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The Crunchyroll Anime Awards have come and gone once again, this time with record-breaking votes and flashy celebrity appearances. But for long-time anime fans, the results of the 2025 edition were less a celebration of artistic achievement and more a reminder of how popularity often outweighs nuance in these kinds of fan-voted contests.
A Celebration of Hype Over Substance
Let’s not beat around the bush—Solo Leveling swept the Crunchyroll Anime Awards. Nine awards, including Anime of the Year, Best Action, Best New Series, and even Best Score. Demon Slayer wasn’t far behind either, still raking in trophies for animation and continuing series despite being deep into its run. But here’s the thing: these wins aren’t really surprising. Crunchyroll’s voting system is driven by mainstream fan engagement, and the most widely-watched, heavily marketed titles naturally end up with the biggest haul.
This kind of structure all but guarantees that shows with stunning visuals and explosive trailers get the spotlight, even if the storytelling is skin-deep and the emotional payoff feels manufactured. Solo Leveling, for example, is undeniably eye-catching, but it’s not exactly pushing the boundaries of narrative or character depth. Same goes for Demon Slayer, which continues to dazzle with animation courtesy of ufotable but hasn’t exactly evolved past its early shonen formula.
Not All Doom and Gloom
To be fair, the Crunchyroll Anime Awards weren’t entirely devoid of merit. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End bagged Best Director, Best Supporting Character (Fern), Best Drama, and Best Background Art—well-deserved for a show that blends emotion and worldbuilding into something quietly profound. Look Back, a deeply personal film from Tatsuki Fujimoto (Chainsaw Man), won Best Film, standing out with its minimalism and emotional weight.
Mashle took home Best Comedy, and while it’s easy to mistake it for a simple gag-fest, its charm lies in its ability to parody shonen tropes while still delivering hype. Meanwhile, Re:Zero’s third season snatched Best Isekai, which is fair considering its consistently intricate storytelling and character work.
Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines also earned its moment with Best Slice of Life. It’s a tongue-in-cheek deconstruction of dating sim tropes that surprisingly lands with heart, especially for viewers who know the genre well. It’s proof that even lightweight series can offer emotional depth when they take the time to subvert expectations instead of just riding on them.
And then there’s Dan Da Dan, which took home Best Character Design and Best Anime Song for Creepy Nuts’ genre-bending banger, “Otonoke.” It’s chaotic, hilarious, deeply weird—and all the better for it. More importantly, it’s one of the few genre-blending anime that doesn’t lose focus amidst its supernatural antics and absurd comedy. Dan Da Dan might be loud and stylish, but it’s also bursting with creativity and character-driven moments that justify the hype.
The Real Tragedy: Overlooked Excellence
But nothing stings more than seeing genuinely great series get snubbed entirely. Delicious in Dungeon was nominated in 16 categories—and walked away with nothing. That’s hard to justify. Equal parts heartfelt and inventive, it’s one of the most refreshing fantasy anime in years. From its clever food-based worldbuilding to its character-driven storytelling, it deserved far more recognition than a silent presence on the ballot.
Equally frustrating is how The Apothecary Diaries was limited to a single voice acting award, despite being one of the best-crafted shows in its genre. Aoi Yūki delivered an excellent performance as Maomao, sure—but the show itself is a masterclass in slow-burn intrigue and cultural depth. With richly layered court politics, mystery elements, and an incredibly grounded female lead, The Apothecary Diaries offered a rare kind of intellectual storytelling that’s seldom celebrated in flashy awards shows.
Both these series prove that when anime leans into creative risks and grounded narratives, it can produce something truly special. But unfortunately, those stories often get overlooked in favor of the loudest, glossiest competitors.
Still, The World Keeps Turning
At the end of the day, the Crunchyroll Anime Awards isn’t gospel. They don’t define what makes a show great, and they definitely don’t reflect the full range of what anime has to offer. They’re a mirror to the loudest segments of the fandom—those who vote en masse for what’s trending and flashy.
So, if you’re a Solo Leveling or Demon Slayer fan, congrats. Seriously. You had a great awards season. But maybe, just maybe, take some time to check out shows like Frieren, Look Back, Delicious in Dungeon, The Apothecary Diaries, Makeine, or Dan Da Dan. You might just find a new favorite—and one that doesn’t need nine trophies at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards to prove its worth.
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