What a wonderful year 2024 has been for anime, with the likes of Dandadan, Look Back, and Scott Pilgrim Takes Off airing this past year! While those are just my favourites, anime streaming service Crunchyroll would also like to hear yours! That’s why from April 3 to April 14 2025, let your otaku voice be heard and vote for the best of the best to win at the 9th Crunchyroll Anime Awards!
With 32 categories to choose from this year, including the brand-new Best Isekai, Best Background Art, and Best Hindi Voice Artist categories, there’s an almost-endless list of nominees to choose from. Don’t believe me? Here’s the full list of categories and their respective nominees!
Anime of the Year
- Dandadan, Science SARU
- Delicious in Dungeon, Studio Trigger
- Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Madhouse
- Kaiju No. 8, Production I.G
- Solo Leveling, A-1 Pictures
- The Apothecary Diaries, Toho Animation Studio and OLM
Best Continuing Series
- Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Conflict, Pierrot Films
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc, Ufotable
- My Hero Academia (season 7), Bones
- One Piece, Toei Animation
- Oshi no Ko (season 2), Doga Kobo
- Spy × Family (season 2), Wit Studio and CloverWorks
Best New Series
- Dandadan, Science SARU
- Delicious in Dungeon, Studio Trigger
- Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Madhouse
- Kaiju No. 8, Production I.G
- Solo Leveling, A-1 Pictures
- The Apothecary Diaries, Toho Animation Studio and OLM
Film of the Year
- Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle, Production I.G
- Look Back, Studio Durian
- Mononoke the Movie: Phantom in the Rain, EOTA
- My Hero Academia: You’re Next, Bones
- Spy × Family Code: White, Wit Studio and CloverWorks
- The Colors Within, Science SARU
Best Original Anime
- Bucchigiri?!, MAPPA
- Girls Band Cry, Toei Animation
- Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night, Doga Kobo
- Metallic Rouge, Bones
- Ninja Kamui, E&H Production
- Train to the End of the World, EMT Squared
Best Animation
- Dandadan, Science SARU
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc, Ufotable
- Delicious in Dungeaon, Studio Trigger
- Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Madhouse
- Kaiju No. 8, Production I.G
- Solo Leveling, A-1 Pictures
Best Character Design
- Akira Matsushima, original designs by Koyoharu Gotouge, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc
- Naoki Takeda, original designs by Ryoko Kui, Delicious in Dungeon
- Naoyuki Onda, original designs by Yukinobu Tatsu, Dandadan
- Reiko Nagasawa, original designs by Tsukasa Abe, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Tetsuya Nishio, original designs by Naoya Matsumoto, Kaiju No. 8
- Yukiko Nakatani, original designs by Touko Shino, The Apothecary Diaries
Best Director
- Fūga Yamashiro, Dandadan
- Haruo Sotozaki, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc
- Keiichiro Saito, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Megumi Ishitani, One Piece Fan Letter
- Norihiro Naganuma, The Apothecary Diaries
- Yoshihiro Miyajima, Delicious in Dungeon
Best Background Art
- Dandadan, Science SARU
- Delicious in Dungeon, Studio Trigger
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc, Ufotable
- Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Madhouse
- Pluto, Studio M2
- The Apothecary Diaries, Toho Animation Studio and OLM
Best Romance
- A Sign of Affection, Ajiado
- Blue Box, Telecom Animation Film
- Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines!, A-1 Pictures
- Ranma ½, MAPPA
- Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, Science SARU
- The Dangers in My Heart (season 2), Shin-Ei Animation
Best Comedy
- Delicious in Dungeon, Studio Trigger
- KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on this Wonderful World! (season 3), Drive
- Mashle: Magic and Muscles The Divine Visionary Candidate Exam Arc, A-1 Pictures
- My Deer Friend Nokotan, Wit Studio
- Ranma ½, MAPPA
- Spy × Family (season 2), Wit Studio and CloverWorks
Best Action
- Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War — The Conflict, Pierrot Films
- Dandadan, Science SARU
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc, Ufotable
- Kaiju No. 8, Production I.G
- Solo Leveling, A-1 Pictures
- Wind Breaker, CloverWorks
Best Isekai Anime
- KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on this Wonderful World! (season 3), Drive
- Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation (season 2 cour 2), Studio Bind
- Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World (season 3), White Fox
- Shangri-La Frontier (season 2), C2C
- Suicide Squad Isekai, Wit Studio
- That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime (season 3), Eight Bit
Best Drama
- A Sign of Affection, Ajiado
- Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction, Production +h.
- Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Madhouse
- Oshi no Ko (season 2), Doga Kobo
- Pluto, Studio M2
- The Apothecary Diaries, Toho Animation Studio and OLM
Best Slice of Life
- Laid-Back Camp (season 3), Eight Bit
- Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines!, A-1 Pictures
- Mr. Villain’s Day Off, Shin-Ei Animation and SynergySP
- My Deer Friend Nokotan, Wit Studio
- Sound! Euphonium (season 3), Kyoto Animation
- The Dangers in My Heart (season 2), Shin-Ei Animation
Best Main Character
- Frieren, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Kafka Hibino, Kaiju No. 8
- Ken “Okarun” Takakura, Dandadan
- Maomao, The Apothecary Diaries
- Momo Ayase, Dandadan
- Sung Jin-woo, Solo Leveling
Best Supporting Character
- Fern, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Himmel, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Jinshi, The Apothecary Diaries
- Seiko Ayase, Dandadan
- Senshi, Delicious in Dungeon
- Turbo Granny, Dandadan
“Must Protect At All Costs” Character
- Anya Forger, Spy × Family (season 2)
- Frieren, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Ken “Okarun” Takakura, Dandadan
- Senshi, Delicious in Dungeon
- Hōjō Tokiyuki, The Elusive Samurai
- Yuki Itose, A Sign of Affection
Best Anime Song
- “Abyss” by Yungblud, Kaiju No. 8
- “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born” by Creepy Nuts, Mashle: Magic and Muscles The Divine Visionary Candidate Exam Arc
- “Fatal” by Gemn, Oshi no Ko (season 2)
- “Level” by SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:Tomorrow X Together, Solo Leveling
- “Otonoke” by Creepy Nuts, Dandadan
- “Yūsha” by Yoasobi, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Best Score
- Shirō Sagisu, Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Conflict
- Kensuke Ushio, Dandadan
- Yuki Kajiura and Go Shiina, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc
- Evan Call, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Haruka Nakamura, Look Back
- Hiroyuki Sawano, Solo Leveling
Best Opening Sequence
- “Abyss” by Yungblud, direction by Kohei Nakajima and Hibiki Yoshizaki, Kaiju No. 8
- “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born” by Creepy Nuts, storyboard and direction by Shun Enokido, Mashle: Magic and Muscles The Divine Visionary Candidate Exam Arc
- “Fatal” by Gemn, storyboard and direction by Ryohei Takeshita, Oshi no Ko (season 2)
- “Level” by SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]: Tomorrow X Together, storyboard and direction by Choi In-seung, Solo Leveling
- “Otonoke” by Creepy Nuts, storyboard and direction by Abel Góngora, Dandadan
- “Uuuuus!” by Hiroshi Kitadani, storyboard and direction by Megumi Ishitani, One Piece
Best Ending Sequence
- “Anta Nante” by Riria., storyboard by Minami Kitamura, direction by Minami Kitamura and Fumiyuki Uehara, Ranma ½
- “Burning” by Hitsujibungaku, storyboard and direction by Naoya Nakayama, Oshi no Ko (season 2)
- “Kamakura Style” by BotchiBoromaru, storyboard and direction by Yuki Yonemuri, The Elusive Samurai
- “Nobody” by OneRepublic, storyboard and direction by Toya Ooshima, Kaiju No. 8
- “Request” by Krage, storyboard and direction by Hiromu Ōshiro, Solo Leveling
- “Taidada” by Zutomayo, storyboard by Moko-chan, direction by Moko-chan and Nick McKergow, Dandadan
Best VA Performance (Japanese)
- Aoi Yūki as Maomao, The Apothecary Diaries
- Atsumi Tanezaki as Frieren, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Kenichi Suzumura as Bravern, Brave Bang Bravern!
