Crunchyroll’s Anime Awards are an opportunity to rejoice your favourite reveals, characters, and performances from the earlier 12 months. While a panel of judges could resolve on the nominees themselves, the winners of every class are finally determined by followers. The anime streaming service formally introduced the nominees for the ninth Anime Awards final month, and whereas the voting interval is over, you continue to have time to catch up earlier than the massive occasion on May 25.
At the 2024 Anime Awards, the grand prize (and 10 different awards) went to Jujutsu Kaisen. In 2025, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End leads the cost with 25 nominations, although Dan Da Dan is not far behind at 22. Here’s tips on how to watch this 12 months’s nominees for Anime of the Year.
Nominees for Anime of the Year
For this 12 months’s Anime Awards, Crunchyroll introduced expanded eligibility requirements. Any sequence that aired between October 31, 2023 and December 31, 2024, which incorporates 5 anime ‘seasons,’ is eligible. With that in thoughts, listed here are the nominees for Anime of the Year:
Dan Da Dan
Dan Da Dan, produced by Science Saru, follows a pair of eccentric youngsters who uncover that each aliens and demons are actual. Season 2 of Dan Da Dan begins airing this summer time, and one can hope they use a gap as catchy because the first season’s.
Where to Stream: Crunchyroll, Netflix, or Hulu
Delicious in Dungeon
The solely Netflix unique anime to make this checklist, the primary season of Delicious in Dungeon ran for twenty-four episodes. Adapted from the manga by Ryoko Kui, the seinen anime follows a gaggle of adventurers pressured to search out meal choices within the depths of, effectively, a dungeon.
Where to Stream: Netflix
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
The Elven mage Frieren as soon as travelled in a celebration that defeated the Demon King, however her lengthy lifespan means she’s outlived all of her buddies. As she decides to take a younger human mage underneath her wing, she considers tips on how to discover which means in fleeting lifetimes. Frieren is, for my part, the nominee more than likely to make you cry or have an existential disaster.
Where to Stream: Crunchyroll or Netflix
Kaiju No. 8
Kaiju No. 8 (often known as Monster No. 8 in English) is a play on the “Man Becomes a Monster to Hunt Monsters” trope that is all the time been fashionable in anime. Kafka Hibino initially joins a job drive to take revenge on the Kaiju who destroyed his city, however a parasite flying into his mouth makes his plan slightly extra sophisticated.
Where to Stream: Crunchyroll
Solo Leveling
While each different anime on this checklist began off as a serialized manga in Japan, Solo Leveling as an alternative began as a Korean net comedian on WebToon. A-1 Pictures produces the anime adaptation, which not too long ago surpassed One Piece to change into probably the most reviewed anime of all time on Crunchyroll.
Where to Stream: Crunchyroll
The Apothecary Diaries
The Apothecary Diaries has been tailored into loads of mediums over time, together with a manga licensed by Square Enix, however the seinen story reached new ranges of recognition with its anime adaptation. Set in an alternate model of the Tang Dynasty, The Apothecary Diaries has aired for 2 seasons thus far.
Where to Stream: Crunchyroll, Netflix, or Hulu
Check Out the Rest of the Nominees
Anime of the Year often is the largest award, however classes embody each style of anime (this 12 months added “Best Isekai Anime” to the checklist), in addition to awards for characters, dubbed voice performances, and even opening songs. You can try the complete checklist of classes and nominees here.
When Are the Anime Awards?
The 2025 Anime Awards will happen in Tokyo on May 25. The occasion might be livestreamed on Crunchyroll, with extra particulars to come back. In the meantime, Crunchyroll can be celebrating “Ani-May,” making a collection of their library free to stream and partnering with shops throughout the globe for merch offers and in-person occasions.
Blythe (she/her) is an search engine optimisation Coordinator at IGN who spends means an excessive amount of time in character customization screens and monitoring down collectibles.
