How to Analyze the Top Contenders for the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards

The Crunchyroll Anime Awards are a major event in the anime calendar, celebrating the best series, characters, and creators in the industry. For fans, it’s a chance to see their favorites recognized. For those inclined to place a wager, it’s an opportunity to test their anime knowledge and potentially win some money. However, predicting the winners isn’t always straightforward. This article will guide you through analyzing the top contenders for the 2025 awards, offering insights to inform your betting decisions.

What Are the Crunchyroll Anime Awards?

The Crunchyroll Anime Awards are presented annually by the anime streaming service Crunchyroll. The awards recognize achievements in various categories, including Anime of the Year, Best Animation, Best Character Design, Best Director, Best Continuing Series, Best New Series, and many more. There are also genre-specific awards, like Best Action, Best Comedy, and Best Drama, and performance awards for voice actors in multiple languages.

The 9th Crunchyroll Anime Awards are due to take place on May 25 in Tokyo, Japan. Nominees will be revealed, and fan voting will begin on April 3, 2025, and run until April 14. The eligibility period for anime contenders is October 31st, 2023, through to December 31st, 2024.

Key Factors to Consider

When analyzing potential winners, consider these factors:

• Popularity:The Anime Awards are, in part, a popularity contest. Anime with large, active fanbases often have an edge. Check social media, online forums, and anime news sites to gauge a series’ popularity.
• Critical Reception:While popularity is important, critical acclaim also plays a role. Look for reviews from reputable anime critics and publications. High scores on review aggregators can indicate a strong contender.
• Genre Trends:Certain genres tend to perform better in specific categories. Action and fantasy series often dominate the Best Animation category, while character-driven dramas might have a better shot at Best Drama or Best Character Design.
• Studio Reputation:Some studios have a history of producing award-winning anime. Keep an eye on series from studios like MAPPA, known for Jujutsu Kaisen, or Trigger, the studio behind Delicious in Dungeon.
• Originality and Innovation:The awards often recognize series that push boundaries or offer fresh perspectives. A unique premise, innovative animation style, or unconventional storytelling can set a series apart.
• Previous Award Performance:While not always indicative of future success, a series that has performed well in previous awards ceremonies or has won awards at previous Crunchyroll Anime Awards may have momentum.

Potential Top Contenders for 2025

While it’s still early, and many series are still airing or have yet to premiere, here are some potential contenders for the major awards, based on early buzz, critical reception, and the factors mentioned above:

• Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End: This series has received high praisefor its beautiful animation, thoughtful storytelling, and exploration of themes like life, friendship, and grief. It’s a strong contender for Anime of the Year and Best Animation.
• Delicious in Dungeon: Produced by Studio Trigger, this series has been lauded for its unique premise (cooking monsters in a dungeon), inventive worldbuilding, and gorgeous animation. It could be a contender for Anime of the Year, Best Animation, and Best Fantasy.
• Solo Leveling: Based on a popular South Korean web novel, Solo Levelingfeatures impressive action sequences and animation. It is a likely contender for awards in the action and animation categories.
• The Apothecary Diaries: This historical drama, praised for its engaging story and strong female lead, could be a contender for Best Drama or Best Character Design.
• Kaiju No. 8: This action series with a dedicated fan base is a likely nominee, particularly in categories related to action and animation.
• Oshi no Ko: Season 2 of Oshi no Kohas continued to generate buzz and could be a contender, especially given the popularity of its opening.
• Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc: Given the franchise’s massive popularity and previous award wins, Demon Slayeris almost always a contender.
• Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World- Season 3: A popular Isekai series that is a likely contender. The “Best Isekai” catagory is new for 2025.
• Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Conflict: The continuation of the Bleachrevival has been well-received, with strong animation and faithfulness to the source material.
• Dandadan: This upcoming anime, based on a popular manga, is generating considerable hype and could be a contender if it lives up to expectations.
• Sakamoto Days: Another highly anticipated manga adaptation, Sakamoto Days, is expected to have a strong community following, making it a potential nominee.

Analyzing Specific Categories

Here’s a breakdown of how to approach some key categories:

• Anime of the Year:This is the most prestigious award. Look for series that excel in multiple areas: strong story, compelling characters, high-quality animation, and significant cultural impact.
• Best Animation:This category rewards visual excellence. Consider the fluidity of movement, detail in character designs and backgrounds, and the overall visual impact.
• Best Character Design:This award recognizes the artistry of character creation. Look for unique, memorable, and expressive character designs that fit the series’ tone and story.
• Best Director:This category honors the guiding hand behind a series. Consider how the director uses visual storytelling, pacing, and character development to create a cohesive and impactful work.
• Best Continuing Series:This award is for series that have maintained quality across multiple seasons. Consistency and continued engagement with the fanbase are key.
• Best New Series:This award is for a show in its first season.

Betting Strategies

• Do Your Research:Don’t just bet on your favorite anime. Use the factors outlined above to make informed decisions.
• Look for Value:Sometimes, the most popular anime aren’t the best bets. Look for underdogs with strong potential that might offer better odds.
• Stay Updated:Keep track of anime news, reviews, and fan discussions leading up to the awards. New series may emerge as contenders, and opinions can shift.
• Understand the Voting Process:Remember the awards have a weighted voting system, 70% judge votes, 30% public votes.

The Element of Surprise

While analysis can increase your chances of success, the Crunchyroll Anime Awards, like any awards show, can have surprises. Fan voting can be unpredictable, and judges may have preferences that differ from the general consensus. Be prepared for unexpected winners and don’t be discouraged if your predictions don’t always pan out. The fun is in the discussion and celebration of anime, regardless of who takes home the awards.