Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025: Full Winners List, Biggest Surprises & How to Watch Live

Tokyo is set to light up this Sunday, 25 May 2025, when the ninth annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards go live from Japan’s capital. The fan-driven ceremony recognizes the year’s standout series, films, and creators, and a surge of search interest shows viewers worldwide are looking for start times, nominees, and where to watch. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the show. When and where to watch • Pre-show: 5 p.m. JST (1 a.m. PDT / 4 a.m. EDT / 9 a.m. BST / 10 a.m. CEST) • Main ceremony: 6 p.m. JST (2 a.m. PDT / 5 a.m. EDT / 10 a.m. BST / 11 a.m. CEST) • Livestream platforms: Crunchyroll’s official YouTube and Twitch channels, Sony Pictures Core, and the Sony Group Global YouTube channel. The broadcast will be subtitled in nine languages for worldwide accessibility. Hosts, presenters, and performers Returning duo Sally Amaki and Jon Kabira emcee the night, with Sony Group president Hiroki Totoki delivering opening remarks. A star-studded presenter roster includes Stranger Things actors Finn Wolfhard and Gaten Matarazzo, singer Rina Sawayama, boxer Ben Whittaker, VTuber Ironmouse, and more. Music sets come from LiSA, FLOW (celebrating Eureka Seven’s 20th anniversary), and viral hip-hop pair Creepy Nuts performing “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born” and “Otonoke,” both nominated for Best Anime Song. Spotlight: first-ever Global Impact Award Crunchyroll introduces the Global Impact Award to honor works that shape pop culture. The inaugural recipient is Attack on Titan, recognized for its decade-long influence and its 2024 compilation film “The Last Attack.” A representative from MAPPA will accept the honor on behalf of the production team. Key categories and nominees Anime of the Year • DAN DA DAN • Delicious in Dungeon • Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End • Kaiju No. 8 • Solo Leveling • The Apothecary Diaries Film of the Year • HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle • Look Back • Mononoke The Movie: The Phantom in the Rain • My Hero Academia: You’re Next • SPY x FAMILY CODE: White • The Colors Within Best New Series • DAN DA DAN | Delicious in Dungeon | Frieren | Kaiju No. 8 | Solo Leveling | The Apothecary Diaries Best Continuing Series • BLEACH: TYBW – The Conflict | Demon Slayer: Hashira Training | My Hero Academia S7 | ONE PIECE | OSHI NO KO S2 | SPY x FAMILY S2 Genre spotlights • Best Action: DAN DA DAN, Demon Slayer, Solo Leveling & more • Best Romance: A Sign of Affection leads against Blue Box and Ranma ½ • Best Comedy: Delicious in Dungeon squares off with KONOSUBA S3 and SPY x FAMILY Creative awards to watch • Best Animation features studios like ufotable, Studio Colorido, and Bones. • Best Director pits Fuga Yamashiro (DAN DA DAN) against Haruo Sotozaki (Demon Slayer) and Keiichiro Saitō (Frieren). • Voice performance trophies span 10 language categories, underlining the event’s global reach. Why this year matters With voting open to fans and an expanded judging panel, the 2025 show reflects anime’s booming international footprint. The nomination slate highlights the rise of action-comedy hybrids such as DAN DA DAN, the critical acclaim of fantasy series Frieren, and the streaming success of Solo Leveling. Meanwhile, legacy hits like ONE PIECE and BLEACH remain competitive, proving veteran franchises still command massive fandoms. How to join the conversation Crunchyroll will push real-time updates across X/Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. Use the official hashtag #AnimeAwards to share reactions and follow category reveals. Fans can also synchronize watch parties via the live chat on Crunchyroll’s Twitch stream. Bottom line Whether you’re rooting for Frieren to clinch Anime of the Year or eager to see Creepy Nuts take the stage, the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025 promises a packed evening that celebrates the medium’s past, present, and future. Set your reminders, prep the watch-list, and tune in live from Tokyo to see which titles and creators earn the industry’s most-watched fan vote of the year.