Despite being the second highest-grossing anime film of 2025, the Golden Balloons 2026 They left out Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc of the category Best animated movie. The decision surprised the fans and generated frustration, since 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 on the international recognition of anime and the way in which Hollywood evaluate these productions.
the exclusion of Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc It is surprising because the film dominated the box office and He received praise for his direction and animation. This discard reveals the criteria that still weigh in Hollywood. Its dark and mature tone acts as a filter that collides with the traditional vision of the Golden Balloons about what should be an animated film. The tension exposes the limitations of international recognition towards works that explore complex themes and bet on less conventional styles.
The difficult relationship between commercial success and recognition in awards for anime
The box office confirmed that Chainsaw Man It can generate huge income and attract a very committed fan base. Still, the Golden Balloons They maintain a cautious posture towards the anime. Only three films have achieved a nomination in its entire history: The trip of Chihiro, the boy and the heron And this year Demon Slayer. This fact shows that the anime is still looking to gain the trust of mainstream critics. the presence of Demon Slayer and Kpop Demon Hunters It reveals that the academy prioritizes the epic fantasy show and pop phenomena before the proposals with adult narrative and more complex tone.
When reviewing the award history for anime, we see that the box office is only enough when the film fits in the formula of the “work of art”, like those of Ghibli, or that of the “inevitable phenomenon”, like Demon Slayer. That pattern leaves out more dark and complex titles.
The emotional crudeness of Reze Arc and the challenge of adult anime at the awards
Zootopia 2 and Little Amelie They seek to attract a family audience, while Demon Slayer It presents its violence within an epic fantasy. instead, Reze Arc It shows a psychological and emotional crudeness 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 the Reze Arc Remember that, despite the growing authority of the anime in Hollywood, Animation is still seen primarily as a space for family content, and animated, although profitable, adult dramas should work harder to gain recognition.
the verdict
The omission of Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc at the Golden Globes, despite their financial success, shows that award institutions still maintain close criteria on what constitutes a worthy animated film. The high level of maturity and the relentlessly dark tone of the film acted as an insurmountable barrier.
We maintain that this exclusion is a loss for the category, since it ignored one of the most sophisticated and technically brilliant narratives of the year. We think he deserved the nomination ahead of other titles on the list. The fandom is right: he deserved, at least, one position.
Do you think the Academy Awards should create a separate category for the “Best Anime of the Year” to ensure that adult-themed titles like Chainsaw Man don’t compete unfairly against family movies? Leave us your opinion in the comments.
