Dragon Ball DAIMA and Solo Leveling power up for 2025 Astra Awards
The Hollywood Creative Alliance's annual Astra TV Awards have just announced their 2025
anime nominations
, and fan-favorite titles dominate the list. In the
Best Anime Series
category (introduced just last year), the six nominees include
Dragon Ball DAIMA
(Crunchyroll/Netflix) and
Solo Leveling Season 2
– Arise from the Shadow
(
Crunchyroll
), along with
Dan Da Dan
,
Fire Force Season 3
,
Lazarus
, and
The Apothecary Diaries Season 2
.
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Notably, voice actors from
DAIMA
and
Solo Leveling
also earned nods: Stephanie Nadolny (young Goku) is up for Best Lead Voice-Over Performance for
Dragon Ball DAIMA
, while
Solo Leveling
's Aleks Le (as Sung Jinwoo) is nominated for Best Lead Voice-Over and Justin Briner (supporting) for Best Supporting Voice-Over.
Dragon Ball DAIMA charges into Astra nominations
Credits: Crunchyroll
Dragon Ball DAIMA
– a brand-new anime saga celebrating Akira Toriyama's 40th anniversary – is a heavyweight nominee.
The series (set right after the Majin Buu story of
DBZ
) sends Goku on a magical new adventure in the Demon Realm. Fans and critics have praised it as a 'breath of fresh air,' noting its top-notch animation and nostalgic tone. One reviewer commented that
DAIMA
feels like a return to 'the heart of what made Dragon Ball so great,' and another noted it 'has been such a massive hit with fans since it first made its debut'. It's no surprise
Dragon Ball DAIMA
landed a Best Anime Series nomination and a voice acting nod: Nadolny's performance was singled out among the year's best.
Solo Leveling season 2 continues the streak
Solo Leveling
– originally a Korean web novel and webtoon turned hit anime – also leads the nominations. Its second season,
Arise from the Shadow
, begins in early 2025 and picked up from the first season's explosive finale. The story follows Sung Jinwoo, a low-ranked hunter who gains incredible new powers, and it has become a global phenomenon. The season 2 premiere shattered Crunchyroll records: it was 'the most liked premiere episode in the history of the streaming service' and has garnered over 400,000 audience reviews already.
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With that kind of enthusiasm,
Solo Leveling Season 2
easily earned a Best Anime Series nomination. Its stars were recognized too: Aleks Le's leading performance as Jinwoo and Justin Briner's supporting role were both nominated. Critics note that the anime's polished animation and faithful adaptation of the beloved webtoon have won it wide acclaim, making these Astra nods well-deserved.
Other notable anime contenders
Several other popular anime join
DAIMA
and
Solo Leveling
among the Astra nominees.
Key mentions include:
Dandadan (Crunchyroll) – A fantasy-action comedy about two teens battling ghosts and aliens. Critics hailed it as 'one of the best anime of 2024' for its inventive mix of high-flying action and quirky humor. It earned a Best Anime Series nomination alongside the big titles.
A fantasy-action comedy about two teens battling ghosts and aliens. Critics hailed it as 'one of the best anime of 2024' for its inventive mix of high-flying action and quirky humor. It earned a Best Anime Series nomination alongside the big titles. Fire Force Season 3 (Crunchyroll/Adult Swim) – The long-awaited conclusion of Fire Force. Fans of the fire-fighting heroes have eagerly awaited this final arc, and its nomination recognizes the series' strong following and dynamic fight scenes.
The long-awaited conclusion of Fire Force. Fans of the fire-fighting heroes have eagerly awaited this final arc, and its nomination recognizes the series' strong following and dynamic fight scenes. Lazarus (Adult Swim) – An original sci-fi anime directed by Cowboy Bebop creator Shinichirō Watanabe. Early reviews praise Lazarus as a 'kinetic anime with no shortage of provocative ideas,' noting its stylish action and ambitious premise. Its inclusion underscores how even brand-new series are making an impact.
An original sci-fi anime directed by Cowboy Bebop creator Shinichirō Watanabe. Early reviews praise Lazarus as a 'kinetic anime with no shortage of provocative ideas,' noting its stylish action and ambitious premise. Its inclusion underscores how even brand-new series are making an impact. The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 (Crunchyroll) – Continuing the romantic mystery of a young palace doctor in imperial China. The first season was a sleeper hit praised for its engaging story, and the second season's nomination reflects its loyal fanbase.
Each nominee was chosen for a reason: whether groundbreaking creativity (
Dandadan
,
Lazarus
), satisfying finales (
Fire Force
), or clever storytelling (
Apothecary Diaries
), anime experts and fans alike have recognized their excellence.
Industry reaction and Astra's significance
Anime fans and critics have welcomed these nominations as a sign that anime is getting its due in mainstream awards. Online discussions show excitement – anime forums and social media are abuzz with supporters urging each other to celebrate these shows.
Industry observers note that this is still a very new development: as
Otaku USA
reported, Astra only introduced a dedicated anime category in 2024. In fact,
Solo Leveling
won the first-ever Best Anime Series award last year, marking a milestone. The fact that major anime like
Dragon Ball
are now in contention at Astra means that the Western TV industry is recognizing anime's global popularity. Moreover, honoring voice actors (as Astra does) highlights the importance of performance in these shows – something fans have often championed.
The Astra Awards are run by the Hollywood Creative Alliance and are becoming a notable barometer of quality in entertainment. By giving anime its own platform, they help bridge the anime community with the broader TV industry. For years anime fans campaigned for recognition beyond fan-voted awards, and seeing favorites like
DAIMA
and
Solo Leveling
nominated feels like a vindication of anime's growing influence.
With voting open, fans will watch closely when the winners are announced in mid-2025. Either way, the nominations themselves are a win – they spotlight top anime of the year and affirm that series like
Dragon Ball DAIMA
and
Solo Leveling
are not just popular but truly outstanding in the eyes of critics and audiences alike. This year's Astra nods underline that anime continues to surge as a global entertainment force, earning respect on stages around the world.
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