As the leading streaming service for anime, Crunchyroll’s opinions carry weight among fans. On May 25, 2025, the company hosted the 9th Crunchyroll Anime Awards and crowned the best of the best in the process. While Solo Leveling walked away the big winner, it was far from the only anime to secure multiple wins. Like any good award show, there were also some controversies and snubs. JustWatch breaks it all down below. Here are all the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards winners, and where you can watch them online.
Solo Leveling (2024)
Anime of the Year, Best Score, Best New Series, Best Ending Sequence, Best Action Anime, Best Main Character
Just like Sung Jin-woo slices through hordes of enemies, Solo Leveling cut through the S-Rank competition at the 9th Crunchyroll Anime Awards, including heavy hitters like Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End and DAN DA DAN. Not only did it win the prestigious Anime of the Year award, but it also earned wins for Best Score, Best New Series, Best Ending Sequence, Best Action Anime, and Best Main Character. Based on a Korean web novel, Solo Leveling carves a hopeful path for other webtoons and manhwa to break into the Japanese-dominated genre. A little bit shonen and a little bit isekai, Solo Leveling might feel familiar at first, but it raises the bar when it comes to power leveling.
DAN DA DAN (2024)
Best Anime Song, Best Opening Sequence, Best Character Design
Ask anyone who has watched DAN DA DAN what’s one of their favorite things about the anime, and they’ll all probably tell you the same thing: The song that plays over the opening sequence. That said, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that DAN DA DAN won Best Anime Song for Creepy Nuts’ “Otonoke” and Best Opening Sequence. As for Best Character Design, you may recognize Science Saru’s animation from anime like Devilman Crybaby. In DAN DA DAN, the studio delivers its trademark colorful animation that contrasts against the series’ more dark and brutal moments.
Look Back (2024)
Film of the Year
From web manga to the big screen, Look Back remains a fan favorite that follows the complicated relationship between two girls who are bound together by art, only to be bound together again by tragedy. It’s a coming-of-age story filled with all the highs and lows of friendship. From its gorgeous animation to its emotionally loaded plot, Look Back’s Film of the Year win is indisputable. It’s a thought-provoking examination of friendship that deserves all its accolades.
Ninja Kamui (2024)
Best Original Anime
Jujutsu Kaisen director Sunghoo Park’s directorial involvement in Ninja Kamui made the action/sci-fi mashup one of 2024’s most anticipated anime. At its core, Ninja Kamui is a simple revenge story about a former ninja fighting off the assassins sent to hunt him down. While elevated by stunning visuals and engaging action sequences, Ninja Kamui’s Best Original Anime win comes with controversy. With mixed to negative reviews, some fans and critics believe Ninja Kamui won based on popularity (the series aired on Toonami and had the star power of Sunghoo Park) rather than merit. With CGI taking the brunt of the criticism, it opens a larger conversation about how computer-generated images can sometimes break immersion and cause division among fans.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc (2019)
Best Continuing Series, Best Animation
The Best Continuing Series is always a stacked category. Demon Slayer beat out decades-old fan favorites, like BLEACH and ONE PIECE, largely thanks to its stunning animation and compelling storyline. First debuting in 2019, Demon Slayer remains much more accessible to genre newcomers or anyone looking to delve into the world of the titular demon slayers. Unlike most anime, the series has few filler episodes (even if the Hashira Training Arc took a little heat for this), and the quality of its recognizable fight sequences is on the same level as its theatrical releases, making its Best Animation win well-deserved.
MASHLE: MAGIC AND MUSCLES The Divine Visionary Candidate Exam Arc (2023)
Best Comedy Anime
Imagine being the only one at a magic school that can’t actually do magic. Well, meet Mash Burnedead, the meathead protagonist of MASHLE: MAGIC AND MUSCLES. In addition to blending action, fantasy, and humor into a bingeable tale, the series delivers all the absurdity and eccentric characters you’d expect of a comedy anime. While some claim Crunchyroll snubbed KONOSUBA - God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World! 3, The Divine Visionary Candidate Exam Arc is a solid watch, especially for those who appreciate a good fantasy satire. Think Harry Potter meets One-Punch Man.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End (2023)
Best Drama Anime, Best Background Art, Best Director, Best Supporting Character
Frieren Beyond Journey’s End might be one of the most beautifully drawn anime in recent years. While it lost Best Animation to Demon Slayer, it rightfully won Best Background Art. The series also won Best Drama Anime, which isn’t a surprise if you’re familiar with Frieren’s thought-provoking narrative. Really, the series excels in its quiet moments between characters and the existential quandaries that come with a near-immortal elf leading the show. Frieren is the anime you watch when you’re sick of the standard fantasy anime fare. There is nothing out there quite like it, and thankfully, Crunchyroll honored Keiichiro Saito’s unique vision with a Best Director win.
Re:ZERO - Starting Life in Another World: Season 3 (2016)
Best Isekai Anime
Few took issue with Re:ZERO - Starting Life in Another World winning Best Isekai Anime for its third season. Based on novels by Tappei Nagatsuki, the series follows Subaru, an everyday guy who finds himself suddenly transported to a medieval fantasy world. Those expecting the overpowered MC of traditional isekai will need to dampen their expectations. Re: Zero is more of a slow-build series that isn’t afraid to show its main character failing. Breaking conventional isekai stereotypes, Re: Zero is a longstanding favorite among fans who get it.
Blue Box (2024)
Best Romance Anime
Sports romances are all the rage these days in Western pop culture, but that trend also carries over to anime. Best Romance Anime winner Blue Box chronicles the slow-burn romance of a shy badminton player and the star of the girls’ basketball team. Those looking for a heartfelt story with plenty of slice-of-life moments littered throughout will find all that and more in Blue Box. It has the complete package for romance enjoyers, including all the complicated feelings, awkwardness, and uncertainty that come with young love. However, it’s rom-com elements ensure the series always stays light.
Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines! (2024)
Best Slice of Life Anime
Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines might be about girls getting rejected by their respective love interests, but at the Crunchyroll Awards, the series did anything but lose. Winning Best Slice of Life Anime, Makeine nabs another accolade after winning Best Comedy Anime at the 11th Anime Trending Awards. Those unfamiliar with the anime or the series of light novels it’s based on can expect a teen romance that delves into themes of self-discovery and gut-punching rejection. It’s an endearing character study of high school relationships.
SPY × FAMILY (2022)
“Must Protect at All Cost” Character
When it comes to the “Must Protect at All Cost” Character category, Anya Forger is no stranger to the title. Winning previously at the 7th and 8th Crunchyroll Anime Awards, a third win is just expected at this point. Since SPY x FAMILY’s 2022 series debut, no other character has been able to unseat Anya. From her humor to her curiosity, Anya is one of the most relatable characters in SPY x FAMILY, and it’s earned her mascot status. Plus, she is just downright adorable. Of course, she must be protected at all costs!
Where To Watch All 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards Winners Online
To discover more about TV shows and movies currently streaming in the US, check out the JustWatch streaming guide! You can filter your search by streaming service, genre, price, age rating, and score. Be sure to build your watchlist and receive helpful notifications on what to watch next based on your preferences!
