Latest news with #DanDaDan
The Star
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
'Solo Leveling' emerges as biggest winner at anime awards
Solo Leveling (pic), a fantasy anime that tells the story of Sung Jin-woo living in an alternate reality threatened by supernatural events and monsters, is the biggest winner of the ninth Crunchyroll Anime Awards with nine plums, including Anime of the Year. Other anime recognised at the ceremony were Dan Da Dan, Demon Slayer , and Frieren: Beyond Journey's End , as well as Attack On Titan which received the award for Global Impact. Hosted by Sally Amaki and Jon Kabira, the Anime Awards held on Sunday, May 25 in Tokyo, featured a stacked lineup of celebrity anime fans, including Rina Sawayama, RuPaul's Drag Race alum Plastique Tiara, Kacey Musgraves and d4vd, to name a few.
Gizmodo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
‘Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye' Brings Curses, Chaos, and Heart
Science Saru's theatrical preview prepares 'Dan Da Dan' for a genre-bending comeback before season 2 haunts your anime watchlist this July. When Dan Da Dan hit streaming platforms last fall, it wasted no time becoming the Johnny-come-lately must-watch anime of the year. With an absolute bop of an opening theme, a seamless blend of comedy, sci-fi action, palpable slow-burn romance, and evocatively bouncy and expressive animation, Science Saru's off-kilter anime quickly became the standout of 2024. It also doesn't hurt that the series recently won some Crunchyroll Anime Awards, adding to its growing acclaim and cementing its place as a fan favorite in a year of exceptional anime. Accolades aside, it'd be remiss not to note that Dan Da Dan's first season also left fans hanging in the most excruciating way possible–cutting to black right at the brink of its next big arc. Thankfully, the sting of that cliffhanger didn't last long, as the series was swiftly renewed for a second season. Now, GKids and animation studio Science Saru are teaming up once again to bring Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye to the big screen–a theatrical preview featuring the first three episodes of the new season. While the film introduces some new annoying pacing quirks typical of anime compilation releases, Evil Eye still sets the stage for an anime that continues to push boundaries with breathtaking animation, high-energy action, and emotionally charged storytelling. If its momentum holds beyond what Evil Eye showed us, season 2 is gearing up to exceed expectations when it premieres this July. Evil Eye picks up right after the events of Dan Da Dan Season 1, with Okarun, Momo Ayase, and Jiji Enjoji diving into the mystery surrounding Jiji's cursed family home. Their investigation uncovers not just one, but two terrifying forces lurking in Byakuja Village: a monstrous worm kaiju that emits blinding light, driving its victims to the brink of self-destruction, and the Evil Eye–a sinister yokai that grants Jiji immense power akin to Okarun's, but at the cost of his self control. As if these threats weren't enough, the trio must also contend with the Kito family, a chilling cult with jaundiced-eyed martial artists, responsible for generations of child sacrifices, believing it's kept the village protected from calamities. Evil Eye preserves Dan Da Dan's signature eccentricity, seamlessly blending horror and comedy with razor-sharp precision. One moment, Momo is locked in a harrowing battle with the Kito family, evoking the eerie menace that is characteristic of Junji Ito's work. Next, she's turning the tables in a bare-knuckle brawl straight out of a kung fu flick. Whether delivering tension or laughs, the film nails its timing, utilizing direction that goes beyond simple stylistic gimmicks to embrace anime's unique storytelling strengths fully. With dynamic flourishes reminiscent of a YouTuber's fast-paced editing, Evil Eye sharpens its emotional impact, drawing attention to key details, leaning into meme-like framing, and amplifying each heartfelt moment through swelling music and abstract, painterly animation. The result is a story that lingers long after the credits roll. One of Dan Da Dan's greatest strengths is its ability