- Shion Wakayama as Momo Ayase, Dandadan
- Sayaka Senbongi as Marcille Donato, Delicious in Dungeon
- Natsuki Hanae as Ken “Okarun” Takakura, Dandadan
Best VA Performance (English)
- AJ Beckles as Ken “Okarun” Takakura, Dandadan
- Aleks Le as Sung Jin-woo, Solo Leveling
- Jessie James Grelle as Armin Arlert, Attack on Titan: The Final Season The Final Chapters Special 2
- Mallorie Rodak as Frieren, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Sarah Natochenny as Alisa Mikhailovna “Alya” Kujou, Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian
- SungWon Cho as Senshi, Delicious in Dungeon
Best VA Performance (Spanish)
- Alicia Vélez as Momo Ayase, Dandadan
- Desireé González as Maomao, The Apothecary Diaries
- Erika Ugalde as Frieren, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Luis Leonardo Suárez as Muzan Kibutsuji, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc
- Miguel Ángel Leal as Eren Jaeger, Attack on Titan: The Final Season The Final Chapters Special 2
- Omar Sánchez as Kafka Hibino, Kaiju No. 8
Best VA Performance (Castilian)
- Ainhoa Maiquez as Miyo Saimori, My Happy Marriage
- Clara Schwarze as Akane Tendo, Ranma ½
- Jorge Peña as Senshi, Delicious in Dungeon
- Mario Ballart as Kafka Hibino, Kaiju No. 8
- Masumi Mutsuda as Sung Jin-woo, Solo Leveling
- Sandra Villa as Frieren, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Best VA Performance (French)
- Adrien Antoine as Kafka Hibino, Kaiju No. 8
- Audrey Sablé as Naomi Orthmann, Metallic Rouge
- Jaynelia Coadou as Momo Ayase, Dandadan
- Julien Allouf as Jinshi, The Apothecary Diaries
- Marie Nonnenmacher as Frieren, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Martin Faliu as Ranma Saotome, Ranma ½
Best VA Performance (Arabic)
- Basel Al Rifaiey as Loid Forger, Spy × Family (season 2)
- Hiba Snobar as Anya Forger, Spy × Family (season 2)
- Julien Chaaya as Yoichi Isagi, Blue Lock (season 2)
- Lama AlSayyagh as Marcille Donato, Delicious in Dungeon
- Mohammed Sami as Rin Itoshi, Blue Lock (season 2)
- Nawar AlMahairi as Laois Touden, Delicious in Dungeon
Best VA Performance (German)
- Daniel Schlauch as Monkey D. Luffy, One Piece
- Felix Kamin as Kafka Hibino, Kaiju No. 8
- Florian Knorn as Ranma Saotome, Ranma ½
- Franciska Friede as Momo Ayase, Dandadan
- Jörg Hengstler as Kogoro Mori, Detective Conan: Black Iron Submarine
- Magdalena Höfner as Marcille Donato, Delicious in Dungeon
Best VA Performance (Italian)
- Alessandro Pili as Kenma Kozume, Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle
- Andrea Oldani as Jinshi, The Apothecary Diaries
- Ilaria Pellicone as Kyomoto, Look Back
- Katia Sorrentina as Neia Baraja, Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom
- Martina Felli as Frieren, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Mattia Bressan as Kafka Hibino, Kaiju No. 8
Best VA Performance (Portuguese)
- Bruna Laynes as Marcille Donato, Delicious in Dungeon
- Celso Henrique as Sunraku, Shangri-La Frontier (season 2)
- Charles Emmanuel as Sung Jin-woo, Solo Leveling
- Gigi Patta as Maomao, The Apothecary Diaries
- Heitor Assali as Reno Ichikawa, Kaiju No. 8
- Pedro Azevedo as Dot Barrett, Mashle: Magic and Muscles The Divine Visionary Candidate Exam Arc
Best VA Performance (Hindi)
- Abhishek Sharma as Einar, Vinland Saga (season 2)
- Lohit Sharma as Satoru Gojo, Jujutsu Kaisen
- Natasha John as Frieren, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Rajesh Shukla as Sung Jin-woo, Solo Leveling
- Ranjit R Tiwari as Yoichi Isagi, Blue Lock (season 2)
- Rushikesh Phunse as Kafka Hibino, Kaiju No. 8
Vote for Your Favourites Now!
Already know who your favourites are? Be sure over to Crunchyroll’s website to show your support by voting daily until 11:59pm Pacific Time (PT) on April 14 2025!
After you cast your votes, be sure to tune into the Awards Night on May 25 2025 as well, livestreaming on Crunchyroll’s YouTube channel, to see if your favourites emerge as winners!
This spectacular show will be held at the opulent Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa in Tokyo, Japan, and will feature guests like Finn Wolfhard, Ironmouse, and Gigguk, so don’t miss out!
Visual courtesy of Crunchyroll.
