Animonsta Studios (Monsta) chief executive officer Nizam Abd Razak said the win was a good start for the local studio’s animation series in the Japanese, as well as international, market.

“We thank everyone who voted for ‘Mechamato’. We are very excited to have won the award … [in] a country famous for its animation industry.

“Monsta is confident that ‘Mechamato’ will be able to captivate the hearts of the Japanese audience, especially children, because of its unique concept and the story, which is full of noble values,” he said in a statement today.

Communications and digital minister Fahmi Fadzil congratulated Monsta on its success, saying on Facebook that “Mechamato” had brought glory to Malaysia with the win.

“It should be an inspiration for local players in the animation industry. The government will always support the industry’s efforts, especially in producing quality work without neglecting local values,” he added.

The victory was announced on TAAF’s official website yesterday, beating other series such as “Tiger & Bunny 2, Part 1” and “Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero”. The results were announced through TAAF’s official website.

“Mechamato” secured 40,590 votes, ahead of 50 other competitors in the same category.

“Mechamato” qualified to compete for the award after it premiered on Cartoon Network Japan in March last year. The popularity of the Malaysian animated series skyrocketed when it aired on Netflix Japan’s streaming platform in October.

The “Mechamato” series is currently shown in over 70 countries including Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and India.

“The Mechamato Movie”, which was shown in cinemas across Malaysia since Dec 8, has now collected more than RM36 million and is still screening for the 10th week.