to add depth and texture to its cryptids and yokai—rather than using tragic backstories as fleeting emotional bait, it ensures they resonate beyond mere shock value. While many contemporary anime lean into dramatic pasts only to quickly abandon them for the next big arc, Evil Eye fully embraces the complexity of its supernatural elements, elevating them beyond surface-level tragedy. A prime example is its treatment of Jiji and his connection to the titular Evil Eye. Much like the series did with Acro Silky and Aira Shiratori, it takes a character once framed as comic relief and enriches them with poignant storytelling, recontextualizing Jiji's class clown nature while giving emotional weight to Evil Eye itself. Instead of feeling like a disposable antagonist, the entity becomes a compelling force within the narrative, allowing its presence to linger in a way that feels more poetic than performative. And Jiji isn't the only one stealing the show–Turbo Granny delivers some fantastic spit-take comedy as the group's petulant babysitter, Momo lands devastating kicks, and Okarun shines with his signature cool-guy monologues, complete with an unmistakable JoJo's reference. Evil Eye is the latest proof that Dan Da Dan is anime's ultimate genre chameleon, effortlessly shifting tones and styles in an instant. This time, it leans deeper into its horror roots, channeling the eerie tension of a Takashi Miike thriller with razor-sharp timing between terror and comedy. But Evil Eye doesn't just pay homage to horror–it pushes the boundaries of Yokinobu Tatsu's ongoing manga, elevating its cinematic flair and expanding the chaos to thrilling new heights. Visually, Evil Eye redefines familiar anime techniques. Impact frames take on a hypnotic, lava lamp-like fluidity, while fight choreography moves effortlessly between close-quarters intensity and exhilarating free-running sequences. Evil Eye does many things well, serving as a teaser for what's to come, but it falls into a familiar trap for anime compilation films—padding the runtime. Instead of jumping straight into its horror-thriller setup, it lingers too long on a highlight reel of past episodes, making the early moments feel more like promotional material than an organic transition into the new season. While neat in theory, this approach dulls the impact of what should feel like a feature-length event. Other GKIDS releases have excelled at diving right into the action, but Evil Eye takes nearly 20 minutes to commit, with an additional 10-minute interview with co-directors Fuga Yamashiro and Abel Gongora sandwiched at the end, further stretching out the experience in disengaging ways where a director interview would have sufficed. This echoes a past misstep from Dan Da Dan's previous theatrical promo, where behind-the-scenes footage was put at the start of the film, with a majority of its 'how the sausage is made' segments spoiling major reveals before audiences even what they were in store for. A mistake GKids had been good about not repeating with its other anime preview films! While the nostalgia is appreciated, it hasn't been that long since the series aired, and the extended recap feels more like unnecessary filler than a seamless setup. As a result, instead of thrusting audiences straight back into its cliffhanger momentum, Evil Eye slows things down, making its start feel more like a drawn-out warm-up than a thrilling leap into the next chapter. Of course, it wouldn't be Dan Da Dan without another cliffhanger; them's the breaks with anime compilation preview films. But beyond these minor frustrations, Evil Eye takes bold, creative strides, upping the ante for anime adaptation in a way only Science Saru can. Once defined by its punchy, vibrant colors, Evil Eye teases how the show will go beyond briefly winking at other genres by fully leaning into a dynamic approach to fully manifesting their foundations and aesthetics, further solidifying Dan Da Dan's ever-evolving identity. Hopefully, that momentum will carry on beyond its opening stretch in new and galaxy-brained ways when the series makes its grand return. Dan Da Dan season 2 premieres this July on Netflix, Crunchyroll, and Hulu. Evil Eye hits theaters across the U.S. June 6.
