Summary:
- The 9th Crunchyroll Anime Awards celebrated 2024’s top anime with global stars and fans.
- Held in Tokyo, the ceremony showcased anime’s cultural influence and honored outstanding creators.
- The Anime of the Year winner surprised fans, sparking debates across the anime community.
The ninth-annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards officially wrapped up in Tokyo, Japan, and it was certainly an evening that would be remembered by all anime fans around the world. Held on Sunday, May 25, 2025, the event saw a stunning roster of global celebrities, creators, and enthusiastic fans come together to celebrate the best anime of 2024.
Whether you’ve been an anime fan for decades or were recently hooked on shows like Solo Leveling or Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, the 2025 Anime Awards had a little something for everyone, from heartwarming slice-of-life stories to high-octane action epics.
Below is everything you need to know about the ceremony, from its A-list presenters to how to watch it, followed by a complete list of this year’s winners.
Table of Contents
Celebrity Presenters from Across the Globe
Crunchyroll pulled out all the stops this year with an amazing lineup of global hosts. Each one was full of excitement and love for anime as they presented each of the different award categories.
Among the most notable of these speakers were:
- Finn Wolfhard and Gaten Matarazzo (Stranger Things)
- Damiano David (lead singer of Måneskin)
- Chloe Kim (Olympic gold medal snowboarder)
- Pabllo Vittar (Brazilian pop artist)
- Dean Fujioka and Kanata Hongo (both renowned Japanese actors)
- Ironmouse (Twitch streamer and VTuber)
- Rina Sawayama, Gigguk, Plastique Tiara, Paloma Mami, etc.
This diverse lineup of performers mirrored the extent to which anime has influenced music, fashion, video games, and popular culture all around the world.
How to Watch the Anime Awards 2025
Fans who missed the live broadcast can still watch the full ceremony and highlights on the official on Sony’s official YouTube channel. Several of the winning and nominated works are also available to stream on the website, so you can jump straight into some of the best of 2024’s anime lineup.
Complete List of Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025 Winners
In the days leading up to the event, fans could vote daily up to April 14. To further fuel the anticipation even more, Crunchyroll offered some of the nominated anime for free streaming, so that the fans could watch them beforehand and then vote. The competition was stiff, with anime such as Dandadan, Kaiju No. 8, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, and The Apothecary Diaries earning nominations in multiple categories.
Anime of the Year
Nominees for this category are as follows:
- Dandadan
- Delicious in Dungeon
- Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Kaiju No. 8
- Solo Leveling
- The Apothecary Diaries
Winner: Solo Leveling
Film of the Year
Nominees for this category are as follows:
- HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle
- Look Back
- Mononoke The Movie: The Phantom in the Rain
- My Hero Academia: You’re Next
- SPY x FAMILY CODE: White
- The Colors Within
Winner: Look Back
Best Original Anime
Nominees for this category are as follows:
- BUCCHIGIRI?!
