Controversially, Crunchyroll picked Solo Leveling as the best anime of 2024, despite stiff competition from Frieren, Delicious in Dungeon, and The Apothecary Diaries. Ultimately, everyone has their preferences, and I would personally put Dandadan above any other 2024 anime (Frieren and The Apothecary Diaries notwithstanding, since they debuted in 2023). Solo Leveling was, apparently, Crunchyroll’s most viewed anime of the previous year, so its victory makes sense based purely on numbers.
How does Solo Leveling stack compared to every other anime of the year winner? Crunchyroll has been handing out this award since 2016, with nine shows earning the accolade so far. Although all the series are great in their own right, some picks were more surprising than others. And, Solo Leveling ranks pretty low among the best anime of the year winners.
- We all have our favorites. That said, this article will aim to be as objective as possible by basing its rankings on MyAnimeList and Anime-Planet. Both sites have plenty of users, and the show’s average scores are based on thousands upon thousands of votes.
- Anime-Planet rates anime out of 5, so the scores will be multiplied by two to match MyAnimeList.
- An anime’s averages will be added up and then divided by two to get the final score.
9
Devilman Crybaby (2018)
7.7/10 (MyAnimeList: 7.74/10 & Anime-Planet: 7.66/10)
To give credit where credit is due, Crunchyroll is willing to nominate and even crown anime that are exclusive to other streaming services. Devilman Crybaby is only available on Netflix and made a big splash when it dropped in 2018, providing a dark and uncomfortable take on Go Nagai’s classic property. Purposefully abrasive, this anime deserves all the praise in the world for boldly tackling mature and challenging themes that are socially relevant. The animation is also fantastic and eye-catching, and still looks great all these years later.

Related
Best Manga By Go Nagai, Ranked
Go Nagai is a household name in the world of manga. These are some of his best works.
As gripping as it can be, Devilman Crybaby is pretty dang polarizing, which is not necessarily a bad thing. A show this unsettling, frantic, and (at times) degenerate should spark a visceral reaction in viewers, be it of admiration or disgust. Even if you might not love the 2018 anime of the year, you will not forget it.
Crunchyroll’s Other 2018 Anime Nominees (& Their Average Scores) |
---|
|
8
Yuri on Ice (2016)
8.23/10 (MyAnimeList: 7.90/10 & Anime-Planet: 8.56/10)

Yuri on Ice
- Release Date
-
2016 – 2016
- Directors
-
Sayo Yamamoto, Jun Shishido
- Writers
-
Sayo Yamamoto, Mitsuro Kubo
The only boys love anime to be nominated for Crunchyroll’s anime of the year, Yuri on Ice is possibly that theme’s most important representative of all time, even though it is quite tame compared to some other modern and especially classic shows. I was not sure what to expect from MAPPA’s original series, but Yuri on Ice ended up juggling sports and romance pretty well, albeit with a slightly heavier emphasis on the former.
As the first-ever anime of the year winner, Yuri on Ice overcame some strong competition in 2016, including shows (Re:Zero, Mob Psycho 100, and My Hero Academia) that would remain fixtures in the industry for years to come. Was it a deserving winner? Honestly, strong arguments could be made both in its favor and against it. Yuri on Ice was an international phenomenon that captured the cultural zeitgeist, more so than any other 2016 anime. MAPPA’s animation was and still is great, and the character writing is generally quite good. The boys love element could have led to a better pay-off, but it also does not overshadow Yuuri’s journey to achieve his dream. That said, as far as sports anime are concerned, Yuri on Ice is nothing too out of this world.
Crunchyroll’s Other 2016 Anime Nominees (& Their Average Scores) |
---|
|
7
Solo Leveling (2024)
8.51/10 (MyAnimeList: 8.26/10 & Anime-Planet: 8.76/10)
Solo Leveling is one of Crunchyroll’s most divisive anime of the year. That does not mean it is bad by any stretch of the imagination, as all these shows are fantastic; however, Solo Leveling is probably the most obvious “popular” pick. Season 1 was a huge hit that sparked a wave of online discourse and set the stage for a sequel that would be pretty much inescapable, and the latter could easily end up being 2025’s best anime of the year. The adaptation’s success could pave the way for even more anime based on manhwa, although they might not all get the same high-quality treatment. Let’s just say, I don’t think The Beginning After the End will be nominated for anime of the year.

