Mugen Monday - 26th Edition

The ardent growth of any entertainment industry seems to bring with it the notion of ‘awards’ to recuperate the makers’ intense dedication and financial spending. From Films to Gaming to literature to life, we have people who are willing to spend on creating conventions of awards and people who are waiting to receive them.

This year’s Crunchyroll Anime Awards was a little peculiar. The growth of the Anime industry has far surpassed just Japan, or Asia, for that matter. From the Indian subcontinent all the way through Russia, down to Europe, and of course engulfing the American continents, and parts of Africa, is the world now known so globally - Anime and Manga.

• Celebrities like Meghan Tee Stallion, NFL player DeMarcus Lawrence, musician Yaeji, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse director Joaquim Dos Santos, and Indian actress Rashmika Mandanna, to state a few -

• All made their way to become the presentees who would give away starling awards to Anime that had checked the checklist of the judging committee of Crunchyroll.

Now Crunchryoll itself as a franchise is quite Western, despite the fact that the products they distribute are of Japanese origin. Well of course, their audience is no longer limited to the English-speaking folk alone. Crunchyroll is the Anime giant in the West if Shueisha is of Japan itself.

Their content of award this time pleased quite a many, while again thwarting others. And as it goes with judgements, there will always be haters and support. Especially so when the fandom has grown so attached to works, going as far as threatening their mangaka when the story did not align with what the ‘masses’ wanted.

But, putting massive works like Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer aside, what are the contemporary series that may appear in the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025? Because after all, the stars of tomorrow are the growing ones today. We have compiled a list, which is more of a ‘watch recommendation’ than an actual prediction. We hope you get access to these series. To find them, continue down below!

Hope you have a great read!

- From the Editor’s Desk

Rhytham Das, Editor-in-Chief, Spiel Anime

Anime Japan 2024 Event Details: Where to get Tickets and Everything that’s coming up

The biggest anime event of the year is here- Anime Japan 2024! Happening on March 23rd and 24th at Tokyo Big Sight, it promises an exciting weekend filled with announcements, special stages, live shows, and everything an anime lover could ask for.

This guide provides all the essential information to make the most of your Anime Japan experience.

Top 5 Anime series that may make it big like the likes of Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer

Call of The Night

On paper, Call of the Night sounds like vampire anime by the numbers – a middle schooler roaming the streets at night encounters a sexy vampiress who bites him. But don’t be fooled by that predictable setup, as this series is far more unique than it lets on.

• For the record, Call of the Night isn’t really about vampires or thirsty teenage boys. It’s an eccentric, melancholic celebration of the night itself and the transformative experiences and connections it can offer.

The story follows insomniac loner Kou, whose dreary existence is permanently altered when he’s bitten by a mysterious girl. While he assumes this will turn him into a vampire, the rules are more complex – he has to fall in love with his “sire-er” to complete the transformation.

If any new anime can cut through the noise and go big, this darkly funny gem has to be a top contender.

The Apothecary Diaries

At its core, The Apothecary Diaries is a medical drama akin to House M.D (available on Netflix), with the protagonist Maomao using her encyclopedic knowledge of medicine to diagnose and cure the court’s bizarre ailments each episode. There’s an engaging mystery element as she sleuths out the causes behind everything from curses to poisonings.

• What really sets the series apart, though, is its wonderfully irreverent sense of humor. The Apothecary Diaries has a whimsical, tongue-in-cheek spirit that keeps even its darkest plots feeling breezy and fun.

• The writing is clever, investing viewers in each self-contained mystery while sprinkling in moments of offbeat comedy that upend expectations.

Dangers in My Heart

Dangers in My Heart has consistently been topping anime charts for at least 5-6 weeks now, cementing its status as one of the biggest hits of the current season. While it may be difficult to pinpoint exactly why this quirky romance series has resonated so strongly, its meteoric rise speaks volumes about its appeal.

On paper, the premise of a young boy harbouring murderous fantasies about his bubbly classmate seems like an offbeat, even controversial choice for a romantic comedy.

However, Dangers in My Heart takes this shocking set-up and uses it to put a unique, subversive spin on popular romance tropes. As the stoic Kyoutarou starts to see the endearing human side behind his initial bloodlust for Anna, the series morphs into an oddly sweet and grounded character study.

Mashle: Magic and Muscles

When it comes to smash-hit anime shows, no one could’ve predicted the meteoric rise of Mashle: Magic and Muscles this season. What seemed like a silly little Harry Potter × One Punch Man × Mob Psycho 100 parody quickly morphed into an unstoppable juggernaut of virality and mainstream dominance.

The magic/muscles mashup hooked audiences from the jump with its batsh*t insane premise – a powerless superhuman named Mash forced to attend a Hogwarts-esque magic academy that persecutes the non-magical. Watching the overpowered Mash bulldoze his way through every challenge with his fists alone made for an absurdly hilarious power fantasy.

Frieren: Beyond the Journey

In an anime landscape increasingly dominated by empty-calorie action series, Frieren is a welcoming respite – an experience that makes you think and feel deeply while still telling an absorbing, fantastical tale.

On its surface, it’s the story of an elf mage named Frieren who, after defeating the Demon King alongside her human companions, is confronted with the fleeting nature of their lives compared to her long lifespan.

• What makes Frieren so special is how it balances the weighty existential themes with immensely relatable personal struggles and humour.

• Frieren’s dawning realization that she took her friends for granted, and her desperate attempt to find meaning after their deaths, is a universally resonant arc about human connection. Her quirky fish-out-of-water moments as an elf trying to understand human customs also provide plenty of levity.