The 2024 Crunchyroll Anime Awards witnessed a heated competition for recognition, with Heavenly Delusion and Vinland Saga Season 2 emerging as contenders for the title of the most overlooked series.
Despite receiving five nominations each across major categories, including Best New Anime, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Drama, and Best Opening Sequence for Heavenly Delusion;
and Anime of the Year, Best Continuing Series, Best Cinematography, Best Drama, and Best Main Character (Thorfinn) for Vinland Saga Season 2, both series failed to secure a win in any category.
The coveted awards often went to the powerhouse Jujutsu Kaisen, overshadowing the potential triumphs of these notable contenders.
Vinland Saga Fans Express Their Disappointment As it Goes Awardless at Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2024
Jujutsu Kaisen, a 2020 release, maintained its stronghold as a beloved ongoing shonen anime. Despite controversies surrounding Studio MAPPA, the series garnered an impressive 11 wins, breaking the record set by My Hero Academia in 2018.
The success of Jujutsu Kaisen dominated discussions on social media, generating mixed reactions. While some fans celebrated the series’ deserved victories, others expressed discontent over the perceived neglect of Vinland Saga and Heavenly Delusion.
The fact that Vinland Saga didn't win a single award is sad, season 2 is one of the best anime seasons I've ever watchedpic.twitter.com/WeIVAbXOy7
— Jason Klum (@PokemanZ0N6) March 2, 2024
heavenly delusion was robbed so bad it’s trending lmao pic.twitter.com/ZVnO1PWJxa
— Damsho (@Ddamsho) March 3, 2024
The disappointment was particularly palpable among Vinland Saga enthusiasts, with social media platforms flooded with posts voicing frustration and dismay.
Fans lauded the series as a “10/10 masterpiece” and one of the best they’ve ever seen, emphasizing its quality despite lower mainstream recognition compared to Jujutsu Kaisen or Chainsaw Man.
Don’t let the shounen awards distract you from the fact that Vinland Saga is a 10/10 masterpiece and is easily the best anime to come out of 2023. pic.twitter.com/KEeKeciU89
— Nutty (@Sanji_nut) March 2, 2024
Vinland saga deserves anime of the year for this scene alone pic.twitter.com/nyPZgCeHpz https://t.co/A68Udx1fO2
— Johnny (@JohnnySpittin) March 2, 2024
Many attributed the snubs to Crunchyroll’s decision-making process, igniting debates about fairness and bias. Heavenly Delusion, known for its compelling storyline and production values, also faced scrutiny for its lack of recognition.
Some fans argued that the series’ merits were on par with or even surpassed those of Jujutsu Kaisen, questioning the fairness of the results. Concerns were raised about certain elements, such as fanservice and graphic violence, potentially influencing the appeal of Heavenly Delusion to a broader audience.
While the controversy rages on, fans are divided between accepting the results and advocating for the acknowledgment of Vinland Saga and Heavenly Delusion’s outstanding contributions to the anime landscape.
Despite the setbacks, both series continue to captivate audiences on streaming platforms, with Heavenly Delusion exclusively available on Hulu/Disney+ and Vinland Saga streaming on Netflix and Crunchyroll.
