Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025: The Ultimate Breakdown
Yooo what's good anime fam! Just witnessed the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025 last night (I know I know it was the day before yesterday, but I wrote this part yesterday, but I couldn't finish because I got swamped with some last minute submissions 😒 Story of life of an Engineering student 🥺) and I'm STILL processing everything that went down. Like, imagine if the Oscars actually understood what makes good entertainment—swap those boring speeches for epic anime moments, trade tuxedos for sick cosplays, and crank the drama up to Jujutsu Kaisen levels of chaos.
Real talk though? This year hit different. We had J Balvin and Kacey Musgraves pulling up (because apparently anime is finally cool enough for mainstream celebs), and the community was more hyped than when Attack on Titan's final season actually ended. So grab your boba, settle in, and let's dive into this beautiful disaster of wins, snubs, and "did that really just happen?" moments.
Best New Series: Solo Leveling
Because apparently winning eight awards wasn't enough, they had to collect this one too. It's giving main character energy, and I'm not even mad about it. When your debut season sets records and breaks the internet weekly, yeah, you deserve every award they throw at you.
Personal note: Watching Solo Leveling week by week was like getting a shot of pure serotonin every episode. That moment when Jinwoo first uses Shadow Extraction? Chef's kiss Still gives me goosebumps.
Best Continuing Series: Demon Slayer – Hashira Training Arc
Ufotable really said "we're gonna make water look so good you'll question reality" and then proceeded to do exactly that. The Demon Slayer Hashira Training Arc won this category and honestly? The animation alone deserves it.
BUT (and this is a big but), some of us are getting a tiny bit of franchise fatigue. Like, we get it—Tanjiro's a good boy, the animation is gorgeous, but where's the narrative innovation? It's starting to feel like beautiful wallpaper over the same formula.
Runners-up: One Piece (still going strong), JJK
Hot take: One Piece deserved this more. That manga has been consistently delivering peak fiction for 25+ years while other series are still figuring out their second act.
Best Original Anime: Ninja Kamui
Finally, some love for original content! In a world where every anime is either an adaptation or a sequel, Ninja Kamui came through with fresh ideas and sick action choreography. Original IP getting recognition? We love to see it.
The fight scenes in this show were absolutely unhinged in the best way possible. Every episode felt like watching a live-action movie but with animation that could actually keep up with the insanity.
Best Film: Look Back
Yo, if you watched Look Back and didn't ugly cry, you might be a robot. This movie said "let's explore art, friendship, and regret in under an hour" and then proceeded to emotionally devastate an entire generation of anime fans.
The way it captured that feeling of "what if I'd made different choices?" hits different when you're already having an existential crisis about your own creative dreams. Peak cinema, no cap.
Runner-up: Suzume (still mad this didn't win, but Look Back earned it)
Best Director: Keiichiro Saito (Frieren)
Saito really took a slow-burn fantasy about an elf processing grief and turned it into appointment television. That takes SKILL. Balancing introspection with adventure, making every episode feel meaningful without being pretentious—that's director-of-the-year material right there.
Frieren could've easily been boring in the wrong hands, but Saito made every moment count. Even the quiet scenes had weight.
Best Main Character: Sung Jinwoo (Solo Leveling)
The glow-up king himself! From literal weakest hunter to "I can solo raid bosses with my shadow army"—Jinwoo's character development was perfection. His journey hit every beat of a satisfying power fantasy without feeling unearned.
Runners-up: Maomao (The Apothecary Diaries), Frieren
Personal bias: Maomao deserved more love, but I can't argue with Jinwoo's win. That man carried an entire series on his back and made it look effortless.
Best Supporting Character: Fern (Frieren)
The quiet MVP of the year. Fern's character development was subtle but impactful—watching her grow from apprentice to equal was beautiful. She's the emotional anchor that keeps Frieren grounded, and her loyalty hits different.
This win feels earned because Fern never felt like just "the sidekick." She had her own arc, her own struggles, and her own victories.