Related
Best Anime Of 2024, Ranked
Dandadan, Delicious in Dungeon, and Monogatari, the best 2024 anime will go down as all-time greats. Here are the year’s best anime series.
Yet, Solo Leveling went up against so many big names that its victory felt a bit undeserved. Even if only the second cours of The Apothecary Diaries and Frieren were considered, they could still be seen as superior to Solo Leveling‘s first season. Dandadan blended romance, action, sci-fi, comedy, and fantasy seamlessly, while Delicious in Dungeon produced magic for half of 2024. Still, Solo Leveling is a good action anime.
Crunchyroll’s Other 2024 Anime Nominees (& Their Average Scores) |
---|
|
6
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (2022)
8.63/10 (MyAnimeList: 8.61/10 & Anime-Planet: 8.64/10)
Another Netflix exclusive picked as Crunchyroll’s anime of the year, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners was a fairly safe choice, especially since some of 2022’s biggest shows debuted in Fall and, consequently, were only eligible for the 2023 competition. Inspired by CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077, the anime features gorgeous animation by Trigger, a studio that has barely set a foot wrong over the last couple of years.
Telling a complete story in just 10 episodes, Edgerunners establishes Night City and a pretty expansive cast of characters in a short time, all the while telling an effective and complex love-ish story between David and Lucy. In terms of pure production value, this 2022 anime is right up there with the best of the best, and it will likely stand the test of time effortlessly. Story-wise, Edgerunners takes a while to fully get going, but it builds steadily to an electric final act.
Crunchyroll’s Other 2022 Anime Nominees (& Their Average Scores) |
---|
|
5
Made in Abyss (2017)
8.64/10 (MyAnimeList: 8.63/10 & Anime-Planet: 8.64/10)
Similar to Devilman Crybaby, Made in Abyss is not a pleasant watch. Sure, the anime has beautiful visuals and an adventurous tone fueled by wonder and whimsy, but that means nothing when characters are put through hell and their screams bury themselves in your subconscious, ensuring they echo forever within your nightmares. Made in Abyss is probably my favorite anime that I will never recommend to anyone, and season 1 is frankly tame compared to its sequel movie and 2022’s The Golden City of the Scorching Sun.
To be clear, Made in Abyss is a dark fantasy masterpiece with top-of-the-line animation, sympathetic characters, fascinating world-building, and a horrifying Lovecraftian-esque threat in the eponymous Abyss. It is just not fun. Watch it, but only if you are ready to take a trip into despair (along with some splashes of hope).
Crunchyroll’s Other 2017 Anime Nominees (& Their Average Scores) |
---|
|
4
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (2019)
8.68/10 (MyAnimeList: 8.43/10 & Anime-Planet: 8.922/10)
One of a handful of anime that can match Solo Leveling‘s popularity, Demon Slayer had a pretty slow start, with season 1 not exploding in popularity until episode 19. After that point, the anime became an absolute juggernaut, going on to produce a highly successful movie and multiple great sequel seasons. Later in 2025, Ufotable will drop Infinity Castle, the first entry in a cinematic trilogy that will bring Tanjiro’s animated story to a close.

Related
Demon Slayers: All Seasons Ranked From Worst to Best
While almost all Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba seasons have had a good reception, some have done better than others.
Considering the impact Demon Slayer has had, Crunchyroll naming the first season as the best anime of the year is retroactively justified. Some people, myself included, might argue Vinland Saga was 2019’s best anime, but Demon Slayer is about as good of a battle shonen as they get. Ufotable’s animation alone makes this an understandable choice.
Crunchyroll’s Other 2019 Anime Nominees (& Their Average Scores) |
---|
|
3
Jujutsu Kaisen – Cour 1 (2020)
8.77/10 (MyAnimeList: 8.55/10 & Anime-Planet: 8.99/10)
MyAnimeList and Anime-Planet do not differentiate between cours that aired sequentially, so this score is based on Jujutsu Kaisen‘s entire first season and not just the opening 12 episodes. Consequently, this ranking has to be taken with a grain of salt.
Alongside Demon Slayer and My Hero Academia, Jujutsu Kaisen has cemented itself as the definitive battle shonen of the last decade. While all three shows are relatively reliable, JK is not only the most consistent but also set a new standard for action in anime, even more so than Demon Slayer.
Season 1 tells Yuuji Itadori’s peculiar story, one that sees him thrust into the supernatural world and, eventually, eating a finger that holds a pretty dangerous curse. Yes, the inciting incident is pretty weird, but Jujutsu Kaisen eases viewers in with exhilarating fights, lovable characters, and a sense of familiarity through the establishment of a school for sorcerers.
Crunchyroll’s Other 2020 Anime Nominees (& Their Average Scores) |
---|
|
2
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 (2023)
8.84/10 (MyAnimeList: 8.75/10 & Anime-Planet: 8.92/10)
Staying within the same universe, Jujutsu Kaisen‘s sequel matched its predecessor, although season 2 is slightly more divisive. While the first few episodes focus on Gojo’s backstory and tell arguably the best arc in the series, the rest of the two-cour season consists of pretty much non-stop battles. I appreciate a great fight as much as the next shonen fan, but the Shibuya Incident Arc is so relentless that exhaustion can start to set in after a while.
11:34

Related
Best Anime Of 2023, Ranked
2023 produced more than a hundred anime, and these series were the best of all of them.
Still, in terms of pure spectacle, Jujutsu Kaisen season 2 has very few peers that come close to matching its quality, with Solo Leveling season 2 being one of the few exceptions. The story might not always take center stage, but it is not terrible and gets the job done.
Crunchyroll’s Other 2023 Anime Nominees (& Their Average Scores) |
---|
|
1
Attack on Titan: The Final Season – Part 1 (2021)
8.86/10 (MyAnimeList: 8.78/10 & Anime-Planet: 8.94/10)
As potentially the most hyped series of the 2010s and 2020s, Attack on Titan had to win anime of the year at some point. The Final Season marked a substantial shift in the narrative, one that flipped the script on both the characters and the world they exist within. Shocking and ambitious, the change was executed fantastically, even if not everyone loved one specific new character or Eren’s development.
Attack on Titan threatened to overstay its welcome by extending The Final Season to its breaking point, but this frustrating release schedule should not take away from the quality of the episodes. While nearly every annual pick is controversial to an extent, Crunchyroll’s best anime of the year winner is arguably the most worthy.
Crunchyroll’s Other 2021 Anime Nominees (& Their Average Scores) |
---|
|

MORE
Best Anime On Crunchyroll
From currently airing romance series to shonen classics and isekai masterpieces, here are the best anime that can be streamed on Crunchyroll.
FAQ
Q: How does Crunchyroll decide the anime of the year?
For the most recent awards, Crunchyroll staged two rounds of voting. The first round was determined by judges, while the second one added fan votes into the mix.