It is not just in Hollywood movies and television where awarding events happen, but also in anime. One of the most prolific award-giving bodies for your favorite animes is Crunchyroll. Wait, isn’t Crunchyroll a streaming platform? Yes, but it also holds an awards show every year, such as the upcoming Crunchyroll Anime Awards happening this May in Tokyo. 

About The Crunchyroll Anime Awards

Also known as The Anime Awards, the Crunchyroll Anime Awards are yearly awarding events hosted by the streaming platform. They recognize the best anime of the year in which the event is held. The first-ever edition of the awards show was held in 2017. According to the platform, it is a  “global event that recognizes the anime shows, characters, and artists that fans around the world love most.”

The incumbent reigning winner of the topmost award, the Anime of the Year, is being enjoyed by “Jujutsu Kaisen” Season 2. However, voting will soon start for the next edition, so you can ask this show to step down. Yes, the winners are primarily determined via voting. 

Here are the current categories of the Crunchyroll Anime Awards:

• Anime of the Year 
• Best Main Character 
• Best Supporting Character 
• “Must Protect At All Costs” Character 
• Best Opening Sequence 
• Best Ending Sequence 
• Best Anime Song 
• Best Hindi Voice Artist
• Best VA Performance (JP) 
• Best VA Performance (EN) 
• Best VA Performance (DE) 
• Best VA Performance (FR) 
• Best VA Performance (LA) 
• Best VA Performance (SP) 
• Best VA Performance (PT) 
• Best VA Performance (AR) 
• Best VA Performance (IT) 
• Best VA Performance (HI) 
• Best Director 
• Best Background Art
• Best Animation 
• Film of the Year
• Best Continuing Series 
• Best New Series 
• Best Original Anime 
• Best Character Design 
• Best Action 
• Best Comedy 
• Best Drama 
• Best Isekai 
• Best Romance 
• Best Slice of Life 
• Best Score
• Industry Icon Award 
• Special Achievement Award 
• Presenter’s Choice 

The 9th Crunchyroll Anime Awards

Get your plane tickets now to Tokyo, the official venue of the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025. It is set to happen on May 25th, around cherry blossom season in the country. Last year, these details were revealed at the Comic-Con Experience in São Paulo, Brazil. 

Big Changes

The awards show is introducing new and big changes in the competition. Some started during the 2024 edition, such as the expansion now covering five seasons or quarters worth of anime. 

According to the streaming platform, this format was decided upon to ensure no anime goes uncelebrated and fans can vote for their favorites without the streaming platform playing favorites, influencing their votes. Voting begins this April and will end on April 14th. To vote, simply register on the official website of Crunchyroll.

Brand-New Categories

The new categories for this year’s edition are Best Isekai and Best Hindi Voice Artist. The returning categories are Best Main Character and Best Opening Sequence. 

The awards show’s judges will choose nominees for each category before the voting takes place. The jury consists of global creatives, tastemakers, experts, and influencers.

Rahul Purini, president of Crunchyroll, issued a statement: “The Crunchyroll Anime Awards is one of the biggest moments for anime all year, thanks to the creators honored and fans who will decide the winners. We’re thrilled to host the awards again in the birthplace of anime and produce a celebration of the world’s fastest-growing entertainment space.”

Anime Of The Year Winners

Throughout the editions of the awards show, these animes were hailed as Anime of the Year:

• 2017 – “Yuri on Ice”
• 2018 – “Made in Abyss”
• 2019 – “Devilman Crybaby”
• 2020 – “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba”
• 2021 – “Jujutsu Kaisen”
• 2022 – “Attack on Titan: The Final Season Part 1”
• 2023 – “Cyberpunk: Edgerunners”
• 2024 – “Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2”

You can read stories about some of those animes above by browsing this PVP Live website.

2024 Winners Throwback

The winners of Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2024 are as follows:

• Anime of the Year – “Jujutsu Kaisen”
• Best Continuing Series – “One Piece”
• Best New Series – “Chainsaw Man”
• Best Film – “Suzume”
• Best Original Anime – “Buddy Daddies”
• Best Animation – “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Swordsmith Village Arc”
• Best Character Design – Sayaka Koiso and Tadashi Hiramatsu featuring original designs by Gege Akutami “Jujutsu Kaisen” Season 2
• Best Director – Shōta Goshozono, “Jujutsu Kaisen” Season 2
• Best Cinematography – Teppei Ito, “Jujutsu Kaisen” Season 2
• Best Art Direction – Koji Eto, “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Swordsmith Village Arc”
• Best Romance – “Horimiya: The Missing Pieces”
• Best Comedy – “Spy × Family” (season 1 cour 2)
• Best Action – “Jujutsu Kaisen” Season 2
• Best Fantasy – “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Swordsmith Village Arc”
• Best Drama – “Attack on Titan: The Final Season The Final Chapters Special 1”
• Best Slice of Life – “Bocchi the Rock!”
• Best Main Character – Monkey D. Luffy, “One Piece”
• Best Supporting Character – Satoru Gojo, “Jujutsu Kaisen” Season 2
• “Must Protect At All Costs” Character – Anya Forger, “Spy × Family” (season 1 cour 2)
• Best Anime Song – Yoasobi’s “Idol” from “Oshi no Ko”
• Best Score – Hiroyuki Sawano and Kohta Yamamoto, “Attack on Titan: The Final Season The Final Chapters Special 1”
• Best Opening Sequence – “Where Our Blue Is” by Tatsuya Kitani, “Jujutsu Kaisen” Season 2
• Best Ending Sequence – “Akari” by Soushi Sakiyama, “Jujutsu Kaisen” Season 2

As you can see, “Jujutsu Kaisen” really dominated the 2024 awards. The Best VA Performance awards in Japanese, English, Spanish, Castilian, French, Arabic, German, Italian, and Portuguese were shared by “Jujutsu Kaisen,” “Chainsaw Man,” and “Dr. Stone.”

See You In Tokyo 

Tokyo is the best place to host the awards show because it is not only the birthplace of anime but also where you can visit world-famous tourist spots such as Shibuya, Tokyo Tower, Mount Fuji, and breathtaking temples. 

“Every year, we see an outpouring of love and admiration from fans around the world, voting for and cheering on their favorite shows and creators. This year will be no different as anime continues to captivate larger and more diverse audiences than ever before,” stated Gita Rebbapragada, the chief operating officer of Crunchyroll.

Japanese voice actor Sally Amaki and entertainer Jon Kabira will host this star-studded event, with Sony Corporation delivering the opening remarks. Are you excited about the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025 show?