"Must Protect At All Costs" Character: Anya Forger (SPY x FAMILY)
Three-peat champion! Anya continues to reign supreme in the "adorable child who steals every scene" category. Her facial expressions alone deserve their own award category.
That little chaos gremlin has had us wrapped around her finger since episode one, and we're not even embarrassed about it. Long may she rule.
Best Action: Solo Leveling
Every fight scene was a masterclass in "how to make viewers lose their absolute minds." The animation, the choreography, the way they made Jinwoo's power-ups feel earned—perfection.
I lost count of how many times I rewatched the Jeju Island raid. That shadow army reveal? Still gives me chills.
Runner-up: JJK (Gojo vs. Sukuna was insane, but Solo Leveling's consistency won out)
Best Drama: Frieren
This show really said "what if we explored grief and the passage of time through fantasy adventure?" and then made us all question our mortality. Every episode was an emotional gut-punch disguised as cozy fantasy.
The way Frieren handles the concept of time and relationships when you're immortal? Peak storytelling. It's philosophical without being pretentious, emotional without being manipulative.
Best Romance: Blue Box
Sports romance done right! Blue Box captured that awkward, exciting feeling of young love without making it cringe. The chemistry between the leads felt genuine, and the sports elements actually enhanced the romance instead of competing with it.
Runner-up: Too Many Losing Heroines! (brought the laughs AND the feels)
Best Comedy: Mashle: Magic and Muscles
This show looked at Harry Potter and said "what if the chosen one just punched everything instead of using magic?" and somehow made it work perfectly. The parody was on point, the timing was chef's kiss, and it never overstayed its welcome.
Mashle's deadpan delivery of the most ridiculous situations had me dying every episode. Comedy anime of the year, no contest.
Best Slice of Life: Too Many Losing Heroines!
Finally, a slice-of-life that gave the "losing" heroines their moment to shine! This show was wholesome chaos—heartfelt moments mixed with genuine humor and characters you actually cared about.
It's rare to find slice-of-life that doesn't feel like watching paint dry, but this one kept me invested every episode.
Best Isekai: Re:ZERO Season 3
Still the king of suffering! Re:ZERO continues to prove that the isekai genre can be more than just power fantasy and harem shenanigans. The psychological depth, the character development, the way it subverts every isekai trope—still unmatched.
Subaru's journey continues to be equal parts inspiring and traumatizing, and we wouldn't have it any other way.
Best Character Design: Dan Da Dan
Those designs were WILD in the best way possible. Every character felt unique and memorable—no generic anime faces here. The supernatural elements were creatively integrated, and the overall aesthetic was unforgettable.
Dan Da Dan really said "let's make character designs that actually stand out in a crowded field" and delivered.
Best Opening Sequence: "Otonoke" by Creepy Nuts (Dan Da Dan)
This OP lived in my head rent-free for months. Catchy beat, sick visuals, and it perfectly captured the chaotic energy of the show. The kind of opening that makes you actively avoid the skip button.
Crunchyroll Awards 2025 winners really understood what makes a good OP—it's not just the song, it's how it makes you FEEL about the show.
Best Anime Ending Sequence: "request" by krage (Solo Leveling)
Okay, can we talk about how this ED came out of NOWHERE and absolutely destroyed us? Like, you'd finish an episode all hyped up from Jinwoo being an absolute unit, and then "request" starts playing and suddenly you're in your feelings about his lonely journey to the top.
The visuals were pure mood—that moody montage capturing Jinwoo's isolation despite all his power? Hit different every single time. krage really understood the assignment and delivered an ending that made you sit through the credits just to process what you'd witnessed.
Hot take: This was the perfect cooldown after each adrenaline rush. Most EDs just exist, but "request" actually enhanced the viewing experience.
Personal bias though: "TAIDADA" by ZUTOMAYO from Dan Da Dan had me absolutely VIBING. That track was chaotic perfection—catchy, wild, and matched the show's unhinged energy so perfectly. I'm still mad it didn't win, but "request" earned it.
