The Tokyo Anime Awards started in 2002, but was named in 2005. The first, second and third award ceremonies were simply named 'Competition'. The award ceremonies were held at the Tokyo International Anime Fair until 2013. In 2014, after the merger of the Tokyo International Anime Fair with the Anime Contents Expo and the formation of the AnimeJapan convention, the Tokyo Anime Awards was changed into a separate festival called Tokyo Anime Awards Festival. Notably, there are Open Entry Awards for amateur creators. Though there are ten main judges, the total number of judges is over one hundred people. Various groups participate in judging the festival, such as anime studio staff members, professors of universities, as well as producers and chief editors of various magazines..
Animation of the Year
All anime released from December 1st of the year before the festival to November 30 of the current year in Japan become candidates. The anime that best represents the category it was nominated in is chosen as the winner of that category. In the first year of the celebration, the award was given to Spirited Away as 'Grand Prix'. In the second year, there was no Animation of the Year award; therefore, the 'Best Entry Awards' in the 'Notable Entries' are often recognized as 'Grand Prix', they were: Millennium Actress, Hanada Shōnen-shi and Sentō Yōsei Yukikaze Since 2014, Tokyo Anime Award Festival has given an Anime of the Year Grand Prize in two categories, Film and Television. ;Notes
Open Entries / Competition Grand Prize
The awards for the creator of the non-commercialized work for TV, movie and OVA, to find new talents and to provide support for subsequent commercialization. The work must be an animation longer than 15 seconds, and no longer than 30 minutes. If the work was not commercialized before, professional creator also can enter this Grand Prize. The 2007 winner, Flutter, was the first work from a non-Asian country to win this award. ;Notes
Notable Entry
The excellent works of the year are chosen according to each section.
Television Category
The TV animations broadcast from December 1 of the year beforehand to November 30 of the previous year in Japan become candidates. The 'Best Entry' was selected only in 2003: Hanada Shōnen-shi. ! width=50% valign="top" align="left" style="font-weight:normal"|
The animation films released from December 1 of the year beforehand to November 30 of the previous year in Japan become candidates. The 'Best Entry' was selected only in 2003: Millennium Actress. ! width=50% valign="top" align="left" style="font-weight:normal"|
OVA Category
The Original Video Animations released from December 1 of the year beforehand to November 30 of the previous year in Japan become candidates. The 'Best Entry' was selected only in 2003: Sentō Yōsei Yukikaze. Sentō Yōsei Yukikaze and Diebuster were awarded two times. ! width=50% valign="top" align="left" style="font-weight:normal"|
International Theater Award
The international animation films released from December 1 of the year beforehand to November 30 of the previous year in Japan become candidates. Founded in 2003. One work is selected and awards presented every year.
Individual awards
The individual awards for the activities of the previous year.
Best Director
The awards for directors. Though this award does not limit to the directors of films, it has a tendency to be given to film directors.
Best Original Story
The awards for the original creators of the work. Founded in 2005. ! width=50% valign="top" align="left" style="font-weight:normal"|
Best Screenplay
The awards for screenwriters. ! width=50% valign="top" align="left" style="font-weight:normal"|
Best Screenplay / Original Story
The awards for screenwriters since 2014. ! width=50% valign="top" align="left" style="font-weight:normal"|
The awards for voice actors by their performance. Rumi Hiiragi and Chieko Baisho are more famous as actress in Japan. ! width=50% valign="top" align="left" style="font-weight:normal"|
