Crunchyroll’s Anime Awards Signal Industry Growing Pains: Why Manhwa and Donghua Still Face Barriers

The Changing Landscape of Animation: Crunchyroll’s Blind Spot

Cultural shifts in the world of animation are impossible to ignore. Crunchyroll’s annual Anime Awards are, in theory, a heartfelt celebration where fans worldwide unite to champion the series that defined their year. Yet, this year’s lineup makes one thing clear: streaming’s biggest platform isn’t keeping up with the medium’s explosive global evolution. Key adaptations like Solo Leveling—a South Korean manhwa sensation—along with standout donghua such as Lord of Mysteries and To Be Hero X, have been stunningly absent from nominations, even in categories where their influence is undeniable.

Missing Names: The Absence of Major Adaptations

The voting surge that follows each annual announcement is a testament to the awards’ cultural pull, with dozens of categories spanning genres and disciplines. But this year’s ballot has cast a shadow of frustration across the anime community. Fans were quick to point out that Solo Leveling wasn’t nominated for Anime of the Year—a notable omission considering its previous win and the consensus that its follow-up season outshined the first. The absence is even starker given the role Solo Leveling played in driving new viewers to manhwa adaptations and boosting platform numbers.

The exclusions don’t stop there. Lord of Mysteries and To Be Hero X, both celebrated Chinese donghua, received no category mentions whatsoever. This feels less like an oversight and more like a boundary being drawn—one that prioritizes traditional anime over a new wave of Asian animation that’s redefining the medium’s boundaries for a global audience.

Industry Gatekeeping: Why Are Donghua and Manhwa Left Out?

This recurring exclusion feeds into larger debates about how the animation industry defines what’s eligible for its highest honors. Crunchyroll has increasingly positioned itself as the international distributor for both Japanese anime and prominent donghua, blurring borders between Japanese and non-Japanese animation for global audiences. Yet, when it comes to awards, those same lines are redrawn, limiting recognition despite the massive fanbases and innovative storytelling these series bring.

Lord of Mysteries dazzled with its visual artistry, while To Be Hero X broke ground in stylistic experimentation. Both were key players in expanding what audiences expect from animated storytelling, yet neither made the cut. If the only dividing line is country of origin, the rationale behind their omission further highlights an institutional reluctance to embrace an animation landscape that no longer revolves solely around Japan.

Redefining What Belongs: The Urgency for Inclusive Recognition

Crunchyroll’s fan-voted format naturally drives popular series toward big wins each season. However, fans have raised legitimate questions: if widespread appeal and innovation aren’t enough for recognition, what are the real criteria at play? The omission of Solo Leveling especially stands out given its impact on popularizing manhwa and holding one of the most engaged international communities around a single title.

Animation’s future has never been more pluralistic. The recent success of both manhwa and donghua has chipped away at previously fixed industry boundaries. Solo Leveling proved that Korean source material could match, and even outshine, its Japanese counterparts. Lord of Mysteries and To Be Hero X signaled that Chinese productions aren’t just part of the conversation—they’re helping to lead it, influencing everything from visual storytelling to narrative experimentation worldwide.

The New Era: Animation Without Borders

The pushback from fans and creators is more than nostalgia or platform loyalty—it’s about what the next generation of viewers and artists will grow up embracing. Already, adaptation trends and licensing deals show that the industry can’t afford to ignore the global reach of stories told through Korean manhwa and Chinese donghua. Industry professionals tracking trends have noted this shift, crediting the likes of Tower of God and Blessing of Heaven Official (Heaven Official’s Blessing) for paving the way.

With every adaptation that explodes in popularity, those lines between anime, manhwa, and donghua blur a little further. For streaming platforms aiming to stay relevant and authoritative, the challenge isn’t just curation or distribution—it’s how to embrace and reflect the eclectic tastes and demands of a swiftly evolving fan base. This year’s awards have crystallized the gaps in that recognition, triggering an industry-wide reflection on the future of animation fandom and global outreach.