The Anime NYC / American Manga Award of Distinction is presented to select mangaka guests of Anime NYC to recognize significant achievement in manga in North America. Our recipient of the 2026 Anime NYC / American Manga Award of Distinction is Akiko Higashimura, the creator of Princess Jellyfish.

🏆 WINNER FOR BEST NEW MANGA 🏆 Billy Bat Vol. 1 Naoki Urasawa Kana / Abrams ComicArts

🏆 WINNER FOR BEST CONTINUING MANGA SERIES 🏆 The Summer Hikaru Died Vol. 6 mokumokuren Yen Press

🏆 WINNER FOR BEST NEW EDITION OF CLASSIC MANGA 🏆 Mushishi Collectors Edition Vols. 1-2 Yuki Urushibara Kodansha

🏆WINNER FOR BEST TRANSLATION🏆 Magica Vol. 1 Yuzuko Hoshimi Kodama Tales Translator: Jan Mitsuko Cash

🏆 WINNER FOR BEST LETTERING 🏆 MADELEINE JOSE MAID TO SKATE SUZUSHIRO VIZ EDITOR: JACK CARILLO CONCORDIA

🏆WINNER FOR BEST PUBLICATION DESIGN 🏆 Fruits Basket: The Complete Box Set Natsuki Takaya Yen Press Design: Wendy Chan

📚 GUEST PRESENTER 📚 IRyS is a member of hololive English -PROMISE-, from the worldwide VTuber phenomenon hololive production. IRyS will be one of our presenters at this year's American Manga Awards. #AmericanMangaAwards

📚 HALL OF FAME 📚 Born in 1959 in Osaka, Ogino grew up in the UK in the 1960s and then Germany in the 1970s. From this background, she always wanted to be in touch with the wider world and explore. We are excited to induct her into American Manga Award's Hall of Fame, #AmericanMangaAwards

We are PAWSitively OBSESSED with the adorable sprayed edges on A Cat Is a Cat in Any Life (2-in-1 Edition)! Take in all the clawsome details from tip to tail before casting your vote for @mangaawardsusa.bsky.social’s Best Publication Design category! 😽 Vote Now: sqex.link/VoteNow

Let’s take a tour of the clawsome features that make A Cat Is a Cat in Any Life (2-in-1 Edition) the purrrfect choice for your shelf and your vote for the @mangaawardsusa.bsky.social Best Publication Design category! 🐾 Voting ends July 28th at 5:00PM ET! sqex.link/VoteNow

With stellar reviews like these, it's no surprise that A Starlit Darkness and A Cat Is a Cat in Any Life are nominated for the @mangaawardsusa.bsky.social! Voting ends tomorrow! sqex.link/VoteNow

🔻TODAY🔻 is the last day to vote for the @mangaawardsusa.bsky.social! Cast your vote, and let’s hear it for all of the wonderful titles nominated this year! 🤗 sqex.link/VoteNow

📚 BEST NEW MANGA 📚 Your nominees for Best New Manga are here! Learn more at https://loom.ly/4QHChkU

📚 BEST CONTINUING SERIES 📚 Your nominees for Best Continuing Series are here! Learn more at https://loom.ly/4QHChkU

📚 BEST ONE-SHOT MANGA 📚 Your nominees for Best One-Shot Manga are here! Learn more at https://loom.ly/4QHChkU

📚 BEST NEW EDITION OF CLASSIC MANGA📚 Your nominees for Best New Edition of Classic Manga are here! Learn more at https://loom.ly/4QHChkU

📚 BEST TRANSLATION 📚 Your nominees for Best Translation are here! ✒️ Learn more at https://loom.ly/4QHChkU

📚 BEST PUBLICATION DESIGN 📚 Your nominees for Best Publication Design are here! Learn more at https://loom.ly/4QHChkU

📚 BEST LETTERING 📚 Your nominees for Best Lettering are here! ✒️ Learn more at https://loom.ly/4QHChkU

📚 JUDGE ANNOUNCEMENT 📚 Kyle Cardine is an award-winning journalist and currently the Global Editor-in-Chief of Crunchyroll News. He will be amongst our Manga judges at the 2026 American Manga Awards! #AmericanMangaAwards

📚 JUDGE ANNOUNCEMENT 📚 Helen Chazan is an archivist, comics critic, and zinemaker based in Toronto. She is the publisher of the micropress Gynoid Distribution. Her comics and illustrations have appeared in many publications. She will be amongst our Manga judges at the 2026 American Manga Awards!

📚 JUDGE ANNOUNCEMENT 📚 Gigi Murakami is an award-winning manga artist & illustrator, and content creator at the intersection of horror media, Japanese manga and anime, and alternative and nerd culture. She will be amongst our Manga judges at the 2026 American Manga Awards! #AmericanMangaAwards

📚 JUDGE ANNOUNCEMENT 📚 Frederico Anzalone is a seasoned manga specialist working across Brussels, Paris and Tokyo. He contributes to prominent French-language publications such as ATOM and TEMPURA. He will be amongst our Manga judges at the 2026 American Manga Awards! #AmericanMangaAwards

📚 JUDGE ANNOUNCEMENT 📚 Dani is a British content creator and graphic designer behind the YouTube channel Lines in Motion. They focus on breaking down and analysing comics and animation, through manga, anime, and comics. They will be amongst our Manga judges at the 2026 American Manga Awards!

📚 JUDGE ANNOUNCEMENT 📚 Nicole Coolidge Rousmaniere is Deputy Director of the MOA Museum of Art; and member of the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures (SISJAC). She will be amongst our Translation judges at the 2026 American Manga Awards! #AmericanMangaAwards

📚 JUDGE ANNOUNCEMENT 📚 Andrea Horbinski earned her PhD in history and new media at the UC, Berkeley. She is the author of Manga’s First Century: How Creators and Fans Made Japanese Comics. She will be amongst our Translation judges at the 2026 American Manga Awards! #AmericanMangaAwards

📚 JUDGE ANNOUNCEMENT 📚 Eisner Award-nominated Pat Brosseau is a veteran comic book letterer who has worked on such titles as Hellboy, Wolverine, Aliens Vs Predator, Batman, and more. He will be amongst our Lettering judges at the 2026 American Manga Awards! #AmericanMangaAwards

📚 JUDGE ANNOUNCEMENT 📚 Taylor Esposito is multi-award winning comic book lettering professional, owner of Ghost Glyph Studios, and teacher at the legendary Kubert School. He will be amongst our Lettering judges at the 2026 American Manga Awards! #AmericanMangaAwards

📚 JUDGE ANNOUNCEMENT 📚 Amanda Chung is the co-founder of lucky risograph and is a NYC-based art director, illustrator, and fabricator. She will be amongst our Publication Design judges at the 2026 American Manga Awards! #AmericanMangaAwards