The 2025 Anime Awards Winners have just been announced, and the results have sent shockwaves through the anime community. During the electrifying Crunchyroll Awards 2025 LIVE event in Tokyo on May 25, 2025, Solo Leveling stormed the stage by winning Anime of the Year, stealing the spotlight from other powerful contenders. With dazzling performances, heartfelt speeches, and surprise wins, this year’s ceremony was a celebration of creativity and storytelling across genres.
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Solo Leveling Dominates the 2025 Anime Awards Winners List
In one of the most anticipated categories, Solo Leveling emerged victorious as Anime of the Year. Animated by A-1 Pictures and adapted from the Korean webtoon by Chugong, the show has taken fans on a gripping journey through the world of hunters, monsters, and epic transformations. This wasn’t the only win for the series—it also snagged awards for Best Score, Best Opening, and Best Ending Sequence, solidifying its place as a fan-favorite and critic’s darling.
Major Wins for Solo Leveling:
- Anime of the Year
- Best Score
- Best Opening Sequence
- Best Ending Sequence
The sleek animation, haunting soundtrack by Hiroyuki Sawano, and emotionally charged storytelling made it a clear standout throughout the eligibility period, which spanned anime releases from October 2023 to December 2024.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End and Look Back Also Earn High Praise
Another big winner from the 2025 anime awards was Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, which walked away with multiple honors, including Best Director, Best New Series, and performance awards for both its main and supporting characters. This fantasy series, known for its emotional depth and philosophical undertones, won the hearts of viewers around the world.
In the film category, Look Back claimed the Best Anime Film award. The adaptation’s minimalist yet striking animation and poignant story about artistic passion and personal loss left a lasting impression on the judges and fans alike.
Additional Key Wins:
- Best Director – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Best Main Character – Frieren
- Best Supporting Character – Fern
- Best Anime Film – Look Back
Crunchyroll Awards 2025 LIVE: Memorable Moments and New Categories
The Crunchyroll Awards 2025 LIVE show wasn’t just about the winners—it was an entertainment spectacle. High-energy performances from Japanese pop stars, voice actor cameos, and animated backdrops lit up the stage. The event also introduced new categories that reflect the industry’s expansion.
New for 2025:
- Best Isekai Anime
- Best Hindi Voice Artist Performance
These additions highlighted the growing international fan base and the diversification of genres. The introduction of regional voice performance awards, especially in Hindi, shows a conscious effort to recognize the contributions of anime localization and dubbing talent in emerging markets.
Full List of 2025 Anime Awards Winners (Selected Highlights)
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Anime of the Year | Solo Leveling |
| Best New Series | Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End |
| Best Film | Look Back |
| Best Continuing Series | One Piece |
| Best Director | Keiichirō Saitō – Frieren |
| Best Animation | Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc |
| Best Main Character | Frieren |
| Best Supporting Character | Fern |
| Best Score | Solo Leveling |
| Best Opening Sequence | Solo Leveling |
| Best Ending Sequence | Solo Leveling |
| Must Protect At All Costs | Anya Forger – Spy × Family |
| Best Voice Performance (JP) | Aoi Yūki – The Apothecary Diaries |
| Best Voice Performance (EN) | Zeno Robinson – My Hero Academia |
What the 2025 Anime Awards Winners Mean for the Industry
This year’s awards show marked a significant shift in the global anime landscape. With Solo Leveling, a Korean-originated webtoon adapted by a Japanese studio, claiming the top prize, we are witnessing more cross-cultural collaborations redefining what “anime” truly encompasses. Meanwhile, Frieren has proven that slow-burn, character-driven narratives can still dominate in a world often flooded with fast-paced action.
Additionally, the rise of regional categories like Best Hindi Voice Artist points to anime’s expanding global appeal. As localization efforts continue to grow in both quality and reach, the anime community becomes more inclusive and representative than ever before.
What’s Next for Anime Fans?
As fans celebrate their favorite shows winning big, there’s already speculation about what series might dominate the 2026 awards. With upcoming releases from major studios and sequels to popular series like Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan, and Chainsaw Man, the bar is set high for what comes next.
Stay tuned, because anime isn’t slowing down—it’s just getting started.
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