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This article will have spoilers for Spy x Family, Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen 0, and Attack on Titan: Final Season, Part 2, and the upcoming categories for The Crunchyroll Awards 2023.
After Spirited Away (2002) won an Oscar for best-animated feature, the Anime genre began to gain recognition at a larger global scale; the win paved the way for other animes to be nominated for prestigious awards such as Howl’s Moving Castle (2004), and The Wind Rises (2013). Therefore, it is no surprise that the Anime genre has only continued to grow in popularity, allowing award ceremonies such as Crunchyroll to expand and give the fandom the chance to partake in their favorites of the previous television calendar year.
As such, the contenders for the 2023 Crunchyroll Awards will have a difficult time competing against each other with so many great anime series being released in 2022, and there is no way to predict who will win an award when the contenders are all so strong.
It will be interesting to see who will be nominated and who will win — for now, here are the predictions for four of the major categories:
The Background Of The Crunchyroll Awards (2017-)
Announced in December 2016, the Crunchyroll Anime Awards hosted its first event in 2017 with the main purpose to recognize the best animes of the year on a global scale. Crunchyroll gives fans a voting period of a week from January 19 to January 26 to cast their votes in the twenty-two anime categories.
The major categories are: Best New Series, Best Animation, Best Film, and Anime of the Year. Once fans have cast their vote, the winners of the first round will go to a panel of judges to be voted on later and calculated confidentially.
After the voting process ends, the grand winners will be announced on the day of the in-person award ceremony at the Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa in Tokyo, Japan on March 4th, 2023. The ceremony will also be streamed online worldwide to make it all accessible.
“Best New Series:” Spy x Family (2022-)
2022 was a big year for new Anime releases such as Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (2022), a rare successful video game adaptation, and My Dress-Up Darling (2022). Most new shows are not always readily accepted when they are first released, but, for this one, in particular, that was not the issue; just like how Anya won over undercover spy Twilight’s heart, the wholesome, manga adaptation, Spy x Family (2022), won all of ours.
Twilight, also known as Loid Forger (( Wiki Targeted Anime. (2023). “Loid Forger.” Spy X Family Wiki. )), is sent on a mission to gather intel on a prominent politician, Donovan Desmond (( Wiki Targeted Anime. (2023). “Donovan Desmond.” Spy X Family Wiki. )) who is the key to restoring peace to the two nations, Ostania and Westalis. In order to get close to him, Loid must become a family man, but, with no family of his own, he embarks on a mission to find one. Hiding his true identity, Loid enlists the help of a six-year-old orphan, mind-reading esper, Anya (( Wiki Targeted Anime. (2023). “Anya Forger.” Spy X Family Wiki)), and underground assassin, Yor Briar (( Wiki Targeted Anime. (2023). “Yor Forger.” Spy X Family Wiki)), creating the picture-perfect family needed to save the world.
Crunchyroll Awards 2023: The Characters Of Spy X Family (2022-)
The show centers around a lot of “firsts” and learning periods for the main characters. First-time father Loid must figure out how to deal with his children’s emotions as well as the wild storms that accompany raising children. While Anya, who has only spent her time in orphanages, now has a family and must navigate what it’s like to be a normal child living a normal life at home and in school. As for Yor, she gets to experience what it is like to be a mother and wife after only knowing how to put her brother’s needs above everyone else’s.
The plot of Spy x Family does not revolve around a single character but instead explores a variety of plotlines in a way that makes the series highly entertaining. In contrast to some, the action is never accidental or forced; instead, the viewer is able to follow along with the build-up of each episode. It is an anime that some might say is simple, but, because of its simplicity, fans of all ages can, and are able to, enjoy it.
“Best Animation:” Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc (2021-2022)
Animation is the first thing viewers notice when starting a new series; the way the characters are portrayed, how they move, and their overall designs can very easily make or break an anime — or any animated television series for that matter. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc (2021-2022) is an anime that has excelled in how well the animation is presented.
In this particular season and following the devastation of the Mugen Train incident, protagonist Tanjiro Kamado (( Wiki Targeted Anime. (2023). “Tanjiro Kamado.” Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Wiki. )), Zenitsu Agatsuma (( Wiki Targeted Anime. (2023). “Zenitsu Agatsuma.” Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Wiki.)), and Inosuke Hashibira (( Wiki Targeted Anime. (2023). “Inosuke Hashibira.” Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Wiki.)), are sent to the Yoshiwara Entertainment District to help Hashira, Tengen Uzui (( Wiki Targeted Anime. (2023). “Tengen Uzui.” Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Wiki.)), find his missing wives and investigate the demon terrorizing the district. New highs and lows are reached and Tanjiro is forced to put his skills to the test in this fight for survival.
Crunchyroll Awards 2023: The Color Palette Of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (2021-2022)
As a whole, Demon Slayer is impressive; Koyoharu Gotouge wrote an extremely intricate story with plotlines that kept viewers on the edge of their seats throughout the episode. The animation is truly incredible and Studio Ufotable is the one to thank for it.
There are colors used during the fight scenes that represent the breathing style (the element) of the character using it, and when a character has tapped into their unreached potential the colors brighten. Furthermore, when their energy is waning, the colors also dim. It is engaging how they use the colors to represent more than just the technique being used within the series.
