I've totally wondered this too, and honestly, it feels like half the time the anime awards 2025 winners are just the super popular ones. Like, I get that shows like Attack on Titan or Demon Slayer are everywhere, so their chances go way up just 'cause everyone watches them. But I've seen a ton of comments online from people saying it's not fair to smaller anime that might be really creative or have cool stories but just don't have the massive fanbase to vote for them.

When I talk with my friends about it, there's always two camps: one group says, "Yeah, the winners are the best because everyone loves them!" but the other side argues the awards just become fan-voting contests instead of picking what’s actually the best. There’s definitely frustration from anime fans who want to see more underdogs win.

For me, I think popularity counts for something, but it’d be awesome if the awards highlighted hidden gems too. That’s what would make the anime awards feel more about quality and not just hype. More people should watch out for those lesser-known winners in 2025!