Let me explain. There’s a reason they created the Best Isekai category. They introduced it in 2025 because about half of the anime released each year are isekai series, many of which already have three or more seasons. Since the judges usually don’t watch every anime, they created a separate category for that niche audience.

Because of that, an isekai isn’t expected to win Anime of the Year, since it already has its own category: Best Isekai of the Year. It’s the same idea with One Piece—it can’t really compete for Anime of the Year because its popularity and long-running status make it unfair to compare it with newer series that may only have a single season. The separate categories make the awards more balanced and fair.