The battle for anime supremacy heats up as six heavyweight contenders prepare to duke it out for the prestigious Best Anime Series award!
Battle of the Titans: Six Anime Giants Compete for Glory!
Anime fans, get ready for an epic showdown! The 2025 Astra TV Awards has just announced its six powerhouse nominees for Best Anime Series, and this year’s competition is absolutely fierce! After Solo Leveling made history by claiming the inaugural award in 2024, the pressure is on as it returns to defend its title against some of the most acclaimed anime of the year.
The complete list of nominees competing for anime supremacy on June 10th includes:
- Dan Da Dan
- Dragon Ball Daima
- Fire Force Season 3
- Lazarus
- Solo Leveling Season 2 – Arise from the Shadow
- The Apothecary Diaries Season 2
Nominee Breakdown: What Makes Each Contender Special
Dan Da Dan: The Critical Darling
Dan Da Dan has taken the anime world by storm as one of the year’s most refreshing and innovative series. This supernatural horror comedy adaptation of Yukinobu Tatsu’s manga earned a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, cementing its status as a critical phenomenon. The series dominated at the 9th Crunchyroll Anime Awards with an astounding 22 nominations!
Since its premiere in January 2025, fans have been obsessed with its unique blend of paranormal elements, offbeat humor, and stunning animation from Science SARU studio. The show’s distinctive visual style and genre-bending narrative make it a serious contender despite being a newcomer to the scene.
Dragon Ball Daima: Toriyama’s Final Masterpiece
Dragon Ball Daima carries extraordinary emotional weight as legendary creator Akira Toriyama’s final project before his passing in March 2024. Released in October 2024, this nostalgic return to the franchise’s roots earned universal acclaim with another perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score.
The series brilliantly captured the magical adventure feel of the original Dragon Ball while introducing fresh elements that delighted both longtime fans and newcomers. Its nomination for “Favorite Cartoon” at the 2025 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards demonstrates its broad appeal across demographics.
With stunning animation from Toei Animation and the emotional significance of being Toriyama’s farewell gift to fans, Dragon Ball Daima enters as perhaps the sentimental favorite to win it all.
Fire Force Season 3: Heating Up the Competition
Fire Force Season 3 brought David Production’s adaptation of Atsushi Ōkubo’s manga to a spectacular conclusion when it aired in April 2024. The final season elevated the pyrokinetic action series to new heights with breathtaking animation and emotional character arcs.
While it may be considered an underdog in this stacked category, the series’ stunning fight sequences and satisfying conclusion to its complex mythology earned it a devoted following and strong critical reception, with an impressive 92% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Lazarus: The Artistic Dark Horse
Lazarus enters the competition as the cerebral wild card. Directed by anime legend Shinichirō Watanabe (known for Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo) and brought to life by powerhouse studio MAPPA, this original sci-fi series premiered in August 2024 to divided critical response.
While some criticized aspects of its storytelling, universal praise was showered on its breathtaking visual style, atmospheric worldbuilding, and phenomenal musical score composed by Yoko Kanno (reuniting the Cowboy Bebop dream team). The series’ artistic ambition and philosophical themes make it the category’s most distinctive entry.
Solo Leveling Season 2: The Defending Champion
Solo Leveling Season 2 – Arise from the Shadow arrives with the pressure of expectations after Season 1 claimed the inaugural Astra Award for Best Anime Series last year. Released by A-1 Pictures in July 2024, the second season took protagonist Sung Jinwoo’s journey to thrilling new heights.
Critics and fans widely agreed that Season 2 surpassed its predecessor with more ambitious animation, darker themes, and more complex character development. Its combination of heart-pounding action sequences and emotional storytelling solidified its position as the gold standard for action-fantasy anime.
Can lightning strike twice for this fan-favorite adaptation of Chugong’s popular web novel? The defending champion certainly won’t relinquish its crown without a fight!
The Apothecary Diaries Season 2: The Elegant Sleeper
The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 continued OLM studio’s gorgeous adaptation of Natsu Hyuuga’s historical mystery novels when it debuted in January 2025. The series has been celebrated for its refreshing take on the historical drama genre, featuring an intelligent female protagonist solving mysteries in ancient China.
With its stunning period detail, intricate plotting, and emphasis on character development over action, it offers something completely different from its fellow nominees. Its unique position as the only non-action focused nominee could help it stand out to voters looking for something fresh.
The Legacy of the Astra Anime Award
The Astra TV Awards only added the Best Anime Series category in 2024, reflecting the medium’s explosive growth in global popularity. Last year’s inaugural winner, Solo Leveling, set a high bar as the first series to claim this prestigious honor.
The addition of this category to the Astra Awards represents a significant milestone in anime’s continued mainstream acceptance and recognition in Western entertainment circles. The diverse range of nominees this year further demonstrates the medium’s artistic versatility and broad appeal.
The Road to Victory: Who Will Triumph?
The 2025 Astra TV Awards ceremony will take place on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, when one of these remarkable series will be crowned champion. While Dragon Ball Daima may enter as the emotional favorite due to Toriyama’s legacy, and Solo Leveling Season 2 hopes to make history with back-to-back wins, this incredibly competitive field means any outcome is possible.
Industry experts point to Dan Da Dan‘s critical acclaim and Lazarus‘s artistic pedigree as potential upset factors that could shake up the race. Meanwhile, the passionate fanbases behind Fire Force and The Apothecary Diaries shouldn’t be underestimated.
FAQ About the 2025 Astra Awards Anime Nominees
Most nominated series are available on major streaming platforms. Solo Leveling, Dan Da Dan, and The Apothecary Diaries can be found on Crunchyroll. Dragon Ball Daima is streaming on Crunchyroll and Funimation. Fire Force is available on Hulu and Crunchyroll, while Lazarus is a Netflix exclusive series.
Since the Best Anime Series category was only introduced in 2024 with Solo Leveling as its first winner, no anime has won multiple times yet. Solo Leveling Season 2 could become the first franchise to achieve this milestone if it wins this year.
The Astra Awards judging panel evaluates nominees based on animation quality, storytelling, character development, cultural impact, and innovation within the medium. Both critical reception and audience response are considered, making this a comprehensive assessment of each series’ overall excellence and contribution to the anime landscape.
