The Hollywood Creative Alliance has announced the nominees for the 2025 Astra TV Awards, and anime is making a big splash! Several fan-favorite titles are in the running for the coveted awards, signaling the growing influence and recognition of anime in mainstream media. Let’s dive into the exciting nominations.
Best Anime Series Nominees
The Best Anime Series category, introduced just last year, features a diverse and compelling list of nominees:
- Dragon Ball DAIMA (Crunchyroll/Netflix): The brand-new anime saga celebrating Akira Toriyama’s 40th anniversary sends Goku on a magical new adventure in the Demon Realm.
- Solo Leveling Season 2 – Arise from the Shadow (Crunchyroll): Continuing the story of Sung Jinwoo, a low-ranked hunter who gains incredible new powers, this season picks up from the explosive finale of the first.
- Dan Da Dan: This series is also nominated, showing the breadth of anime being recognized.
- Fire Force Season 3: The third season of this action-packed anime has also earned a nomination.
- Lazarus: Another strong contender in the Best Anime Series category.
- The Apothecary Diaries Season 2: The second season of this series rounds out the nominations for Best Anime Series.
Voice Acting Recognition
The Astra TV Awards also recognize the talented voice actors who bring these anime characters to life. This year, two voice actors received nominations for their work on Dragon Ball DAIMA and Solo Leveling.
- Stephanie Nadolny (Dragon Ball DAIMA): Nadolny, who voices young Goku, is nominated for Best Lead Voice-Over Performance.
- Aleks Le (Solo Leveling): Le, who voices Sung Jinwoo, is nominated for Best Lead Voice-Over Performance.
- Justin Briner (Solo Leveling): Briner received a nod for Best Supporting Voice-Over for his work on Solo Leveling.
Dragon Ball DAIMA: A Breath of Fresh Air
Dragon Ball DAIMA is generating significant buzz as a nominee. Set after the Majin Buu story of Dragon Ball Z, the series has been praised for its top-notch animation and nostalgic tone. Many fans and critics feel that DAIMA captures the essence of what made Dragon Ball so beloved.
One reviewer noted that DAIMA feels like a return to “the heart of what made Dragon Ball so great,” while another commented on its massive hit status with fans since its debut. Stephanie Nadolny’s performance as young Goku has been particularly praised, solidifying the nomination for Best Lead Voice-Over Performance.
Solo Leveling Season 2: Continuing the Phenomenon
Solo Leveling, originally a Korean web novel and webtoon, has become a global phenomenon. Season 2, titled Arise from the Shadow, continues the story of Sung Jinwoo’s journey to becoming an incredibly powerful hunter.
The premiere of Season 2 shattered Crunchyroll records, becoming the most-liked premiere episode in the streaming service’s history. It has garnered over 400,000 audience reviews, demonstrating its massive popularity. Aleks Le’s leading performance as Jinwoo and Justin Briner’s supporting role have also earned critical acclaim, resulting in their nominations.
Critics have praised the anime’s polished animation and faithful adaptation of the beloved webtoon, making the Astra nods well-deserved.
Other Notable Nominations
While anime is making waves, other television series are also receiving significant recognition at the 2025 Astra TV Awards.
Apple TV+’s comedy The Studio, a satire about Hollywood’s inner workings, leads the nominations with 14 bids. Severance (Apple TV+) and The Last of Us (HBO) follow closely with 13 nominations each. These shows are recognized in multiple acting categories and are competing for Best Drama Series.
Other major contenders include:
- The White Lotus (HBO) with 11 nominations
- Ghosts (CBS) with 11 nominations
- Abbott Elementary (ABC) with 10 nominations
- Hacks (HBO Max) with 10 nominations
- Only Murders in the Building (Hulu) with 10 nominations
About the Astra TV Awards
The Astra TV Awards are presented annually by the Hollywood Creative Alliance (HCA). The 2025 awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on June 10 in Los Angeles. These awards celebrate excellence in television and streaming content, recognizing outstanding achievements in various categories, including acting, writing, directing, and overall series quality.
