Crunchyroll Announces Nominees and Celebrity Presenters for 2025 Anime Awards

Crunchyroll has unveiled the nominees and a portion of the celebrity presenter lineup for the ninth annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards. The event recognizes outstanding achievements in anime across various categories from the past year. Voting opens to the public shortly after the announcement, allowing fans worldwide to influence the winners. The ceremony takes place in Tokyo, maintaining its tradition of celebrating global anime fandom.

The awards feature categories including Anime of the Year, Best Director, Best Animation, and character-specific honors like Best Main Character and Best Supporting Character. Nominees span series released between October 2024 and September 2025, judged initially by a panel of industry experts. Crunchyroll emphasizes diversity in selections, covering multiple genres and studios. Past winners have included major titles that dominated streaming charts and cultural discussions.

Confirmed presenters include Finn Wolfhard and Gaten Matarazzo, both known for their roles in ‘Stranger Things’. Additional presenters consist of Japanese comedy duo Chocolate Planet and actor Dean Fujioka. Crunchyroll indicates more names will join the roster in the coming weeks. The inclusion of Hollywood actors underscores anime’s growing crossover appeal in Western markets.

The 2025 Anime Awards stream live globally, with enhanced production values compared to previous years. Hosts and musical performances remain under wraps for now. Crunchyroll reports record viewership for recent events, reflecting anime’s expanded audience in the United States. The platform continues to license and produce original anime content to support the industry.

This announcement arrives during a peak holiday viewing period for seasonal anime specials and marathons. Fans anticipate intense competition in top categories given the volume of high-profile releases. Crunchyroll’s initiative highlights anime’s evolution from niche interest to mainstream entertainment in Hollywood circles. The awards serve as a key benchmark for industry trends heading into the next production cycle.