Heavenly Delusion and Vinland Saga Season 2 were both in the running for top honors at the 2024 Crunchyroll Anime Awards, but they ended up feeling overlooked. Crunchyroll, the streaming platform, holds these awards each year, letting fans worldwide vote for their favorites.
Heavenly Delusion got nods in five big categories, like Best New Anime and Best Director for Hirotaka Mori. It is also recognized for its cinematography, drama, and the opening sequence featuring “innocent arrogance” by BiSH.
On the other hand, Vinland Saga Season 2 was up for Anime of the Year and other major awards, including Best Main Character for Thorfinn.
But despite the nominations, both series came up empty-handed, losing out to the popular shonen series Jujutsu Kaisen from MAPPA Studios.
Since its debut in 2020, Jujutsu Kaisen has emerged as a standout among contemporary shonen anime. Despite controversies surrounding Studio MAPPA, the series has garnered immense popularity due to its endearing characters, gripping plotlines, and visually stunning animation. Fans remain devoted to the anime, supporting it fervently.
The 2024 Crunchyroll Anime Awards unequivocally underscored Jujutsu Kaisen’s iconic status, as it triumphed in an impressive 11 categories.
This achievement surpassed the previous record set by My Hero Academia in 2018, solidifying Jujutsu Kaisen’s dominance in the anime landscape.
The Aftermath of the 2024 Crunchyroll Awards
The victory of Jujutsu Kaisen at the 2024 Crunchyroll Awards sparked a flurry of reactions across social media, ranging from celebration to disappointment.
While some hailed JJK’s wins as well-deserved, others lamented the apparent snubbing of Vinland Saga and Heavenly Delusion.
In particular, supporters of Heavenly Delusion argued that its production quality and storyline rivaled, if not surpassed, that of Jujutsu Kaisen, making it worthy of recognition. Suspicion arose among some individuals who questioned the fairness of the results, accusing Crunchyroll of bias towards certain series and creators.
Criticism also emerged regarding Heavenly Delusion’s content, including elements like fanservice and graphic sexual violence, which could limit its appeal to certain audiences.
The outcry from Vinland Saga fans was even more pronounced, with numerous posts expressing frustration and disappointment on behalf of the series.
Despite its comparatively lower name recognition compared to Jujutsu Kaisen or Chainsaw Man, many fans hailed Vinland Saga as a “masterpiece” or one of the best series they’ve ever seen.
While many blamed Crunchyroll for the perceived injustices, one user urged fellow fans to take the losses in stride, arguing that Vinland Saga’s quality transcends the need for awards.
This sentiment underscores the depth of appreciation for the series, even in the face of disappointment.