The 98th Academy Awards nominations are out, and anime fans are feeling a major letdown. Two of the biggest and most praised animated movies of last year, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle and Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc, have been completely left out of the race. Despite huge box office success and glowing reviews from critics, neither film secured a spot in the Best Animated Feature category. This has led to frustration and questions about whether the Oscars are failing to keep up with the global popularity and artistic quality of anime.
What Movies Were Nominated for Best Animated Feature?
The official nominees for the 2026 Oscar for Best Animated Feature were announced on January 23, 2026. The five films that made the list are:
- Zootopia 2 (Disney)
- KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix/Sony Pictures Animation)
- Elio (Disney/Pixar)
- Arco (Neon)
- Little Amélie or the Character of Rain (GKIDS)
This lineup is dominated by major Western studios, with two Disney productions, a Netflix hit, and two critically acclaimed French films. The nominations follow a predictable awards season pattern, as most of these films were also nominated at recent Golden Globe and Critics Choice Awards. KPop Demon Hunters is considered a frontrunner, having already won at the Golden Globes and also scoring a nomination for its song Golden in the Best Original Song category.
How Critics Rated the Snubbed Anime Movies
The decision to omit the anime films is especially striking when looking at critical reception. Based on review aggregate scores, both Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle and Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc outperformed several of the movies that were nominated.
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle holds a 98% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes. This ties it with the best-reviewed nominee, Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, which also has a 98% score.
Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc is close behind with a 96% score.
In comparison, the nominated films Zootopia 2 and Arco each have a 91% score, while Elio sits at 83%. KPop Demon Hunters has a 92% score.
Beyond reviews, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle was a record-breaking box office phenomenon. It became the highest-grossing anime film of all time and was the first non-American animated movie to cross the $700 million mark globally. Chainsaw Man, while not as massive a hit, was celebrated for its unique artistic style and intense storytelling.
Fan Reactions to the Oscar Snubs
The news has sparked strong reactions from disappointed fans online. Many expressed their disbelief that these popular and highly-rated anime movies were overlooked.
On social media, one fan pointedly asked, “U telling me Elio from Disney was better than Demon Slayer or Chainsaw Man? Cmon this is a joke”. Another comment read, “I’m not surprised but just mostly disappointed… not winning is one problem but not getting nominated is another one”. A common sentiment was summed up by a fan who wrote, “Americans nominate American production”.
Some fans tried to find humor in the situation. Commenting on the popularity of the nominated KPop Demon Hunters, one person joked, “Di nga alam ng kaklase kong mga babae ano yung Infinity Castle eh HAHAHAHA pero memorize yung lyrics ng Golden” (Translation: “My female classmates don’t even know what Infinity Castle is HAHAHAHA but they’ve memorized the lyrics to Golden”). Others chose to focus on their personal enjoyment, with one stating, “I don’t care. I watch what I like! No matter how many awards it has won or how popular it is!”.
A History of Anime and the Academy Awards
This year’s complete exclusion of anime is part of a long and complicated history between the medium and the Oscars. While landmark films like Spirited Away (2003) and The Boy and the Heron (2024) have won Best Animated Feature, many other acclaimed anime films have been snubbed.
In past years, films such as The Tale of Princess Kaguya, The Wind Rises, and When Marnie Was There were nominated but lost to Western productions like Big Hero 6, Frozen, and Inside Out. Industry observers note that the Academy often favors mainstream, family-friendly Hollywood studio films over international and arthouse animation.
“The Academy has proven time and again that it views animation primarily as a medium for children. Challenging arthouse films are routinely passed over in favor of bright, bouncy offerings from major Hollywood studios,” noted an analysis from Cartoon Brew.
This has led to criticism that the Oscars are out of touch with the diverse global animation landscape, where anime is a dominant and respected artistic force.
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Details on the 98th Academy Awards Ceremony
The 98th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, March 15, 2026. It will be broadcast live from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. The show will air on ABC in the United States starting at 7:00 p.m. ET and will also be streamed live on Hulu. For international viewers, the ceremony will be aired in more than 200 territories worldwide. Comedian Conan O’Brien will return to host the event for the second year in a row.
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