The disappointment quickly turned into larger criticism of the awards themselves. Some fans accused the Crunchyroll Anime Awards of being too popularity-driven, claiming that certain shows won not because of their quality but because they attracted larger online voting campaigns.
Others argued the opposite, saying that Demon Slayer was a victim of backlash, with voters deliberately giving more attention to other series to prevent it from dominating yet again. This tension revealed just how divided the anime community has become over what the awards should represent.
Several other anime shows were at the center of the conversation as well. Titles that took home multiple awards, such as newer breakout series, were celebrated by some but seen as unfair winners by others. Fans who supported these shows argued that they brought fresh ideas and deserved recognition, while Demon Slayer supporters felt the results ignored consistency and quality. The argument became less about which show was better and more about what the awards truly measure, artistic excellence or popularity.
The Crunchyroll Anime Awards use a combination of industry judges and fan votes to decide the winners. This system is meant to balance expert opinion with community engagement, but it has often sparked controversy.