Best Animation: Demon Slayer – Hashira Training Arc
Listen, Ufotable just keeps flexing on every other studio and it's honestly unfair at this point. Every single frame looks like it belongs in an art gallery, and don't even get me started on how they animate water effects—that stuff is straight up magic.
The way they made sword techniques look so fluid and impactful? I was pausing episodes just to admire the sakuga. When Tanjiro does literally anything with his breathing techniques, my jaw drops every time.
Hot take: This wasn't even a competition. Ufotable is playing a different game than everyone else right now.
Best Background Art: Frieren
Yo, the landscapes in Frieren were absolutely INSANE. Like, every single background looked like a Studio Ghibli painting had a baby with a fantasy novel cover. The way they used environments to enhance the storytelling? Chef's kiss
Each scene felt like you could step into it and explore for hours. The attention to detail in every forest, every town, every magical vista—it all added this extra layer of immersion that made the journey feel real.
Personal take: This category wasn't even close. Frieren's backgrounds were pure eye candy that served the story perfectly.
Best Score: Solo Leveling
HIROYUKI SAWANO STRIKES AGAIN! This man really looked at Solo Leveling and said "you know what this power fantasy needs? The most epic soundtrack ever created." And then he went and DID IT.
Every battle theme hit like a truck full of hype. The way the music swelled when Jinwoo activated his powers? Goosebumps every single time. Sawano's compositions turned good scenes into legendary moments.
Real talk: The moment that first shadow extraction theme dropped, I knew this soundtrack was going to live in my workout playlist forever. Sawano is just built different when it comes to making anime music that gets your blood pumping.
Anime of the Year: Solo Leveling
HOLY. F. LEVELING.
Bruh, Sung Jinwoo didn't just win—he straight up dominated the entire ceremony. Nine awards. NINE! That's not winning, that's establishing a whole dynasty. This manhwa-turned-anime juggernaut came in swinging and reminded everyone why the best anime 2025 crown belongs to stories that actually understand pacing and character growth.
From weakest hunter to literal god-tier badass, Jinwoo's glow-up was the definition of satisfying. Every episode had me on the edge of my seat like "okay but HOW is he gonna get out of this one?" and then BAM—shadow army goes brrrr.
Runners-up: Frieren (my heart), Demon Slayer, JJK
Hot take: This was the right call. Fight me. Frieren had the feels, but Solo Leveling had the complete package—animation, story, hype, and that sweet sweet power fantasy we all secretly crave.
My Personal Salt Corner (Because I Have FEELINGS)
Okay, real talk time. The Apothecary Diaries got ROBBED. Maomao's intelligence, wit, and unique perspective deserved way more recognition. Aoi YÅ«ki winning Best VA Performance (Japanese) was deserved, but the series itself? Criminally underrated.
That show had everything—mystery, character development, historical intrigue, and a protagonist who uses her brain instead of just punching things. The fact that it didn't win more categories is a crime against good taste.
And can we talk about Dan Da Dan for a second? This show was pure vibes—supernatural comedy that actually worked, character designs that popped, and an opening theme that became everyone's obsession. It deserved more love than just two categories.
Also, shoutout to all the Frieren fans who are probably crying into their tissues right now. That show was emotional perfection, and while I'm happy it won Best Drama and Best Director, it deserved Anime of the Year too. Sometimes the safe choice isn't the wrong choice, but it still hurts.
The Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025 proved one thing—we're living in the golden age of anime. Even when our favorites get snubbed, we're still eating GOOD. The variety, the quality, the sheer amount of incredible content we got this year? We're spoiled, and I'm not even mad about it.
Best anime 2025 continues to be whatever makes you question your life choices at 3 AM while ugly crying over fictional characters, and honestly? That's the most valid metric there is.
Now excuse me while I go rewatch Solo Leveling episode 8 for the hundredth time and continue having way too many feelings about animated characters.
The anime awards drama sustains my soul, and I wouldn't change a thing. ✌️
Peace out, fellow anime maniacs! See you next year when we do this whole beautiful mess again!
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