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The Crunchyroll Anime Awards is one of the biggest events in the industry, meant to felicitate the best in anime and the people behind its creation. However, each awards season brings forth its own set of controversies surrounding the winners.
The Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025, in particular, considers all the shows released in the year 2024 and has been subject to some of the most intense outrage in recent history. With ambiguous judging categories and a tendency to favor popularity over quality, several victors have faced significant criticism.
Here are the 5 Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025 winners that confused fans. These entries have been selected either because the anime was underwhelming or because more deserving nominees were overlooked.
Controversial Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025 winners
1) Solo Leveling - Anime of the Year
The most divisive result delivered in the Anime Awards was undoubtedly Solo Leveling being crowned the best anime of the year. While Solo Leveling was a series of unparalleled excitement and hype, many believed it lacked depth and enough character development for its extended cast.
The story mainly focused on the main character, as he leveled up in strength and shocked everyone who underestimated him. When compared to other nominees with emotionally resonant stories and unique worlds, such as Dandadan, Frieren, The Apothecary Diaries, and Delicious in Dungeon, Solo Leveling claiming the spot as the best may be far-fetched.
2) Demon Slayer - Best Continuing Series
Demon Slayer is one of the best adaptations of a source material ever, but the latest season, covering the Hashira Training Arc, was widely considered to be filler-like. It served as a brief interlude, giving fans more insight into their favorite characters before the intense final battle against Muzan.
As a result, most were surprised to see it win, especially since it was not considered a serious contender in the first place. The criticism only grew louder since acclaimed shows such as Oshi no Ko, Bleach, and My Hero Academia had brilliant sequels but lost.
3) Ninja Kamui - Best Original Anime
While the entries on the list so far may not have deserved victory in the Anime Awards, they were not bad by any measure. In contrast, most viewers of Ninja Kamui had been outspoken about the fall in quality of the series. While this anime began as a gritty tale of bloodthirsty revenge, it soon became too convoluted for its own good.
Ninja Kamui’s combination of mechas and ninjas, as well as its inconsistent visuals, caused many to never complete the series. Hence, choosing more beloved titles like Girls Band Cry or Train to the End of the World may have done the award more justice.
4) Sung Jinwoo - Best Main Character
Solo Leveling won big in the Anime Awards, and while some, such as Best Action Anime, could be justified, others seem to be a result of its global popularity over actual substance. Many fans claim that Sung Jinwoo's victory was the biggest testament to this, as he captivated numerous fans with his “aura” and thrilling growth in strength.
Unfortunately, many still view him as a more traditional overpowered fantasy protagonist when compared to complex and intricately written figures like Frieren, Maomao, Okarun, and Momo. All of these individuals stand out in the overflowing landscape of anime, carving out a distinctive path of their own.
5) Solo Leveling - Best New Series
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Last but not least, the winner of the Best New Series in the Anime Awards was yet again upsetting for fans. When selecting the best first season of a series, one typically considers how memorable the storytelling and characters are, as well as whether the narrative and visuals feel fresh and invigorating.
While Solo Leveling deserved its nomination in these areas, its opening installment only gave a very small taste of what's to come. The focus was largely on Jinwoo training his shadow powers and gathering allies, setting up the grand events in the sequel. In comparison, Dandadan, Frieren, Delicious in Dungeon, and The Apothecary Diaries felt more self-contained, leaving a stronger impression on viewers.
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