- GIRLS BAND CRY
- Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night
- Metallic Rouge
- Ninja Kamui
- Train to the End of the World
Winner: Ninja Kamui
Best Continuing Series
Nominees for this category are as follows:
- BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Conflict
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc
- My Hero Academia Season 7
- ONE PIECE
- Oshi no Ko Season 2
- SPY × FAMILY Season 2
Winner: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc
Best New Series
Nominees for this category are as follows:
- Dandadan
- Delicious in Dungeon
- Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Kaiju No. 8
- Solo Leveling
- The Apothecary Diaries
Winner: Solo Leveling
Best Opening Sequence
Nominees for this category are as follows:
- Abyss – Yungblud – Kaiju No. 8
- Bling-Bang-Bang-Born – Creepy Nuts – MASHLE: MAGIC AND MUSCLES The Divine Visionary Candidate Exam Arc
- Fatal – GEMN – Oshi no Ko Season 2
- LEveL – SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]: TOMORROW X TOGETHER – Solo Leveling
- Otonoke – Creepy Nuts – Dandadan
- UUUUUS! – Hiroshi Kitadani – ONE PIECE
Winner: Otonoke – Creepy Nuts – Dandadan
Best Ending Sequence
Nominees for this category are as follows:
- Antanante – riria. – Ranma ½
- Burning – Hitsujibungaku – Oshi no Ko Season 2
- KAMAKURA STYLE – BotchiBoromaru – The Elusive Samurai
- Nobody – OneRepublic – Kaiju No. 8
- request – krage – Solo Leveling
- TAIDADA – ZUTOMAYO – Dandadan
Winner: request – krage – Solo Leveling
Best Action
Nominees for this category are as follows:
- BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Conflict
- Dandadan
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc
- Kaiju No. 8
- Solo Leveling
- WIND BREAKER
Winner: Solo Leveling
Best Comedy
Nominees for this category are as follows:
- Delicious in Dungeon
- KONOSUBA -God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World! 3
- MASHLE: MAGIC AND MUSCLES The Divine Visionary Candidate Exam Arc
- My Deer Friend Nokotan
- Ranma ½
- SPY × FAMILY Season 2
Winner: MASHLE: MAGIC AND MUSCLES The Divine Visionary Candidate Exam Arc
Best Drama
Nominees for this category are as follows:
- A Sign of Affection
- DEAD DEAD DEMONS DEDEDEDE DESTRUCTION
- Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Oshi no Ko Season 2
- Pluto
- The Apothecary Diaries
Winner: Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Best Isekai Anime
Nominees for this category are as follows:
- KONOSUBA -God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World! 3
- Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation (Season 2, Cour 2)
- Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 3
- Shangri-La Frontier Season 2
- Suicide Squad ISEKAI
- That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 3
Winner: Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 3
Best Romance
Nominees for this category are as follows:
- A Sign of Affection
- Blue Box
- Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines!
- Ranma ½
- Scott Pilgrim Takes Off
- The Dangers in My Heart Season 2
Winner: Blue Box
Best Slice of Life
Nominees for this category are as follows:
- Laid-Back Camp Season 3
- Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines!
- Mr. Villain’s Day Off
- My Deer Friend Nokotan
- Sound! Euphonium 3
- The Dangers in My Heart Season 2
Winner: Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines!
Best Animation
Nominees for this category are as follows:
- Dandadan – Science SARU
- Delicious in Dungeon – Trigger Studios
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc – Ufotable
- Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End – Madhouse
- Kaiju No. 8 – Production I.G
- Solo Leveling – A-1 Pictures
Winner: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc – Ufotable
Best Background Art
Nominees for this category are as follows:
- Dandadan
- Delicious in Dungeon
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc
- Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Pluto
- The Apothecary Diaries
Winner: Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Best Character Design
Nominees for this category are as follows:
- Dandadan
- Delicious in Dungeon
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc
- Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Kaiju No. 8