Daily Maverick
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Maverick
All the winners of the 2025 Anime Awards
Despite a very impressive gathering of Asian animation talent, one series dominated the 2025 Anime Awards. Here are all the winners announced during the 25 May ceremony in Tokyo. Between enchanting fantasy, high school romance, and supernatural thrillers, the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards looked set to be a showdown between heavyweights of the animation industry in Asia. This year, series like Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, The Apothecary Diaries, Dan Da Dan, and Delicious in Dungeon all went head-to-head, but out of nowhere, it was Solo Leveling that dominated the awards show, which was hosted in Tokyo on 25 May. Winning nine of the 13 awards it was nominated for, Solo Leveling took home all the glory when it clinched the coveted Anime of the Year prize. It's worth noting that this year's Crunchyroll Anime Awards covered all anime released from October 2023 through to December 2024, meaning that only the first season of Solo Leveling was eligible. The show, which is based on the South Korean web novel of the same name and its webtoon adaptation, has been a massive hit since it first debuted in January 2024. A power fantasy about a monster-hunter named Sung Jin-woo, who rises in status from weakling to an absurdly powerful necromancer, Solo Leveling has been a critical and commercial smash hit so far. The series is available with a Crunchyroll subscription. While Solo Leveling was a lock to win awards like 'Best Action,' there has been spirited debate online over the other awards it bagged. With anime like Frieren – about an elven mage who outlives her adventuring companions – and Dan Da Dan – where high schoolers battle both aliens and the supernatural – also nominated for 'Best New Anime Series,' fans of those shows (both on Netflix) felt that Solo Leveling's win was underserved compared to how those series feature more nuanced and layered storytelling in comparison. Other notable 2025 winners included Anime Film of the Year Look Back, from Chainsaw Man creator Tatsuki Fujimoto, about two young girls who bond over drawing manga (and which is on Prime Video); ever-popular Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (Best Continuing Series and Best Animation); and Blue Box (Best Romance), where teens deal with complicated feelings as they train for basketball Nationals. Both Demon Slayer and Blue Box are in the South African Netflix library. For the record, voting for the Anime Awards is weighted 70/30 between a panel of anime industry judges and public opinion. The accolades have been dished out since 2017, when groundbreaking figure skating drama Yuri on Ice became the first Anime of the Year winner. The 2025 Awards Ceremony was an emotional night for the people who worked on the iconic Attack on Titan anime, as well as it was awarded Crunchyroll's first-ever Global Impact Award to honour the mark it had made on pop culture worldwide since debuting back in 2013. Looking ahead, this year will see several highly anticipated anime films and TV series released. A trilogy of Demon Slayer films will wrap up the anime, and the next arc of Chainsaw Man will also be on the silver screen. Meanwhile, on TV, while anime series like Dragon Ball Daima, Sakamoto Days, and Lazarus are earning rave reviews from critics and fans alike, new seasons of megapopular properties like Spy x Family, One-Punch Man, and My Hero Academia are lined up for home viewing later in 2025. DM This story was first published on PFangirl. Below you'll find all of this year's winners, while a full list, including nominees, can also be found here. 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards Winners Anime of the Year Solo Leveling Film of the Year Look Back Best Original Anime Ninja Kamui Best Continuing Series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Hashira Training Arc Best New Series Solo Leveling Best Opening Sequence 'Otonoke' – Creepy Nuts (Dan Da Dan) Best Ending Sequence 'request' – krage (Solo Leveling) Best Action Solo Leveling Best Comedy Mashle: Magic and Muscles – The Divine Visionary Candidate Exam Arc Best Drama Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Best Isekai Anime Re:ZERO – Starting Life in Another World – Season 3 Best Romance Blue Box Best Slice of Life Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines! Best Animation Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Hashira Training Arc Best Background Art Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Best Character Design Dan Da Dan Best Director Keiichiro Saito (Frieren: Beyond Journey's End) Best Main Character Sung Jinwoo (Solo Leveling) Best Supporting Character Fern (Frieren: Beyond Journey's End) 'Must Protect At All Costs' Character Anya Forger (Spy × Family, Season 2) Best Anime Song 'Otonoke' – Creepy Nuts (Dan Da Dan) Best Score Solo Leveling – Hiroyuki Sawano Voice Performance Awards Japanese Aoi Yuki (Maomao – The Apothecary Diaries) English Aleks Le (Sung Jinwoo – Solo Leveling) Arabic Hiba Snobar (Anya Forger – SPY × FAMILY Season 2) Brazilian Portuguese Charles Emmanuel (Sung Jinwoo – Solo Leveling) Castilian Spanish Masumi Mutsuda (Sung Jinwoo – Solo Leveling) French Adrien Antoine (Kafka Hibino – Kaiju No. 8) German Daniel Schlauch (Monkey D. Luffy – One Piece) Hindi Lohit Sharma (Satoru Gojo – Jujutsu Kaisen, Season 2) Italian Ilaria Pellicone (Kyomoto – Look Back) Latin Spanish
