Anime fans eagerly await each year to find out which titles will be recognized by Crunchyroll, which has risen as the leading international streaming platform for anime. However, despite the prestige surrounding the awards, it doesn’t always recognize the best anime of the year.
The platform recently revealed the nominations for the 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards, with many gems from last year being overlooked. But just because they weren’t nominated doesn’t diminish the merit of those wonderful anime that surprised audiences in 2025. Here are some of the best anime series of 2025 that were ignored by Crunchyroll but that fans shouldn’t miss.
10
Yaiba: Samurai Legend
Netflix’s Yaiba: Samurai Legend, from the creator of Detective Conan, wasn’t only underrated during its original broadcast but also by Crunchyroll. The story follows a high-spirited, childlike young boy trained in the jungle to become the strongest samurai. Upon his return to the city, he becomes embroiled in a quest for orbs that grant incredible legendary powers, feeling noticeably influenced by Dragon Ball‘s original series.
Although it didn’t receive much recognition due to being a remake of a ’90s series and its relatively simple plot, Yaiba‘s visual quality by Wit Studio pushes the boundaries of animation. From the comical and exaggerated expressions to the battle scenes that convey the power and speed of sword fighting, the anime was a true visual gem. Unfortunately, despite being among the best animated series of 2025, Yaiba: Samurai Legend wasn’t nominated at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards in the action or animation categories.
9
Ruri Rocks
One of the charms of slice-of-life anime is their ability to bring a niche topic to a wider audience, and Ruri Rocks achieves this brilliantly. The anime tells the story of Ruri Tanigawa, a gem lover, who becomes captivated by the allure of minerals after meeting Nagi Arato. Although it could be considered an educational anime due to the amount of explanation it offers about mineral collection, Ruri Rocks is about appreciating the beauty of nature and its resources.
Sadly, although it wasn’t nominated at the Crunchyroll Awards, Ruri Rocks is one of the best slice-of-life anime of 2025 and a heartwarming story about finding one’s passion, showing that life is a treasure hunt with many valuable things to discover. Furthermore, it’s a self-contained story with a satisfying finale.
8
Grand Blue Dreaming Season 2
Returning seven years after the anime’s release, Grand Blue Dreaming Season 2 was one of the standout series of summer 2025. Following a university diving club that seems to do everything but dive, the second season of Grand Blue Dreaming is also filled with chaotic, alcohol-fueled parties and wacky characters with completely unhinged antics. However, the anime still retains the crude, over-the-top humor that made the first season popular.
Although the second season focuses a bit more on romance, it also plays with slapstick gags, improbable situations, and misunderstandings, being especially funny for the characters’ meme-worthy reactions. While its level of weirdness might not be for everyone, Grand Blue Dreaming Season 2 is a must-watch for comedy lovers.
7
Umamusume: Cinderella Gray
A spin-off anime from the Umamusume franchise, Cinderella Gray was quite the phenomenon in 2025. The anime revolves around Oguri Cap, an unknown country horse girl from Kasamatsu with monstrous hidden talent, following her path in the competitive racing world as she challenges many powerful rivals. This makes Cinderella Gray a well-developed coming-of-age story focused on Oguri’s growth. While many viewers may be thrown off about the series’ concept or think it’s all about cute horse girls, Umamusume: Cinderella Gray is actually a fiery action series.
From the training and running strategies, the races in the anime are incredibly serious, boasting the dynamism of a typical sports anime. Moreover, Cygames Pictures’ animation is a visual delight, showcasing the tension and speed of the characters and making each race more thrilling than the last. With two seasons airing in 2025, Umamusume: Cinderella Gray‘s eye candy sequences more than deserved a Crunchyroll Anime Award nomination for best animation.
6
Medalist
Medalist was definitely anime’s dark horse of 2025. Following a girl with low self-esteem and a teacher frustrated by how his professional career ended and the bond they share as they try to turn her into an Olympic representative, the anime’s strengths aren’t limited to figure skating. The relationships between the characters, the explanation of the techniques, and the competition itself were all beautifully crafted in Medalist.