- The Apothecary Diaries
Winner: Dandadan
Best Director
Nominees for this category are as follows:
- Fuga Yamashiro – Dandadan
- Haruo Sotozaki – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc
- Keiichiro Saito – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Megumi Ishitani – ONE PIECE FAN LETTER
- Norihiro Naganuma – The Apothecary Diaries
- Yoshihiro Miyajima – Delicious in Dungeon
Winner: Keiichiro Saito – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Best Main Character
Nominees for this category are as follows:
- Frieren – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Kafka Hibino – Kaiju No. 8
- Okarun – Dandadan
- Maomao – The Apothecary Diaries
- Momo – Dandadan
- Sung Jinwoo – Solo Leveling
Winner: Sung Jinwoo – Solo Leveling
Best Supporting Character
Nominees for this category are as follows:
- Fern – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Himmel – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Jinshi – The Apothecary Diaries
- Seiko – Dandadan
- Senshi – Delicious in Dungeon
- Turbo Granny – Dandadan
Winner: Fern – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
“Must Protect At All Cost” Character
Nominees for this category are as follows:
- Anya Forger – SPY × FAMILY Season 2
- Frieren – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Okarun – Dandadan
- Senshi – Delicious in Dungeon
- Tokiyuki Hojo – The Elusive Samurai
- Yuki Itose – A Sign of Affection
Winner: Anya Forger – SPY × FAMILY Season 2
Best Anime Song
Nominees for this category are as follows:
- Abyss – Yungblud – Kaiju No. 8
- Bling-Bang-Bang-Born – Creepy Nuts – MASHLE: MAGIC AND MUSCLES The Divine Visionary Candidate Exam Arc
- Fatal – GEMN – Oshi no Ko Season 2
- LEveL – SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]: TOMORROW X TOGETHER – Solo Leveling
- Otonoke – Creepy Nuts – Dandadan
- The Brave – YOASOBI – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Winner: Otonoke – Creepy Nuts – Dandadan
Best Score
Nominees for this category are as follows:
- BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Conflict – Shiro Sagisu
- Dandadan – Kensuke Ushio
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc – Yuki Kajiura, Go Shiina
- Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End – Evan Call
- Look Back – Haruka Nakamura
- Solo Leveling – Hiroyuki Sawano
Winner: Solo Leveling – Hiroyuki Sawano
Best Voice Acting Performance (Japanese)
Nominees for this category are as follows:
- Aoi Yuki as Maomao – The Apothecary Diaries
- Atsumi Tanezaki as Frieren – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Kenichi Suzumura as Bravern – Brave Bang Bravern!
- Shion Wakayama as Momo – Dandadan
- Sayaka Sembongi as Marcille – Delicious in Dungeon
- Natsuki Hanae as Okarun – Dandadan
Winner: Aoi Yuki as Maomao – The Apothecary Diaries
Best Voice Acting Performance (English)
Nominees for this category are as follows:
- AJ Beckles as Okarun – Dandadan
- Aleks Le as Sung Jinwoo – Solo Leveling
- Jessie James Grelle as Armin Arlelt – Attack on Titan Final Season THE FINAL CHAPTERS Special 2
- Mallorie Rodak as Frieren – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Sarah Natochenny as Alya – Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian
- SungWon Cho as Senshi – Delicious in Dungeon
Winner: Aleks Le as Sung Jinwoo – Solo Leveling
Best Voice Acting Performance (Arabic)
Nominees for this category are as follows:
- Basil Al-Rifai as Loid Forger – SPY × FAMILY Season 2
- Hiba Snobar as Anya Forger – SPY × FAMILY Season 2
- Julien Chaaya as Isagi – Blue Lock vs. U-20 Japan
- Lama AlSayyagh as Marcille – Delicious in Dungeon
- Mohammed Sami as Rin – Blue Lock vs. U-20 Japan
- Nawar AlMahairi as Laios – Delicious in Dungeon
Winner: Hiba Snobar as Anya Forger – SPY × FAMILY Season 2
Best Voice Acting Performance (Brazilian Portuguese)
Nominees for this category are as follows:
- Bruna Laynes as Marcille – Delicious in Dungeon
- Celso Henrique as Sunraku – Shangri-La Frontier Season 1
- Charles Emmanuel as Sung Jinwoo – Solo Leveling
- Gigi Patta as Maomao – The Apothecary Diaries
- Heitor Assali as Reno Ichikawa – Kaiju No. 8
- Pedro Azevedo as Dot Barrett – MASHLE: MAGIC AND MUSCLES The Divine Visionary Candidate Exam Arc
Winner: Charles Emmanuel as Sung Jinwoo – Solo Leveling
