Why the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards Felt Like a Letdown: A Fans Perspective
Another year, every other Crunchyroll Anime Awards. But 2025? This one hit one-of-a-kind—and not in an excellent way.
The degree turned into set. Expectations had been sky-high. We had titans like Bleach: TYBW, the wonder gem Delicious in Dungeon, the continually cherished One Piece, and the bombastic Jujutsu Kaisen all within the running. And yet… what we got felt like a rerun of a recognition contest in preference to a real party of anime excellence.
Demon Slayer’s Double Win: Deserved or Default?
Let’s start with Demon Slayer. It scooped Best Continuing Series and Best Animation.
Now, look—we get it. Ufotable’s animation is god-tier. The cinematography is breathtaking. But was the Hashira Training Arc really the best animation of the year? Or even the best Demon Slayer has given us?
This arc felt more like narrative groundwork—Muzan lurking, Hashiras flexing—but not the explosive, emotional punch we saw in the Entertainment District or Swordsmith Village. It wasn’t bad—but “Best”? That’s a tough sell.
Fans weren’t blind to that. Many took to Twitter, Reddit, and forums to express a shared sentiment: “This arc was just buildup. Where was the emotional climax?” One user nailed it:
“This season was just Muzan’s teaser trailer with no movie.”
And yet it still won. Why?
MAPPA, JJK, and the Snub That Burned
Meanwhile, Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2—which arguably raised the bar for modern shonen animation—was left in the dust. The Shibuya Incident Arc gave us some of the most visually dynamic and emotionally gripping anime scenes of the decade.
MAPPA ate. Period.
Fans were livid. Even among Demon Slayer stans, the general vibe was:
“We love you, Ufotable—but this just wasn’t your strongest year.”
And let’s not forget One Piece. From Gear 5’s animation spectacle to Egghead’s storytelling momentum, it’s delivering cinema-level content weekly—and yet, barely got a nod.
Delicious in Dungeon, Bleach, and the Ignored Gems
The silence around Delicious in Dungeon was deafening. It was creative, fresh, beautifully paced—and totally ignored.
And Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War? Studio Pierrot reinvented the visible identification of a legacy shonen. The fusion of traditional art and cutting-edge virtual brilliance changed into unreal. But nonetheless, no win.
What’s going on?
Popularity vs. Merit: The Awards’ Identity Crisis
Here’s the core issue: the Crunchyroll Anime Awards appear to reward what’s trending, now not what’s transcendent.
Every year, enthusiasts desire for a truthful recognition of what anime has accomplished artistically and narratively. But more regularly, it seems like a advertising and marketing event—boosting what’s already big, in place of shining a light on what’s super.
One Reddit user put it bluntly: “It’s just a popularity contest. Nothing more.”
And when shows like Solo Leveling walk away with a sweep of wins—despite glaring critiques around pacing and animation shortcuts—it leaves people wondering if views matter more than vision.
The Awards Ceremony Itself: Hard to Watch
Let’s be real. This year’s ceremony didn’t just disappoint in terms of results. The show was… hard to sit through. Fans noticed the awkward pacing, pre-recorded wins, and lack of authentic celebration for anime culture. It felt more like a checklist than a community moment.
Hope for Redemption: Infinity Castle at the Horizon
To be truthful, Demon Slayer may bounce back strong. The upcoming Infinity Castle Trilogy has the capability to redefine top anime storytelling while it drops in July 2025. And if it provides, the franchise might also silence its critics.
But for now, 2025’s awards have left a bitter taste—highlighting no longer simply sadness inside the winners, but within the device itself.
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Final Thoughts: What Fans Really Want
Anime fanatics aren’t soliciting for perfection. We’re inquiring for recognition—of first-class, of attempt, of creativity.
When the excellent storytellers and animators in the industry are overlooked, and the identical names win through default, it doesn’t simply experience unfair. It feels like a betrayal of what anime is all approximately: Innovation, and emotional storytelling.
We don’t want hype. We want honesty.
So right here’s hoping 2026 listens.
