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The Hindu
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025: Fan-favorite action spectacle ‘Solo Leveling' topples fronturunner ‘Frieren' in massive populist upset
In a polarising turn of events, Solo Leveling has emerged as the undisputed champion of the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards, walking away with a staggering seven trophies, including the coveted Anime of the Year. The community discourse has been lined with an undercurrent of discontent, as fans and critics alike questioned whether the action juggernaut had truly bested what many hail as one of the most poignant anime of the decade. For the legions of fans for the South Korean manhwa-turned-anime, it was vindication. For many others, especially devotees of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, it felt like betrayal. Held at the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa in Tokyo, the ninth edition of the Crunchyroll Anime Awards drew an unprecedented 51 million votes from more than 200 countries. With celebrities like Kacey Musgraves, Gaten Matarazzo, Rina Sawayama, and J Balvin presenting awards, the event had the trappings of international spectacle. Yet, in the aftermath of the ceremony, the spotlight remains fixed on a single question: did Solo Leveling truly deserve to sweep the night? Solo Leveling wins Anime of the Year at the 2025 #AnimeAwards! 🏆 — The Anime Awards (@TheAnimeAwards) May 25, 2025 Adapted from Chugong's beloved webtoon, Solo Leveling follows Sung Jinwoo, a once-weak hunter who rises through brutal dungeons to become humanity's ultimate weapon. A-1 Pictures left no pixel unpolished, delivering adrenaline-fueled visuals, music from Attack on Titan veteran, Hiroyuki Sawano, and a relentless narrative tempo that captured the imagination of millions. The anime took home awards for Best Action, Best Score, Best Ending Sequence, Best Main Character, Best New Series, and multiple voice performance honors alongside Anime of the Year. The upset over Frieren's melancholic meditation on time, loss, and legacy, was met with outcry from segments of the anime community. Directed by Keiichiro Saito and animated by Madhouse, Frieren was praised for its emotional depth and gentle storytelling, following an immortal elf mage reckoning with the mortality of her long-gone comrades. The contrast between the two shows could not have been starker. Solo Leveling offered a speedy spectacle, while Frieren gradually unfolded like a contemplative novel. Frieren didn't walk away entirely empty-handed though — it won Best Drama, Best Background Art, Best Supporting Character (Fern), and Best Director for Saito. Yet the absence of the top honour has loomed large. The show has consistently topped fan-rating charts since early 2024, including MyAnimeList and Anime News Network, and many assumed it was the obvious frontrunner. Straddling the demands of blockbuster appeal and the yearning for introspective artistry, the Solo Leveling–Frieren face-off offers up a microcosm to the state of the anime community today. The situation speaks to a deeper tension in the anime world between artistry and populism. Crunchyroll's open voting format, which prioritises fan engagement over critical evaluation, has long been a subject of debate. And this year's outcome may have sharpened that divide. The controversy also sparked renewed scrutiny of other categories. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Hashira Training Arc won both Best Continuing Series and Best Animation — arguably deserved in the latter, but hotly contested in the former, especially given competition from long-running titans like One Pieceand Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War. Many have argued that the eight-episode arc lacked the narrative weight and scale of its predecessors, let alone its rivals. Elsewhere, Attack on Titan was honored with the inaugural Global Impact Award, a fitting tribute to the decade-long saga that has reshaped the cultural reach of anime in the past decade. The final chapter, The Last Attack, aired in late 2024, closing a monumental journey that began in 2013. Director Yuichiro Hayashi accepted the award on behalf of MAPPA. The night also saw spirited performances from musical acts like Creepy Nuts, who won Best Anime Song for Otonoke from Dandadan, and LiSA, who revisited fan-favorite hits like Gurenge from Demon Slayer. Here is the full list of winners from the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025: 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' by Creepy Nuts – Dandadan Best Ending Sequence – 'request' by 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 – Dandadan Best Director – Keiichiro Saito – Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Best Main Character – Sung Jin-woo – 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' by Creepy Nuts – Dandadan Best Score – Hiroyuki Sawano – Solo Leveling Best Japanese Voice Artist Performance – Aoi Yuki (Maomao) – The Apothecary Diaries Best English Voice Artist Performance – Aleks Le (Sung Jin-woo) – Solo Leveling Global Impact Award – Attack on Titan
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Simply Excellent': Solo Leveling anime becomes global hit, more than just the source material
credit- IMDb A new anime has taken the world by storm and it's not your usual story. Solo Leveling follows a weak hunter named Jinwoo who suddenly gets a second chance at life. He trains hard, unlocks hidden powers, and rises to become one of the strongest warriors in his world. After years of buzz around the digital comic, the anime finally launched in 2024 and became a global hit almost overnight. Solo Leveling wins with story, not just hype credit- IMDb The animation is stunning, the battles are intense, and Jinwoo's story is easy to follow even if you've never read the original. While many fans believe the anime's popularity comes from its massive online following, one industry expert says the real reason is something deeper. Atsushi Mizoguchi, CEO of MyAnimeList , says Solo Leveling isn't just riding a trend. It's winning over fans because of strong storytelling, emotional pacing, and a lead character everyone can root for. 'While digital comics like Solo Leveling have gained popularity worldwide, many overseas manga readers still prefer using PCs,' Mizoguchi explained. 'Among MyAnimeList users, PC and smartphone use is about 50/50. I believe Solo Leveling succeeded because it's simply excellent work, not because digital formats are easier to read.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Maximize Your $200 Investment with AI-Powered Market Insights! News Portal Learn More Undo Format Isn't everything,the story matters most solo leveling credit- IMDb Digital comics have become hugely popular thanks to bright visuals, short chapters, and phone-friendly reading. For many fans, Solo Leveling was their first experience with this kind of content, which made it easy to assume the anime succeeded because of the format. But Mizoguchi points out that reading habits vary. Many fans still enjoy stories on computers as much as phones. This suggests that format alone doesn't explain the anime's reach; it's the well-crafted characters and gripping plot that keep fans coming back. Solo Leveling anime stands on its own credit- IMDb The anime showcases Jinwoo's dramatic rise from the weakest hunter to an unstoppable force. Each episode builds excitement with high-stakes battles and emotional choices. Even for viewers who never read the comic, the anime is easy to follow and highly addictive. Solo Leveling isn't just following a trend, it's setting one. That's what makes it a true breakout hit in today's anime world.