Best Voice Acting Performance (Castilian Spanish)
Nominees for this category are as follows:
- Ainhoa Maiquez as Miyo Saimori – My Happy Marriage
- Clara Schwarze as Akane Tendo – Ranma ½
- Jorge Peña as Senshi – Delicious in Dungeon
- Mario Ballart as Kafka Hibino – Kaiju No. 8
- Masumi Mutsuda as Sung Jinwoo – Solo Leveling
- Sandra Villa as Frieren – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Winner: Masumi Mutsuda as Sung Jinwoo – Solo Leveling
Best Voice Acting Performance (French)
Nominees for this category are as follows:
- Adrien Antoine as Kafka Hibino – Kaiju No. 8
- Audrey Sablé as Naomi Orthmann – Metallic Rouge
- Jaynelia Coadou as Momo – Dandadan
- Julien Allouf as Jinshi – The Apothecary Diaries
- Marie Nonnenmacher as Frieren – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Martin Faliu as Ranma Saotome – Ranma ½
Winner: Adrien Antoine as Kafka Hibino – Kaiju No. 8
Best Voice Acting Performance (German)
Nominees for this category are as follows:
- Daniel Schlauch as Monkey D. Luffy – One Piece
- Felix Kamin as Kafka Hibino – Kaiju No. 8
- Florian Knorn as Ranma Saotome – Ranma ½
- Franciska Friede as Momo – Dandadan
- Jörg Hengstler as Kogoro Mori – Detective Conan: Black Iron Submarine
- Magdalena Höfner as Marcille – Delicious in Dungeon
Winner: Daniel Schlauch as Monkey D. Luffy – One Piece
Best Voice Acting Performance (Hindi)
Nominees for this category are as follows:
- Abhishek Sharma as Einar – Vinland Saga Season 2
- Lohit Sharma as Satoru Gojo – Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2
- Natasha John as Frieren – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Rajesh Shukla as Sung Jinwoo – Solo Leveling
- Ranjit R Tiwari as Yoichi Isagi – Blue Lock vs. U-20 Japan
- Rushikesh Phunse as Kafka Hibino – Kaiju No. 8
Winner: Lohit Sharma as Satoru Gojo – Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2
Best Voice Acting Performance (Italian)
Nominees for this category are as follows:
- Alessandro Pili as Kenma Kozume – HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle
- Andrea Oldani as Jinshi – The Apothecary Diaries
- Ilaria Pellicone as Kyomoto – Look Back
- Katia Sorrentino as Neia Baraja – OVERLORD: The Sacred Kingdom
- Martina Felli as Frieren – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Mattia Bressan as Kafka Hibino – Kaiju No. 8
Winner: Ilaria Pellicone as Kyomoto – Look Back
Best Voice Acting Performance (Latin Spanish)
Nominees for this category are as follows:
- Alicia Vélez as Momo – Dandadan
- Desireé González as Maomao – The Apothecary Diaries
- Erika Ugalde as Frieren – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Luis Leonardo Suárez as Muzan Kibutsuji – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc
- Miguel Ángel Leal as Eren Jaeger – Attack on Titan Final Season THE FINAL CHAPTERS Special 2
- Omar Sánchez as Kafka Hibino – Kaiju No. 8
Winner: Miguel Ángel Leal as Eren Jaeger – Attack on Titan Final Season THE FINAL CHAPTERS Special 2
What Makes the Anime Awards Unique
One of the greatest things about the Crunchyroll Anime Awards is the way it resonates with the fans by giving them a chance to vote for their favourite anime. Even though the nominees are selected by a panel of judges, it’s the global anime community that determines the winners. That fan-driven process gives every category a more personal, emotional significance.
Also Read:
- 10 Best Anime by Toei Animation You Must Watch – Ranked
- 10 Anime Where the MC Is Rich but Hides It
- 10 Anime Where the Main Character is a Psychopath
What was originally a niche fan event has grown into a massive global phenomenon. It honors not only veteran creators and studios but also newcomers and new talent. With anime now influencing everything from sports and video games to fashion and Hollywood, the awards have grown to be more than an awards night, they’re a representation of anime’s ongoing cultural impact.
Final Thoughts
2024 was an amazing year for anime. We had heartfelt storytelling, excellent characters, and some of the best animation in years. Even if your favorite anime didn’t win, the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025 already accomplished its mission of uniting anime fans across the globe, and that alone is a cause for celebration.
