The 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards received a record-breaking 51 million votes from anime fans around the world
Crunchyroll, the anime-focused brand centered around its premium streaming service under the Sony Group, announced the winners of the "2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards" on May 25, honoring creators, musicians, and performers powering the global love of anime. The award ceremony held on the same day featured a diverse lineup of international celebrities representing anime fans, as well as special guests from Japan. The "Anime of the Year", which recognizes works that have brought lasting emotional impact to anime fans worldwide, was awarded to "Solo Leveling," produced by A-1 Pictures, a subsidiary of Aniplex, and available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
Contents
A night to celebrate anime with fans around the world
The Crunchyroll Anime Awards is a special celebration that connects the anime creator community with anime fans worldwide. This year's awards, marking the ninth edition, saw a public voting turnout of approximately 1.5-fold more than last year, with a record 51 million votes by anime fans around the world. Since 2023, the awards ceremony has been held in Tokyo, offering creators the opportunity to directly experience the acclaim from around the world. As in previous years, the award ceremony was hosted by renowned voice actress Sally Amaki and popular entertainer Jon Kabira, with the event broadcast live in nine languages with simultaneous interpretation.
At the beginning of the award ceremony, Hiroki Totoki, President and CEO, delivered the opening remarks. He addressed the creators and attendees present at the venue, stating, "Every creator gathering here is striving to transform beloved stories into anime, and bringing fans joy each and every day." He then commended them, saying, "For that, everyone who's serving for anime fans is a winner tonight."
Totoki also stated that anime is sparking love with newcomers worldwide thanks to its ability to surprise, inspire, evolve and delight generations of fans, both new and old. He then expressed his gratitude to the producers, publishers, creators, writers, illustrators, animators, artists, and voices in anime, and also the fans who voted in the awards.
Totoki gave a speech at the beginning of the award ceremony
The Global Impact Award goes to "Attack on Titan"
The award ceremony included the announcement of each award and the presentation of trophies to the winners, as well as performances by participating artists. During the awards show, the hip-hop unit Creepy Nuts, who won the "Best Opening Sequence" for the theme song "Otonoke" of "DAN DA DAN," performed the opening theme "Bling-Bang-Bang-Born" from "Mashle: Magic and Muscles," thrilling fans around the world with their enthusiastic performance. Additionally, the rock band FLOW performed "DAYS" to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Eureka Seven; and LiSA, Spotify's most streamed Japanese artist overseas in 2020, passionately performed three songs "Crossing field," "Datte Atashino Hero," and "Gurenge."
Creepy Nuts won the Best Opening Sequence
LiSA sang passionately on stage
This year's awards also included new categories. One of them, the "Global Impact Award," which honors visionary creators and groundbreaking works that have made unforgettable marks on culture, history, and the hearts of audiences around the world was awarded to "Attack on Titan." Although this iconic anime concluded with the release of "Attack on Titan: THE LAST ATTACK" premiered in late 2024, Yuichiro Hayashi from MAPPA Co., LTD. accepted the trophy on behalf of all the creators who have breathed life into this anime.
Yuichiro Hayashi delivered his speech
Rahul Purini, President, Crunchyroll remarked at the award ceremony, "Fans form deep emotional connections to anime. These are not just series, films or songs, but rather works of art that help define the identity of anime fans." He further stated, "The 2025 Anime Awards are celebrating the creators in Japan who have captured the hearts of fans and are powering anime's prominence in global pop culture."
The 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards can be viewed on demand via Crunchyroll's YouTube channel, Twitch, SONY PICTURES CORE, and the Sony Group's YouTube channel. For more information about the award-winning works, nominees, selection process, and more, please visit the Anime Awards Official Website.