Gachiakuta holds a slim lead in trader sentiment for the Crunchyroll Anime Awards Best Background Art category, fueled by its dominant nomination haul across 16 categories and Bones studio’s proven track record for intricate, atmospheric world-building in high-stakes action series. The Summer Hikaru Died and Kowloon Generic Romance trail closely, capitalizing on strong critical reception for their distinctive visual moods—the former through Cygames Pictures’ eerie, rural decay and the latter via Arvo Animation’s stylized urban detail. DAN DA DAN Season 2, The Apothecary Diaries Season 2, and CITY THE ANIMATION round out the field, each drawing support from established studio reputations such as Science Saru’s kinetic flair, Toho Animation’s meticulous period settings, and Kyoto Animation’s signature painterly precision. With the May 23 ceremony just days away, momentum hinges on guild-like precursor buzz and fan voting patterns that historically reward technically ambitious newcomers over sequels.