2025 Emmys: Key Contenders and Predictions
The 2025 Emmy Awards season is heating up, with the nomination voting set to occur from June 12 to June 23. Nominations will be announced on July 15, followed by final voting from August 18 to August 27. The 77th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards are scheduled for September 14, airing live at 8:00 p.m. ET on CBS.
The State of the Animated Program Race
This year’s competition for the Outstanding Animated Program category reflects the evolving landscape of animation, where both established favorites and innovative newcomers vie for recognition. Recent winners like “The Simpsons” share space with Netflix’s trailblazers “Arcane: League of Legends” and “Blue Eye Samurai,” emphasizing the Academy’s willingness to embrace diverse storytelling.
Emerging Contenders
An interesting trend is developing, where previously overlooked series have begun to capture the attention of voters. For instance, “Scavengers Reign,” despite its cancellation, saw its creators gain recognition with the new series, “Common Side Effects,” on Adult Swim, which has received positive critical acclaim. Moreover, Adult Swim has a strong history in the category, previously winning with hits like “Rick and Morty.”
Anime’s Increasing Presence
This year marks a potential milestone in Emmy history, as we might see the first anime nomination in this category. Adult Swim’s “Lazarus,” created by the visionary behind “Cowboy Bebop,” features a soundtrack by jazz artist Kamasi Washington and action sequences directed by Chad Stahelski of “John Wick” fame.
Meanwhile, “Solo Leveling,” an adaptation of a popular Korean webcomic streaming on Crunchyroll, is generating significant buzz and could redefine perceptions of anime at the Emmys, following in the footsteps of series inspired by anime like “Samurai Jack.”
Challenges for New Entries
Despite notable series like “Invincible” and “Hazbin Hotel” on Amazon Prime Video gaining popularity, the platform has yet to secure a nomination in this competitive category. However, this season sees promising contenders, including “#1 Happy Family USA,” reminiscent of “South Park,” and “The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy,” which previously was acknowledged at the Annie Awards.
Current Nominees and Predictions
As anticipation builds, here are the current frontrunners for this year’s Emmy race in the Outstanding Animated Program category, listed alphabetically:
- “Arcane: League of Legends” (Netflix)
- “Batman: Caped Crusader” (Amazon Prime Video)
- “Big Mouth” (Netflix)
- “Bob’s Burgers” (Fox)
- “Common Side Effects” (Adult Swim)
- “Creature Commandos” (Max)
- “Devil May Cry” (Netflix)
- “Invincible” (Prime Video)
- “Lazarus” (Adult Swim)
- “#1 Happy Family USA” (Prime Video)
- “The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy” (Prime Video)
- “Secret Level” (Prime Video)
- “Solo Leveling” (Crunchyroll)
- “Star Trek: Lower Decks” (Paramount+)
- “The Simpsons” (Fox)
- “What If…?” (Disney+)
Looking Ahead
The previous year’s winner, “Blue Eye Samurai,” is not eligible this season, opening the field for new contenders. A win for “Arcane: League of Legends” would mark a historic second consecutive triumph for both the series and Netflix, as no streaming service has achieved such a feat in this category. With multiple nominations and awards collected, “Arcane” stands as a formidable opponent going into the 2025 Emmys.
Stay tuned for ongoing updates and insights into the Emmy race as the season progresses.