• Main
  • Film
  • Television
  • Theater
  • Best Of the Rest
  • Subscribe
  • About
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
  • Login
  • Register
The Contending
No Result
View All Result
  • Main
  • Film
  • Television
  • Theater
  • Best Of the Rest
  • Subscribe
  • About
No Result
View All Result
The Contending
No Result
View All Result
Home Animation

Thoughts On This Year’s Crunchyroll Anime Awards

Ben Morris by Ben Morris
April 9, 2025
in Animation, Anime, Television
0
Thoughts On This Year’s Crunchyroll Anime Awards
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The Crunchyroll Anime Awards nominations were announced on Thursday and my overall thoughts can be summed up as “this seems about right.” Looking at the nominees for anime of the year–Dandadan, Delicious in Dungeon, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Kaiju No. 8, The Apothecary Diaries, and Solo Leveling –these were all some of the biggest animes of last year that captured both the fans’ and critics’ love. Two of the nominees — Apothecary Diaries and Solo Leveling –– have also had their second seasons come out already and are still incredibly well liked (so we might see them back again next year). One other thing of note is that all the nominees are all new shows and are the nominees in the best new anime of the year award as well. These really are some of the biggest shows of the anime year.

While all of these shows are popular and have large fan bases, I believe Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is the easy frontrunner. The show follows Frieren, an incredibly long-lived elf wizard, that takes place years after she and a group of heroes defeated the Demon King, with her processing her feelings about living so long after that great battle as her comrades all age and die, and just living her life. It was the show that, while it has some action, was more of a meditation on loss and what you value in life and making certain to not lose that connection to people and humanity. It is the show that really made people connect with it emotionally. As an aside, it also won Anitrendz’s Anime of the Year award among online voters, which doesn’t usually have a correlation with Crunchyroll’s awards but it does show its appeal.

For me there was an extra level of excitement because I was a judge for the first time this year and I have seen and liked all the Anime of the Year nominees (except Delicious in Dungeon, which I will watch before voting). In Solo Leveling Sung Jin-woo, who was the weakest hunter, through a strange program has become stronger by fighting monsters in dungeons but also a darker person. There are subtle hints of something bigger behind the program that is helping him grow stronger, as well as where and why these portals from dungeons are appearing. Great action keeps you engaged throughout each episode. Kaiju No. 8 also has a weaker character, Kafka Hibino, who gains an ability that strengthens him by turning him into a Kaiju but that also makes him a target of the very military organization he wants to join. Kafka is a more humorous character than Sung but the work is still dangerous and the threat of the Kaiju is building as well.

Apothecary Diaries is a weekly mystery show that builds character depth over time, with some great humor and some court intrigue thrown in for good measure. Maomao, our apothecary, is sold into slavery at the emperor’s place but takes it in stride and is more concerned with making the best medicine and just getting by. But Jinshi, the palace official, comes to her with problems and she will help out due to her own curiosity or a chance to test some deadly chemical. Then we have Jinshi flirting with her, which causes her to shudder and move away or insult him. Jinshi will sulk in the corner whenever he thinks Maomao likes anyone else. It is a fun dynamic that shows while death can happen in the mysteries, it is an overall fun show. Dandadan is a great combination of humor, horror, action, and romance that keeps you guessing what on earth is going to happen next. Will I be sad with a tragic backstory of a ghost, or will I laugh at these characters defeating a monster but then being found naked by their classmates and running away from them in embarrassment!

Other nomination highlights was in the song category that was filled with some really great music that works with and without the anime visuals behind it. “Otonoke” by Creepy Nuts is a wild song with a rhythm that makes it hard to define its mode, similar to the show it’s played on, Dandadan. Or “Abyss” by Yungblud, which is a banger but also creates a sense of danger for Kaiju No. 8.

There were some other highlights for me across the other categories but do not want to give away  who I will be voting for but it was several of my favorite shows ended up getting some acknowledgement and that is always exciting as a fan of this medium.  That is what is exciting about the shows in the top category, each of these shows represents a variety of styles and genres that gives anime fans something to root for, even if the show wasn’t their favorite of the last year. Overall this is a solid list and a good representation of where anime was in 2024.

Spread the Word!

  • More
Tags: Crunchyroll Anime AwardsDandadanDelicious in DungeonFrieren: Beyond Journey’s EndKaiju No. 8KonosubaSolo LevelingThe Apothecary Diaries
Ben Morris

Ben Morris

After seeing Gangs of New York in college, I decided to see the other Best Picture contenders that year because I had never done that before. I have been addicted to Oscar watching and film ever since. Over time, it led to discovering the Emmys and believing that television is just as good if not better than film. From there, I started following anime year-round and even looking into critically acclaimed video games and to a lesser extent music. I love writing about and immersing myself in so many creative fields and seeing how much there is out there to discover.

Next Post
‘Hacks’: Battle Lines Are Drawn Across Late Night’s Private Sectors

'Hacks': Battle Lines Are Drawn Across Late Night's Private Sectors

Subscribe to Podcast

Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidby EmailRSS

Subscribe Now!

Subscribe here to The Contending's newsletter! We will never spam you. We promise!

Looking To Advertise?

Looking to advertise with The Contending? Email Clarence Moye for inquiries!

The Latest Stuff

Caroline Duncan On High-Voltage Pinks and Culty Pastels in the Costume Design of ‘Sirens’

Caroline Duncan On High-Voltage Pinks and Culty Pastels in the Costume Design of ‘Sirens’

May 28, 2025
Emmys 2025: ‘Your Friends & Neighbors’ Olivia Munn On Her Best Role Since ‘The Newsroom’ [VIDEO]

Emmys 2025: ‘Your Friends & Neighbors’ Olivia Munn On Her Best Role Since ‘The Newsroom’ [VIDEO]

May 28, 2025
Jerrod Carmichael On Why He Named His Special ‘Don’t Be Gay’

Jerrod Carmichael On Why He Named His Special ‘Don’t Be Gay’

May 28, 2025
Emmys 2025: Lena Hall on Ali’s Surprising Relatability In ‘Your Friends & Neighbors’ [VIDEO]

Emmys 2025: Lena Hall on Ali’s Surprising Relatability In ‘Your Friends & Neighbors’ [VIDEO]

May 28, 2025
somebody somewhere season 3 final scene with the cast in a bar, Bridget Everett is singing

Show Creators Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen On Going Out on a High Note with ‘Somebody Somewhere’ Season 3

May 28, 2025

Wise Words From Our Readers

  • Tom85 on 2025 Summer Movie Preview: Marking Our Favs With Mark!
  • Julie on 2025 Summer Movie Preview: Marking Our Favs With Mark!
  • Glen Runciter on Joe Don Baker: Walk Tall & Carry a Big Stick
  • JoeS on The Quiet Legend of Robert Benton
  • Mark Johnson on Top Ten Tuesday: The 10 Most Anticipated Films of the Summer
The Contending

© 2025 The Contending

Find All the Things

  • Main
  • Film
  • Television
  • Theater
  • Best Of the Rest
  • Subscribe
  • About

Dreaded Social Media

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Main
  • Film
  • Television
  • Theater
  • Best Of the Rest
  • Subscribe
  • About

© 2025 The Contending

  • More Networks
Share via
Facebook
X (Twitter)
LinkedIn
Mix
Email
Print
Copy Link
Copy link
CopyCopied