The 9th Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025 were held on May 25th in Tokyo, Japan. While Solo Levelling dominated the award game this time (taking home a record-smashing nine awards), the two veteran series, Demon Slayer and Attack on Titan, weren’t behind in their winning legacy.
These wins reminded the anime world that no matter how crowded the stage gets, if the work is good, it will always withstand.
Demon Slayer Dethrones One Piece as Best Continuing Series
In a surprising turn, Demon Slayer clinched the Best Continuing Series award for its Hashira Training Arc. That too, by ending One Piece’s two-year winning streak in this category.
This loss for One Piece has come as quite a surprise; the series’ showcased meteoric improvement in animation quality for the Egghead Arc over the last year. However, Demon Slayer’s consistent delivery of high-quality storytelling and animation, especially in the Hashira Training Arc, resonated more with audiences and critics alike.
In an era where long-running series often lose their luster, Demon Slayer has done the unthinkable: it’s only getting sharper with age.
Attack on Titan Receives Inaugural Global Impact Award
And then there’s Attack on Titan, the apocalyptic plot that initially began as a bloody survival story and has now evolved into a cinematic masterpiece based on freedom, morality and ideology. While it may not have racked up a dozen trophies this year, it did win something far more significant: the inaugural Global Impact Award.
The accolade reflects the series’ role in bringing anime to a broader international audience and its contribution to the medium’s evolution. Director Yuichiro Hayashi accepted the award, highlighting the series’ journey and its impact on fans worldwide.
The Fandom Divided: Applause and Outrage
Of course, no anime award season would be complete without drama. Some fans weren’t thrilled with Demon Slayer’s double win, claiming the Hashira Training Arc was “just filler in pretty clothes.” Others felt Attack on Titan was being sentimentalised in its farewell.
But these fan wars will never stop. There is no doubt that all the series were well deserving. But not everyone can win, right? Sometimes the new ones will flip the script and in other times, the veterans will gatekeep the legacy. It is really not that deep after all.
Winners of the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025
- Solo Leveling won Anime of the Year, as well as Best Score and Best Main Character for Sung Jinwoo.
- The Film of the Year award went to Look Back
- Demon Slayer earned Best Animation and Best Continuing Series for the Hashira Training Arc.
- Keiichiro Saito was named Best Director for his work on Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End.
- Ninja Kamui was celebrated as Best Original Anime
- Blue Box claimed the award for Best Romance Anime.
- The catchy theme song Otokone by Creepy Nuts for Dan da Dan took home Best Anime Song
- The 2025 Anime Awards winners also honoured new voices and genres: Lohit Sharma was awarded Best Voice Actor (Hindi) for voicing Satoru Gojo in Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2.
With incredible performances, star presenters, and a long list of deserving 2025 Anime Awards winners, this year’s Crunchyroll Awards proved why anime continues to grow as a worldwide cultural force.
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