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 (TAF) 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 (TAAF). Notably, there are Open Entry Awards for amateur creators (the Grand Prize winner is awarded with one million yen). 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. (See also: Animation Kobe).

Animation of the Year

All anime released from December 1 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 (film), Hanada Shōnen-shi (TV) and Sentō Yōsei Yukikaze (OVA) Since 2014, Tokyo Anime Award Festival has given an Anime of the Year Grand Prize in two categories, Film and Television.

Anime Fan Award

Picking from over 300-400 titles from television and films, anime fans vote from the candidate pool to pick the best 100 from those titles, with 20 of these titles being films and 80 being television titles. Fans then participate in a runoff vote in order to determine a recipient amongst the 100 chosen titles for the Anime Fan Award. Initial qualifications to become candidates required titles to have aired from November of the year before the festival to October of the current year in Japan. However, this has since been twice changed — first in 2017 to be from October to October, and again in 2020 to be from October to September.

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.

Notable Entry

The excellent works of the year are chosen according to each section. {| border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="100%" ! width=50% valign="top" align="left" style="font-weight:normal"|

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"|

Domestic Feature Film Category

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. {| border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="100%" ! width=50% valign="top" align="left" style="font-weight:normal"|

OVA Category

The Original Video Animations (OVAs) 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 (2003 and 2006) and Diebuster (2005 and 2007) 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.

Best Screenplay

The awards for screenwriters.

Best Screenplay / Original Story

The awards for screenwriters since 2014.

Best Art Direction

The awards for the staffs of art direction.

Best Character Designer

The awards for character designers.

Best Voice Actor

The awards for voice actors by their performance. Rumi Hiiragi (2002) and Chieko Baisho (2005) are more famous as actress in Japan.

Best Music

The awards for composers (and other music related people).

Best Animator

The awards for animators since 2014.

Merit Award