Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025: ‘Frieren’, ‘Dandadan’ and ‘Solo Leveling’ lead this year’s nominees-OxBig News Network

Crunchyroll has announced the nominees for the ninth annual Anime Awards, with six standout titles competing for Anime of the Year: Dandadan, Delicious in Dungeon, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Kaiju No. 8, Solo Leveling, and The Apothecary Diaries.

This year’s awards include expanded eligibility, allowing any anime that aired between October 31, 2023, and December 31, 2024, to qualify. Voting is now open on the Anime Awards website and runs through April 14. Winners will be determined through a mix of fan votes and input from a global panel of judges.

The ceremony will be held on May 25 in Tokyo, Japan, and promises to be a star-studded event. Hosts Sally Amaki and Jon Kabira will return to lead the evening, with opening remarks by Hiroki Totoki, President and CEO of Sony Group Corporation.

ALSO READ:How anime hit ‘Orb: On the Movements of the Earth’ became one of the most dangerous stories of our time

A mix of international and Japanese celebrities are set to present awards, including Stranger Things actors Finn Wolfhard and Gaten Matarazzo, entertainers Chocolate Planet, voice actor Kanata Hongo, singer Rina Sawayama, Olympic gold medalist Chloe Kim, and VTuber Ironmouse, among others. Drag artist Pabllo Vittar was previously announced as a presenter.

Crunchyroll President Rahul Purini emphasised the importance of the awards: “Anime continues to deeply resonate emotionally with fans, and anime’s biggest night of the year is sure to invoke a lot of joy and pride amongst the anime community — fans and creators alike.”

Here a full list of nominees for the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards:

Anime of the Year

Dandadan – A chaotic sci-fi comedy about teens caught between lewd aliens and wiener-chomping ghosts.

Delicious in Dungeon – Adventurers turn to dungeon cuisine to survive in this fantasy-meets-food saga.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End – An immortal elf reflects on life and loss after the hero’s journey ends.

Kaiju No. 8 – A man becomes the very monster he set out to destroy in this action-packed series.

Solo Leveling – A weak hunter gains godlike powers in this Korean manhwa-turned-anime phenomenon.

The Apothecary Diaries – A clever maid uses her knowledge of medicine to uncover secrets in an imperial court.

Film of the Year

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

Best Original Anime

Bucchigiri?!

Girls Band Cry

Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night

Metallic Rouge

Ninja Kamui

Train to the End of the World

Best Continuing Series

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Conflict

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc

My Hero Academia, My Hero Academia Season 7

One Piece

【Oshi No Ko】【Oshi No Ko】Season 2

Spy × Family, Spy × Family Season 2

Best New Series

Dandadan

Delicious in Dungeon

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

Kaiju No. 8

Solo Leveling

The Apothecary Diaries

Best Opening Sequence

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

Best Ending Sequence

Antanante – riria. – Ranma1/2

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

Best Action

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Conflict

Dandadan

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc

Kaiju No. 8

Solo Leveling

Wind Breaker

Best Comedy

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

Ranma1/2

Spy x Family Season 2

Best Drama

A Sign of Affection

Dead Dead Demons Dededede Destruction

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

【Oshi No Ko】Season 2

Pluto

The Apothecary Diaries

Best Isekai Anime

Konosyba -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

Best Romance

A Sign of Affection

Blue Box

Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines!

Ranma1/2

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off

The Dangers in My Heart Season 2

Best Slice of Life

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

Best Animation

Dandadan

Delicious in Dungeon

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

Kaiju No. 8

Solo Leveling

Best Background Art

Dandadan

Delicious in Dungeon

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

Pluto

The Apothecary Diaries

Best Character Design

Dandadan

Delicious in Dungeon

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

Kaiju No. 8

The Apothecary Diaries

Best Director

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

Best Main Character

Frieren – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

Kafka Hibino – Kaiju No. 8

Okarun – Dandadan

Maomao – The Apothecary Diaries

Momo – Dandadan

Sung Jinwoo – Solo Leveling

Best Supporting Character

Fern – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

Himmel – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

Jinshi – The Apothecary Diaries

Seiko – Dandadan

Senshi – Delicious in Dungeon

Turbo Granny – Dandadann

“Must Protect At All Cost” Character

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

Best Anime Song

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

Best Score

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

Best Japanese Voice Artist Performance

Aoi Yuki (Maomao) – The Apothecary Diaries

Atsumi Tanezaki (Frieren) – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

Kenichi Suzumura (Bravern) – Brave Bang Bravern!

Shion Wakayama (Momo) – Dandadan

Sayaka Sembongi (Marcille) – Delicious in Dungeon

Natsuki Hanae (Okarun) – Dandadan

Best English Voice Artist Performance

AJ Beckles (Okarun) – Dandadan

Aleks Le (Sung Jinwoo) – Solo Leveling

Jessie James Grelle (Armin Arlelt) – Attack on Titan Final Season THE FINAL CHAPTERS Special 2

Mallorie Rodak (Frieren) – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

Sarah Natochenny (Alya) – Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian

SungWon Cho (Senshi) – Delicious in Dungeon