The Animation of the Year (アニメーション作品賞) of the Japan Academy Film Prize is one of the annual Awards given by the Japan Academy Film Prize Association.

Animation films have included top grossing Japanese films of the year, such as Doraemon (1980, 1981, 1983, 1984),[1] Studio Ghibli's Kiki's Delivery Service (1989),[2] Only Yesterday (1991),[3] Porco Rosso (1992),[4] Pom Poko (1994),[5] and Whisper of the Heart (1995).

In 1990, the Japan Academy Film Prize Association gave a Special Award to Kiki's Delivery Service at the 13th the Japan Academy Film Prize,[7] and again in 1995 to Takahata's Pom Poko.

Yoshiyuki Tomino, famed for Gundam, mentioned it: "A hole that Hayao Miyazaki made spending ten years".

No franchise has ever won the award twice but Detective Conan is the most nominated franchise with 12 nominations while Doraemon, One Piece, Evangelion, Dragon Ball & Lupin III feature prominently.