Despite being the second highest-grossing anime film of 2025, the Golden Globes 2026 they left out Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc of the category Best Animated Film. The decision surprised fans and generated frustration, as many claim that the film deserved at least one nomination. The competition includes titles such as Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, KPop Demon Hunters and Zootopia 2. With this absence, the debate arises again about the international recognition of anime and the way in which hollywood evaluate these productions.
The exclusion of Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc surprising because the film dominated the box office and It received praise for its direction and animation. This discard reveals the criteria that still weigh in Hollywood. Its dark and mature tone acts as a filter that clashes with the traditional vision of Golden Globes about what an animated film should be. The tension exposes the limitations of international recognition towards works that explore complex themes and opt for less conventional styles.
The difficult relationship between commercial success and recognition in anime awards
The box office confirmed that Chainsaw Man can generate huge revenue and attract a highly engaged fan base. Even so, the Golden Globes They maintain a cautious stance towards anime. Only three films have achieved a nomination in their entire history: Spirited Away, The Boy and the Heron and, this year, Demon Slayer. This data shows that the anime is still seeking to gain the trust of mainstream critics. The presence of Demon Slayer and KPop Demon Hunters reveals that the Academy prioritizes epic fantasy spectacles and pop phenomena over proposals with adult narratives and a more complex tone.
When reviewing the history of awards for anime, we see that the box office is only enough when the film fits into the formula of the “work of art”, like those of Ghibli, or that of the “inescapable phenomenon”, like Demon Slayer. That pattern leaves out darker, more complex titles.
The emotional rawness of the Reze Arc and the challenge of adult anime at the awards
Zootopia 2 and Little Amélie They seek to attract a family audience, while Demon Slayer presents its violence within an epic fantasy. Instead, Reze Arc shows a psychological and emotional rawness that makes traditional voters uncomfortable. The fandom considers it a work of art, but the voting body prefers narratives with less moral ambiguity and less gore. For them, the film is still too dark to compete for the award.
The exclusion of Reze Arc remember that, despite the growing authority of anime in Hollywood, Animation is still seen primarily as a space for family content, and animated adult dramas, while profitable, must work harder to gain recognition.
The Verdict
The omission of Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc from the Golden Globes, despite its financial success, demonstrates that awards institutions still maintain narrow criteria for what constitutes a worthy animated film. The film's high level of maturity and relentlessly dark tone acted as an insurmountable barrier.
We maintain that this exclusion is a loss for the category, as it ignored one of the most sophisticated and technically brilliant narratives of the year. We think it deserved the nomination ahead of other titles on the list. The fandom is right: he deserved, at least, a position.
Do you think the Academy Awards should create a separate category for “Best Anime of the Year” to ensure that adult-themed titles like Chainsaw Man don't compete unfairly against family films? Leave us your opinion in the comments.
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