Astra TV Awards Calendar 2025:
- March 21, 2025: Astra TV Submission Open
- April 25, 2025: Astra TV Submissions Close
- April 30, 2025: Deadline for Screeners and Links
- May 4, 2025: Nominating Committee Voting Begins
- May 10, 2025: Nominating Committee Voting Closes
- May 15, 2025: Nomination Announcement
- May 19, 2025: Final Voting Begins
- May 24, 2025: Final Voting Closes
- June 10, 2025: 2025 Astra TV Awards Ceremony
Why These Nominations Matter
The nominations for Dragon Ball DAIMA, Solo Leveling Season 2, and Dan Da Dan at the 2025 Astra TV Awards signify a growing recognition of anime’s artistic and cultural value. These nominations highlight the increasing popularity and influence of anime on a global scale. They also acknowledge the hard work and talent of the creators, animators, and voice actors who bring these stories to life.
As anime continues to gain mainstream acceptance, expect to see more anime titles and creators recognized at major awards shows in the future. This is an exciting time for anime fans, as their favorite shows are finally getting the recognition they deserve.
Complete List of Nominees (Selected Categories)
To provide a broader context, here’s a glimpse at some of the other notable nominees in various categories:
Best Comedy Series
- Abbott Elementary (ABC)
- Ghosts (CBS)
- Hacks (HBO Max)
- Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
- Shifting Gears (ABC)
- The Bear (FX on Hulu)
- The Studio (Apple TV+)
- What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
Best Drama Series
- Adolescence (Netflix)
- Matlock (CBS)
- Severance (Apple TV+)
- The Last of Us (HBO)
- The Penguin (HBO)
- The Pitt (MAX)
- The White Lotus (HBO)
- Will Trent (ABC)
- Yellowjackets (Showtime)
Best Actor in a Comedy Series
- Bill Hader – Barry (HBO) as Barry Berkman / Barry Block
- Jason Sudeikis – Ted Lasso (Apple TV+) as Ted Lasso
- Seth Rogen – The Studio (Apple TV+) as David Kael
- Steve Martin – Only Murders in the Building (Hulu) as Charles-Haden Savage
Best Actress in a Comedy Series
- Kristen Bell – Nobody Wants This (Netflix) as Joanne
- Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary (ABC) as Janine Teagues
- Natasia Demetriou – What We Do in the Shadows (FX) as Nadja of Antipaxos
- Kat Dennings – Shifting Gears (ABC) as Riley Parker
- Ayo Edebiri – The Bear (FX on Hulu) as Sydney Adamu
Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
- Ike Barinholtz – The Studio (Apple TV+) as Sal Saperstein
- Paul W. Downs – Hacks (HBO Max) as Jimmy LuSaque Jr.
- Harrison Ford – Shrinking (Apple TV+) as Paul Rhoades
- Walton Goggins – The Righteous Gemstones (HBO) as Baby Billy Freeman
- Brett Goldstein – Shrinking (Apple TV+) as Louis Winston
- Asher Grodman – Ghosts (CBS) as Trevor Lefkowitz
- Ebon Moss-Bachrach – The Bear (FX on Hulu) as Richard “Richie” Jerimovich
- Michael Urie – Shrinking (Apple TV+) as Brian
- Tyler James Williams – Abbott Elementary (ABC) as Gregory Eddie
- Román Zaragoza – Ghosts (CBS) as Sasappis
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
- Catherine O’Hara – The Studio (Apple TV+) as Cynthia Strauss
- Chase Sui Wonders – The Studio (Apple TV+) as Frankie Aiello
The 2025 Astra TV Awards promise to be an exciting event, celebrating the best in television and streaming. With anime gaining significant recognition, it’s a testament to the growing diversity and global appeal of the medium. Be sure to tune in on June 10 to see who takes home the coveted awards!