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Likewise, Medalist‘s meticulous animation, which blends traditional techniques with 3D models (which are generally poorly received), is simply brilliant. It conveys movement and expression, with the jumps and spins being easily recognizable even to casual observers unfamiliar with the sport. Additionally, music plays just as important a role in Medalist as it does in real-life routines, making it a shame that Yuki Hayashi’s emotional soundtrack wasn’t recognized at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards.
5
Lord of Mysteries
Lord of Mysteries became one of the most talked-about isekai of 2025. Although, as a donghua, it wasn’t expected to be nominated in any Crunchyroll Anime Awards categories, Lord of Mysteries lived up to the popularity of its light novel, creating a complex mystical world with impressive animation quality.
In a world full of intrigues and darkness, malevolent deities, and a Victorian aesthetic, Zhou Mingrui is transmuted into Klein Moretti’s body, seeking to learn more about his situation by becoming a “beyonder.” Despite its fast pace in its premiere, Lord of Mysteries improved with each episode, escalating in stakes, dangers, and excitement, reaching a season finale that left viewers speechless and awaiting its next season.
4
To Be Hero X
With its daring visual style and perfect concept for My Hero Academia fans, To Be Hero X has caused quite a stir by not being nominated for the Crunchyroll Anime Awards. Many fans expected that, despite being a donghua, it would be evaluated in some category as a Japanese co-production. Even so, there’s no doubt that To Be Hero X deserves all its praise.
In a post on its official website, To Be Hero X took first place as Crunchyroll News’s Favorite Donghua of 2025
In To Be Hero X, superheroes aren’t born invincible; their powers stem from public trust. In this society based on appearances, agencies manage these idols, who often put up a facade, making the story much darker than it initially seems. What sets To Be Hero X apart is its fusion of animation styles, which it uses spectacularly as a narrative tool. This has elevated the series’ status, earning it recognition as one of the best animated series of recent years.
3
Kingdom Season 6
The questionable quality of its early installments damaged Kingdom’s reputation, but the anime has been revitalized with each new season. Kingdom Season 6, which follows the war between Qin and Zhao in the Western Zhao invasion arc, manages to make the battlefield incredibly captivating, as well as the ingenious strategy with which the characters overcome each crisis.
Adding to the excitement, Kingdom Season 6 has a depth that extends beyond simple sword fights, creating real psychological warfare. The animation and direction also shine brightly, creating stunning clashes between massive armies, skillfully blending 3D and hand-drawn animation. Kingdom’s sixth season has set the bar very high, so fans should wait to see if the anime receives more recognition when the second part premieres.
2
Dr. Stone: Science Future (Part 1 and 2)
One of the best shōnen anime of the last decade, Dr. Stone, was seriously overlooked in its final season. Although it was divided into three cours, Dr. Stone: Science Future began in January 2025, exceeding all the expectations fans had for the series. The fourth season raised the quality of the animation and gave Senku a rival worthy of his intellect, with each enemy that stood in his way representing a mortal danger.
Nothing could have prepared viewers for the rollercoaster of emotions that were the latest episodes of Dr. Stone: Science Future Part 2, with the story proving to be much more than just about science but about the strength of human connections. Dr. Stone has only been improving in quality, but sadly, Crunchyroll only gave Suika a nomination in the “Must Protect At All Costs” character category (which is always awarded to Anya Forger from Spy x Family).
1
Orb: On the Movements of the Earth
Although it was nominated for best drama, Orb: On the Movements of the Earth had everything it needed to win the award for best anime of 2025. Produced by Madhouse, it initially went unnoticed, and was even left out of the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards. However, Orb made a name for itself thanks to its brutal story and the depth of its characters.
Based on Uoto’s manga, the anime explores the beginnings of the helicocentric theory during a period marked by persecution. From charming characters with their own ideals, mind-blowing plot twists, one of the best villains in modern anime, and a masterfully crafted story from beginning to end, Orb: On the Movements of the Earth is so good it deserves wider recognition. It even feels criminal that its gorgeous landscapes and starry skies didn’t earn it a nomination for best background art.