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Every Winner at the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors The 2025 edition of the Crunchyroll Anime Awards took place on Sunday, with dozens of awards given away to some of the best anime series and movies of yesteryear. The stream was an exciting affair, filled with celebrity appearances, performances from artists like Creepy Nuts – best known for its theme song Otonoke from Dan Da Dan – and much more. We've got the full list of Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025 winners below, along with a quick summary of the biggest winners of the night. Solo Leveling director Shunsuke Nakashige accepts the Anime of the Year award on stage at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025 in Tokyo. Solo Leveling director Shunsuke Nakashige accepts the Anime of the Year award on stage at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025 in Tokyo. Crunchyroll Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025: All Awards Winners The big winner of the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards was Solo Leveling, which took home a staggering 9 awards at the show, including the coveted Anime of the Year awards. That was a little bit surprising to many, who expected Dan Da Dan would clean up at the awards — it took home three awards when all was said and done, just a little behind Frieren's four. Here's the full list:
Buzz Feed
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
How Crunchyroll's Gita Rebbapragada Puts Anime Fans First
The 9th Crunchyroll Anime Awards are OTW and fans around the world are gearing up to see which show will take home the BIG "Anime of the Year" title for 2025. With over 50 million votes casted and mountains of discussion online, it's really anyone's guess between Dan Da Dan, Delicious in Dungeon, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, Kaiju No. 8, Solo Leveling and Apothecary Diaries. My bet's on Solo Leveling. Anime is (and always has been) watched, adored and discussed around the world. Everyone has a connection to it, whether it be turning on the TV to a random episode of Pokémon as a kid, seeing friends collect trading cards/merch or being a diehard series viewer. The genre has grown up with us and continued growing into something HUGE. But how did it get to where it is now? Ahead of the Awards, we sat down with Gita to answer this very question, chat about what's coming next and living in an anime world. BFOZ: With the wild jump in Anime Awards votes from 30 million+ last year to 50 million+ this year, what do you think has made anime into the global phenomenon that it is today? And I also think it's just deeply resonant with younger audiences and as they start to grow up and talk about it more and have financial independence of bigger allowances. You're also seeing that multi-generational viewing, which is also creating a lot of growth. BFOZ: When you speak to the studios about what's on their slate for the upcoming year, what are the key indicators to success that jump out at you and figuring out what to put onto Crunchyroll next? That is also telling stories from around the world that we think could be a good told in the art form of anime and the storytelling style of anime. We're always looking for those too. Isekai, for example, I think is really popular because the fluidity of different worlds is always very appealing, increasingly plays on gaming references, gaming territories. Solo Leveling, part of why it's so popular is it's a story of essentially leveling up, which I think is super interesting. I think horror also does surprisingly well. A lot of fans are like that. So I think it is a slate approach. It's not just action sequences. There's a lot of art house that does really well too. So it really depends. BFOZ: Working in the anime space, do you have any all-time comfort anime shows or movies? In terms of characters that I just find really endearing, my hero is definitely, especially when we're first introduced to some of the characters in the earlier seasons, found them really relatable. I'm watching One Piece now with my daughter, which is where I would say we're early days in that one. In terms of my favourite character? Might be Spy x Family. There so many, I mean, there's just a lot. I like them all, a lot of different shows for a lot of different reasons. I love Kaiju No. 8, which is, I'm not usually, it wouldn't be one you would describe, you would guess, but I don't know. There's something about it that I just found kind of gripping. BFOZ: Stepping outside of the anime bubble for a moment, as a woman of power, how do you learn to trust and strengthen your gut in an entertainment industry that's ever-evolving and at the mercy of emerging technologies? It's going to change. It has changed in the last five years. It's going to radically change in the next five years. And so being really clear about knowing what that evolution is, what they want, what they don't want, and also taking risks like we are at heart. This is a content. We deliver content. Content is a creative pursuit and making sure we're developing things or giving them things that are very, very exciting and not always playing it safe. I think that's the key. BFOZ: What's the best business advice that anyone has shared with you that you still keep to you till this day, other than know your audience? Because the reality is at the rate of innovation that's happening right now, every company is at the risk of . And so I think what we do as leaders is we have to really challenge ourselves to think, "How would we do things differently, if you started today?".I think I've definitely been in some high growth companies that have been very disrupted, and that's always very top of mind for me is there is someone who is going to have a really great idea and they're going to implement that idea with all the tools that are available to them today without any legacy thinking. So have your experience be your superpower, not your liability. BFOZ: And finally, if there was one anime universe you could live in, which one would it be? Which show do you think will take home "Anime of the Year"? Tune into the Crunchyroll Anime Awards on Twitch and YouTube on May 25, 2025 — the pre-show kicks off from 6pm AEST.
