Best Cute Girl Anime: Watashi ni Tenshi ga Maiorita!
Protag with extreme shyness becomes charmed by one of her little sister's friends. A cozy anime of sweets, cosplay, and awkwardness. Amazing final episode.

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Best Fantasy/ Sci-Fi: Kemurikusa
A slow-burn mystery/ fantasy anime in a post-apocalyptic world. Less focus on world-building and more on mood and character. A story where Hope is a candle, lit on both ends.

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Honorable Mention: Yakusoku no Neverland
A YA story that western YA novelists can only dream of. A horrifying cat-and-mouse game of kids as they plot to escape their seemingly utopian orphanage. Twists and turns and clever plotting.

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Best Drama: Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru
The running anime comes to a close as the team competes in the well-known Tokyo-Hakone Ekiden (Relay Marathon). A blessed ode to running and the human spirit.

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Best Overall: Dororo
Protag’s body parts are sacrificed for power when he was a baby with a monster-of-the-week formula to drive the revenge narrative. Harsh, cruel, and tragic storytelling that shows you can only gain power by giving up your humanity.

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