Will Demon Slayer Win Anime of the Year in 2025?

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 Will Demon Slayer Win Anime of the Year in 2025?


We all know that the new Demon Slayer movie has brought about a major uproar in the anime community. Due to the release of it, a previously released movie, which came out in Japan on July 18, 2025, and will be released ( internationally in August/September).   
Early buzz for Infinity Castle is overwhelmingly positive. According to Japan’s opening reactions, fans are calling it “Ufotable’s best work ever”, with stunning animation and intense emotional battles. The studio’s work has been compared favourably even to the series’ climactic Entertainment District battle, and viewers are calling the film a “must-see” for any anime fan.
    Crunchyroll itself hyped the project: president Rahul Purini has dubbed the Infinity Castle trilogy “one of the truly epic and consequential pop cultural events of our time”
However, because Demon Slayer’s 2025 content is released as a film (not a TV series), it likely falls outside Crunchyroll’s Anime of the Year category (which is traditionally for TV series). Demon Slayer may instead contend in a Film of the Year category.

Major 2025 Contenders

In addition to Demon Slayer, several high-profile anime are releasing in 2025. Notable among new or returning series are:

  • Solo Levelling (Season 2) – Continuing the smash-hit shōnen fantasy. Season 1 (late 2023) was a breakout success (Crunchyroll’s most viewed anime ever as of early 2025) and won Anime of the Year at the 2025 Crunchyroll Awards. Season 2 (Jan 2025) is highly anticipated, animated by A-1 Pictures, and carries an enormous fanbase.

  • Lord of the Mysteries – A Chinese fantasy (donghua) adaptation has been released on June 28, 2025. It’s already “one of the most talked-about anime series of the summer”. Produced by B.CMAY, it boasts a large built-in fan following from the original web novel.

  • Gachiakuta – A new original action series (Bones studio) premiered July 6, 2025. Marketed by Crunchyroll as a major event, but early streaming data suggests it’s underperforming internationally. Critics are divided: some call it formulaic and shallow despite its strong animation pedigree.

  • Kaiju No. 8 (Season 2) – An acclaimed Godzilla-esque shōnen (Production I.G) returning July 2025 after a hit first cour. S1 was “critically acclaimed” and even nominated for 2025 AOY. Its high-octane animation and solid fanbase make it a strong contender.

  • Dr. STONE: SCIENCE WORLD (Cour 2) – The final part of Dr STONE’s third season, airing 2025. Dr. STONE is a popular ongoing shōnen (Boichi/Story).

  • Dan Da Dan (Season 2) – A quirky horror-comedy (studio LIDEN FILMS) which premiered July 3, 2025. It has a niche manga fanbase and good production values.

  • Takopi’s Original Sin – A TV mini-series debuting June 2025 (Doga Kobo). A whimsical fantasy from a well-regarded manga, with moderate buzz.

  • Detectives These Days Are Crazy! – A comedic detective anime (studio LIDEN FILMS) launching July 1, 2025. It’s a viral hit in trailers but less proven in popularity.

    • Each of these series/films will compete in viewer interest and awards consideration. The table below compares the top contenders across the key criteria of critical reception, animation quality, popularity, and cultural impact

    Analysis of Demon Slayer’s Odds

    Even putting aside Crunchyroll’s category rules, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle would seemingly excel on any award metric. Its animation quality (Ufotable film production) is legendary, and critical response to Chapter 1 is ecstatic. The popularity of Demon Slayer is off the charts – every previous season/film has topped charts worldwide – and the series already has major cultural momentum. However, there are two big caveats:

    1. Eligibility: Crunchyroll Anime Awards traditionally treat anime films and series separately. The Anime of the Year category is intended for TV series from that year (winners are chosen by judges/public). Demon Slayer’s new content in 2025 is a theatrical film, which would instead vie for “Anime Film of the Year”, if anything. In past awards, continuing series (like Demon Slayer’s previous seasons) were ineligible for AoY (they won “Best Continuing Series” instead). If Crunchyroll sticks to that convention, Demon Slayer can’t even be nominated for AoY in 2026.

    2. Competition: Among the TV anime of 2025, other titles are extremely strong. Solo Levelling S2 is a likely favourite – the first season just won AoY and holds Crunchyroll’s viewership record. Lord of the Mysteries has lit up the summer and has the novelty of high-quality Chinese production. Kaiju No. 8 continues a critically acclaimed run. Even among films, Crunchyroll might favour original movies (e.g., Suzume or Look Back, if eligible) for AoY considerations.

    Conclusion: If only series are considered, Demon Slayer has no shot at Anime of the Year 2026, since it will not air as a series. Among series, Solo Levelling and possibly Lord of the Mysteries or Kaiju No. 8 seem likeliest. Demon Slayer’s Infinity Castle film is almost certain to sweep Film/Continuing awards but not AoY. Even if Crunchyroll bent rules (which seems unlikely), the sheer fanpower behind Solo Levelling (and its judges’ vote) suggests Demon Slayer would still be an underdog for AoY. Demon Slayer’s return is undoubtedly a major event – but it probably won’t win the “Anime of the Year” statuette in 2026.

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