In the scene where Taniro is trying to get a grip on himself while fighting Daki, he taps into some of this hidden power and unleashes this fiery force she cannot help but cower under. From the shading on Dakis face, the creases in her brow to Tanjiros intense look as the veins in his neck begin to poke out from the amount of force he is exerting; the viewer can practically feel their despair. That coupled with the way their bodies seem to effortlessly and seamlessly move across the screen truly creates its own experience.
Watching the show is blinding in a way that prevents the viewer from looking away — all that can be seen is this gorgeous color being whipped around while the camera continues to pan through the air at impossible angles to capture the fight scene and show the raw desperation on the characters faces as they try to win the fight.
“Best Film:” Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (2021)
“I just couldn’t wear a heartfelt smile, living in this world,”
— is one of the last things Suguru Geto (( Wiki Targeted Anime. (2023). “Suguru Geto.” Jujutsu Kaisen Wiki.)), says to Satoru Gojo (( Wiki Targeted Anime. (2023). “Satoru Gojo.” Jujutsu Kaisen Wiki.)), before the film returns back to Yuta.
It is heartbreaking, but, it is because of this ending that shows a character who once lived with hope and now can no longer understand what that word means, that makes Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (2021) the best film in this category.
Yuta Okkotsu (( Wiki Targeted Anime. (2023). “Yuta Okkotsu.” Jujutsu Kaisen Wiki.)), is a 16-year-old who, no matter where he goes, is a magnet for misfortune. One of which follows him around in the form of cursed spirit, Rika (( Wiki Targeted Anime. (2023). “Rika.” Jujutsu Kaisen Wiki.)), who lashes out whenever Yuta is put in harm’s way. He has no idea how to control the power of the curse so, it is not long until he is placed under the care of one of Tokyo Jujutsu High’s powerful sorcerers, Satoru Gojo.
Throughout the film, Yuta struggles to fit in and when he clumsily uses Rika to help save a group of children, he captures the attention of the antagonist, Suguru Geto, leading to a full-fledged fight to save their city.
Crunchyroll Awards 2023: The Well-Rounded Characters Of Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (2021)
Many animes have a habit of making the protagonist appear weak and timid which can sometimes get redundant, however, for Yuta giving him this weaker personality works in its favor. As the film goes on, the changes in his demeanor and skill are gradual. He does not go from a physically weak high schooler to someone comparable to a god which is refreshing.
Rika is an extremely interesting character as well. Even though she is a curse that was created from negative feelings festering in one place for too long, she is different from the other curses they face that only have bloodshed on their minds. Rika has thoughts and feelings which is why Yuta cannot, and will not, send her away.
Before she died in a tragic accident, Rika was a child just like Yuta; she was his best friend, and he simply could not let her go. The underlying theme of not being able to let someone go even though it is time for them to move on is painful and it is not until the end when the battle is over and everyone is safe that Yuta realizes he should not hold on anymore.
Yuta has to make this decision between selfishly keeping her or moving on, and it is extremely profound. Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (2021) gives Gojo the same decision with Geto and he mournfully chooses to let him go which leads to even more pain and turmoil in the next parts of the series.
“Anime Of The Year:” Attack On Titan: The Final Season Part 2 (2022)
With so many amazing animes, this category is a bit tougher to predict. Nonetheless, Anime of the Year goes to Attack On Titan: The Final Season Part 2 (2022). Continuing where part one left off, Eren Yeager (( Wiki Targeted Anime. (2023). “Eren Yeager.” Attack On Titan Wiki)), has officially turned against his former allies and enemies. He begins to set a plan in motion that will only end in innocent bloodshed on both sides.
With Eren and his brother, the Beast Titan, Zeke Yeager (( Wiki Targeted Anime. (2023). “Zeke Yeager.” Attack on Titan Wiki)), nowhere to be found, Marley and Eldia continue to fight in a brutal race to get rid of the other for good. Not being able to bring themselves to believe Eren is truly as monstrous as he seems, Armin Arlet (( Wiki Targeted Anime. (2023). “Armin Arlet.” Attack on Titan Wiki)), Mikasa Ackerman (( Wiki Targeted Anime. (2023). “Mikasa Ackerman.” Attack on Titan Wiki)), and the rest of their friends try and attempt to save Eren and restore him to his previous self.
Crunchyroll Awards 2023: The Longevity Of Attack On Titan (2013-)
The anime is a masterpiece that has garnered the love and adoration of fans over the last decade. There is a massive shift in the series where Eren, who was once regarded as a deeply traumatized and vengeful child, turns into the story’s anti-villain. The show originally had one main goal in mind: to find a way to defeat the Titans. Yet, as the story progresses and Eren inherits the memories of the former titans, that is not all that matters and what was once a show about fighting monsters becomes one that deep dives into bigotry, nationalism’s negatives, and classism.
The creator of Attack on Titan, Hajime Isayama, has this way of making the audience believe one way before completely shifting their values altogether as they question what is truly right. If a show can do that, it is only right they receive the title of anime of the year.
What Can Fans Expect From The Crunchyroll Awards 2023?
Anime truly is continuing to do big things and to see awards shows like the Crunchyroll Anime Awards bringing them this recognition just shows how popular the genre continues to become as the years go on.
It also shows that anime is continuously progressing and getting even more impressive as well. The Crunchyroll Anime Awards air on March 4 and can be viewed online here.