After a lot of guessing, the nominees for Anime of the Year at this year’s Crunchyroll Anime Awards are finally here! The list includes some predictable choices, a few surprises, and some popular series that didn’t make the cut, which fans are sure to be talking about until the awards show.
Now that the nominations are announced and fans can vote, let’s examine each anime series and assess its chances of winning. Every nominated anime is excellent, but here’s a breakdown of how likely each one is to take home the award.
Gachiakuta
It’s a bit unexpected that Gachiakuta is receiving more attention than Solo Leveling, especially since Solo Leveling is already a hugely popular anime. However, Gachiakuta is clearly off to a strong start, quickly gaining fans and already being renewed for a second season.
I’ve been really impressed with the quality of series coming out of Bones lately, and Gachiakuta definitely continues that streak. Studio A animated it – they’re the team behind some fantastic shows like Noragami, Carole & Tuesday, and the first season of My Hero Academia. While it would be amazing to see Gachiakuta win an award and establish itself as a hit, I suspect another well-known Bones adaptation will probably take home the prize instead.
The Summer Hikaru Died
While some were surprised that The Summer Hikaru Died received an Anime of the Year nomination, it absolutely earned the recognition. It’s encouraging to see a wider range of genres get attention, especially when the anime world often focuses on popular action series. This nomination shows that fans still enjoy and appreciate diverse stories beyond the mainstream.
The Summer Hikaru Died is a visually stunning and atmospheric series that blends horror with quiet, character-driven moments. Good horror anime are rare, and the first season of this show is exceptionally well-done. While there’s a lot of great anime out there, it would be fantastic to see The Summer Hikaru Died win Anime of the Year.
The Apothecary Diaries Season 2
Season 2 of The Apothecary Diaries lived up to the high expectations set by its first season. It was a highlight of the winter 2025 anime lineup, and a year later, viewers are still enthusiastically discussing it.
With a lot of buzz surrounding it, The Apothecary Diaries is a strong contender to win. It features some of the best storytelling among all the nominated anime and is visually appealing too. While some other shows might get a boost from being more recent, The Apothecary Diaries‘ nomination shows its lasting popularity and gives it a great chance of winning.
Takopi’s Original Sin
Despite being only six episodes long, Takopi’s Original Sin was a remarkably well-made series. Each episode was excellent, making it one of the most talked-about and memorable anime of 2025. Throughout its run, people were constantly discussing and praising each new installment.
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It’s really encouraging to see such a short and lesser-known series resonate so strongly with fans, which significantly boosts its chances of being named Anime of the Year. The show delivers a powerful and moving story, enhanced by a fantastic soundtrack and consistently good animation. It has all the qualities of a potential winner, and many anime enthusiasts would likely welcome its victory.
Dandadan Season 2
Season 2 of Dandadan continued the excitement from the first season, giving us some truly memorable anime scenes throughout 2025 thanks to the characters Momo, Okarun, Aira, and Jiji. The animation, once again handled by Science Saru, was fantastic – beautifully designed and with incredibly smooth action, making it one of the best-looking shows of the year.
The second season of the series ended with a huge cliffhanger, leaving fans eager for season 3 – though it won’t arrive until around 2027. This is the second time Dandadan has been nominated for Anime of the Year, having previously been up against Solo Leveling, Delicious in Dungeon, Frieren, Kaiju No. 8, and The Apothecary Diaries. It lost last year to Solo Leveling, but with that series no longer in contention and both The Apothecary Diaries and Dandadan receiving another nomination, either one could win this time. However, a major challenge still stands in their way.
My Hero Academia: Final Season
It’s satisfying when a long-running series ends strongly, and My Hero Academia did just that. While the anime has always been a faithful adaptation of the manga, the final season really impressed viewers with its high quality and dedication to delivering a fitting conclusion to Horikoshi’s story.
The animation in the final season was truly stunning, bringing the manga’s most exciting scenes to life in a way that surprised many viewers. It was a deeply emotional conclusion for dedicated fans, and the upcoming TV special, My Hero Academia: More, could give the series the boost it needs to win Anime of the Year at the Anime Awards.
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2026-04-04 22:04