The 2025 Anime Awards, hosted by popular streaming platform Crunchyroll, once again spotlighted the most outstanding anime series, films, and characters of the year. While Crunchyroll is headquartered in San Francisco, the platform’s strong ties to the anime industry are undeniable—especially with a dedicated office right in the heart of Tokyo.
As one of the largest hubs for anime lovers, Crunchyroll offers access to over a thousand anime shows, a vast collection of East Asian dramas, and has even previously featured manga through its Crunchyroll Manga section. With more than 100 million registered users globally, it’s no surprise that these awards are now considered a major event in the anime world.
Held on May 25, 2025, in Tokyo, the awards ceremony honored the most beloved and impactful titles and creators of the past year. Here’s a breakdown of the winners in the main categories:
Anime of the Year
🏆 Solo Leveling took home the top prize, standing out among other major hits like Demon Slayer and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End.
Best New Series
Another big win for Solo Leveling, which claimed the title of best debut series.
Best Continuing Series
Demon Slayer continued to dominate as the top ongoing anime.
Best Director
🎬 Keiichiro Saito won for his masterful direction in Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End.
Character Awards
- Best Main Character: 🏆 Sung Jinwoo (Solo Leveling)
- Best Antagonist: 🏆 Sukuna (Jujutsu Kaisen)
- Best Supporting Character: 🏆 Fern (Frieren)
- Must Protect at All Costs Character: Anya Forger (Spy Family)
Technical and Creative Categories
- Best Animation: 🏆 Demon Slayer
- Best Score: 🏆 Solo Leveling
- Best Opening Sequence: 🏆 “Otonoke” from DAN DA DAN
- Best Ending Sequence: 🏆 “requeste” from Solo Leveling
- Best Character Design: 🏆 DAN DA DAN
- Best Background Art: 🏆 Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Genre-Specific Winners
- Best Film: 🏆 Look Back
- Best Original Anime: 🏆 Ninja Kamui
- Best Romance Anime: 🏆 Blue Box
- Best Comedy Anime: 🏆 MASHLE: MAGIC AND MUSCLES
- Best Action Anime: 🏆 Solo Leveling
- Best Fantasy Anime: 🏆 Re:ZERO – Starting Life in Another World – Season 3
- Best Drama Anime: 🏆 Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
This year’s Anime Awards made it clear that titles like Solo Leveling, Frieren, and Demon Slayer continue to set the standard in the anime world. Meanwhile, fresh series like DAN DA DAN also made a strong impression, proving that anime continues to evolve with bold storytelling and unforgettable characters.
Have you watched any of the winners yet? Now’s a perfect time to add them to your must-watch list!