at industry both domestically and internationally. |
Organizer
Ani-Monozukuri Awards Executive Committee
Co-Organizers
KYOTO INTERNATIONAL MANGA ANIME FAIR 2026 Executive Committee
KYOTO Cross Media Experience Executive Committee
In Cooperation with
Supported by
Character Databank Co., Ltd.
City of Kyoto
Tokyo Otaku Mode Co., Ltd.
The Association of Japanese Animations
Peatix Japan K.K.
