Before diving into my critical review, let me acknowledge this – the Crunchyroll Anime Awards are a major milestone in the anime scene.
They provide a platform for anime enthusiasts to express their interests, mirroring Megan Thee Stallion’s sentiment at the event – it’s a window into the collective pulse of the fandom.
Furthermore, recognition for the industry and its artists has significant value, promoting a culture of positive reinforcement, which I consider key in the grand scheme of things.
However, amidst these commendable aspects, I find there is still room for refinement in the process of selecting the winner. Currently, the Anime Awards seem to prioritize popularity over quality, which, in my opinion, needs to be reconsidered.
While aligning awards with fan sentiment may be a deliberate decision, popularity alone does not necessarily mean superiority. Many factors contribute to the series’ acclaim, and equating popularity with excellence is a mistake.
Labeling a show as “best” instead of “most popular” does a disservice to the medium and its diverse offerings.
Anime Awards, Balanced fan opinions and expert reviews
However, the voting mechanism used by Crunchyroll opens the door for large groups of participants to tip the results in their favor.
Currently, the winner is determined through a two-stage voting process:
In the first round, the jury will select six nominees for each category. In the next round, the same jury will collaborate with fans to select the Big Winner in each category.
The influence of fan votes in this process is significant and it is a double-edged sword. Even Animehunch, as a jury member, is not immune to this dynamic!
This system is easy to manipulate, as it essentially boils down to which show’s fandom can attract the most support. If fans choose to prioritize their personal preferences over objective values, the integrity of the awards becomes questionable.
Such incidents have happened in the past and were once again demonstrated in this year’s event. Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 won an impressive nine out of thirteen nominated categories.
Meanwhile, other nominees such as Vinland Saga Season 2, Zom 100 and Heavenly Delusion failed to win any awards even though they had many nominations.
If these titles become more popular among fans, the results may be different – mark my words.
Consider this not just the lament of a disgruntled fan but also a reflection of the subjectivity inherent in competitive arenas. Fans often have difficulty maintaining objectivity when choosing featured candidates. Naturally, their preferences tend to align with the title they hold dear, rather than necessarily being the most deserving.
Now, before you accuse me of inconsistency, let me clarify – I am a staunch supporter of Jujutsu Kaisen. I could wax poetic about the complexity of its story and defend it passionately.
However, even I have to admit that there are titles more worthy than Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2.
Take, for example, Vinland Saga Season 2 – a clear contender for Anime of the Year. It boasts superior themes, consistent animations, and depth that sets it apart from its extremely popular counterpart.
Sure, Shibuya has had its moments, but in terms of overall quality, Vinland Saga still takes the cake. Ask any objective observer – they’ll probably agree.
This raises the question – would it be wise to include a jury to oversee the final result? Shouldn’t more people in the industry be involved in the decision-making process, considering both fan input and expert judgment?