The race for the best anime of 2025 went far beyond heavy-hitters like Solo Leveling, as the year was defined by unexpected standouts and haunting masterpieces. Seriously, 2025 put 2023 and 2024 to shame, both of which had great lineups in their own right. As the days turn into months and eventually decades, the greatest 2025 anime will (hopefully) be fondly remembered as masterworks that have stood the test of time.
While quality is relative, 2025 maintained a consistently high standard, delivering roughly 5–10 series per season that, in most years, would have been top contenders. Frankly, I have never found it harder to put together a "best of the year" ranking, and my shortlist came in at roughly 30 shows. As we count down the month's final days, let's look back at what came before and celebrate 2025's standout anime series.
Some notes and things to keep in mind:
- New anime and sequels will both be included.
- Never-ending shows like One Piece will not be considered, just because they extend well beyond 2025.
- If an anime started in Fall 2024 but continued to air episodes in Winter 2025, it is eligible.
- Fall 2025 anime will be included, but please keep in mind that most shows have an episode or two left. Their rankings are unlikely to change, but there is always a small chance that they could hit a homerun or end with a dud.
- Only series, no movies.
- We are going to try and highlight different genres and categories, just to spread the love around.
- Donghua will be considered. Basically, if a show is on Crunchyroll, it qualifies.
Criteria For Ranking The Best Anime Of 2025
While my opinion plays a part to an extent, as otherwise I would have watched nearly 200 anime for nothing, the rankings are also partially inspired by a show's scores on platforms like MyAnimeList and Anime-Planet.
Honorable Mentions: Other Fantastic 2025 Anime – This Really Was A Stacked Year
2025 had so many incredible anime that very difficult cuts needed to be made. All these shows present strong cases for being among the year's best, as they are top-tier in their own right. Hell, Dandadan is my favorite series of the last few years, and season 2 is still just an honorable mention.
- Anne Shirley
- Apocalypse Hotel
- Black Butler: Emerald Witch Arc
- Call of the Night Season 2
- Clevatess
- Dandadan Season 2
- Dr. Stone: Science Future
- Link Click: Bridon Arc
- Lord of Mysteries
- Medalist
- My Dress-Up Darling Season 2
- Tatsuki Fujimoto 17-26
- Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 3
- Secrets of the Silent Witch
- Spy x Family Season 3
Every New Isekai Anime Of 2025
Isekai anime is inescapable, with each season containing a couple of shows. Here are all the 2025 isekai anime series.
12 The Summer Hikaru Died
The Best Horror Anime Of 2025
The Summer Hikaru Died
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2025 - 2025-00-00
WHERE TO WATCH
- Japanese Title
- Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu
- Studio
- CygamesPictures
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Mokumokuren
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
We don't often get new horror anime, let alone ones that are actually worth watching. Honestly, 2025 was not an exception, as options were limited and devoid of proper scares. That said, The Summer Hikaru Died carried the genre single-handedly, all the while telling a character-driven mystery that can also be enjoyed by people who are not looking to acquire fresh nightmares.
Yoshiki loves his best friend, Hikaru, with every fiber of his being. However, he is painfully aware that the being by his side who looks like Hikaru is not the real deal. They are something else. Something supernatural. Something potentially dangerous. However, Yoshiki and Hikaru are still close, sharing a twisted relationship that is simultaneously creepy and heartfelt.
The Summer Hikaru Died maintains a steady sense of unease throughout its entire run, only punctuating it with the occasional burst of genuine horror. Ultimately, this is a story about co-dependence and friendship, and it is great.
11 Gachiakuta
2025's Best New Battle Shonen
Gachiakuta
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- July 6, 2025
- Studio
- Bones Film
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator(s)
- Kei Urana
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
As always, battle shonen ruled the world throughout most of 2025, but the genre's biggest success stories were largely sequels. Famously, Demon Slayer and Chainsaw Man had pretty good runs at the box office, delivering fantastic movies that managed to find worldwide audiences.
Out of all the new battle shonen released in 2025, Gachiakuta was the best and most complete, especially since the show had time to breathe due to receiving 24 episodes. The manga is still ongoing, too, so there is a good chance that the adaptation will eventually return for a sequel, and it more than deserves to become a long-running series.
Launching things with a brilliant first episode that expertly sets up the universe's social climate, Gachiakuta follows an impoverished kid named Rudo who is framed for the death of his mentor and then sentenced to be (literally) discarded. He is dropped from the city in the sky onto a garbage heap below, one defined by toxic fumes and deadly creatures that can reach kaiju-level sizes. However, Rudo is saved and even awakens powers that allow him to survive and seek out revenge.
Gachiakuta has a stellar setting, and Rudo is instantly likable, despite being quite loud and obnoxious at times. Bones Film's animation is, unsurprisingly, high quality, and it elevates a great story filled with constantly intense fights.
Also, Gachiakuta produced one of the funniest segments of the entire year, and it revolves entirely around poop.
11
10 Grand Blue Dreaming Season 2
Laugh A Minute Relief – The Best Comedy Anime Of 2025
Grand Blue Dreaming
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2018 - 2025-00-00
- Network
- TBS, MBS
- Directors
- Atsuko Tonomizu, Yoshihisa Matsumoto, Tarou Iwasaki, Nanako Shimazaki, Ryuta Kawahara, Takashi Kobayashi
- Japanese Title
- Grand Blue
- Studio
- Zero-G
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Kenji Inoue
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
If this ranking came down solely to which show brought me personally the most joy, Grand Blue Dreaming would be first by roughly a country mile. However, for the sake of objectivity, I'll refrain from putting it first.
In these trying times, sometimes you just need to laugh. For decades, anime has delivered comfort through purposeful silliness and aggressive stupidity, and Grand Blue Dreaming exemplifies both aspects perfectly. Putting aside the (neat) diving element, this is really just a college comedy about drinking, partying, and failed attempts at hookups. Whenever the threat of seriousness or romantic growth comes up, Grand Blue nearly always shoots it down by allowing Iori (or Kouhei) to be unapologetically dumb, and it is fantastic.
There really isn't all that much to say about this season, as it is mostly just a better version of its predecessor. However, in a year that gave us 100 Girlfriends, a Gintama spin-off, and a spiritual successor to Nichijou, Grand Blue stood out as comfortably 2025's funniest anime, with each and every episode containing moments that can inspire painful laughter.
9 The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity
A Wholesome Love Story That Defined 2025's Romance Anime
The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2025 - 2025-00-00
- Japanese Title
- Kaoru Hana wa Rin to Saku
- Studio
- CloverWorks
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator(s)
- Saka Mikami
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
As much as anime's seasonal releases can sometimes feel like they are stuck in an eternal loop of the same tropes and archetypes, the industry is nevertheless constantly evolving in usually subtle ways. In recent years, we have seen a shift towards carefree romance stories that not only bring the protagonists together in a somewhat timely manner but also try to avoid introducing unnecessary drama that takes away from the core relationship. Obviously, not every show goes down this route (ahem, Can a Boy-Girl Friendship Survive? Anyone?), but the majority seem to lean in this direction.
Every New Romance Anime Of 2025
Love was in the air throughout the year. Here are all the new romance anime series of 2025.
The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity might just be the most adorable romance anime of all time. Putting aside the whole rival schools aspect that is barely a distraction, the anime mostly just follows Rintarou and Kaoruko's budding love story, which starts with a sweet meet-cute and then progresses into awkward hang-outs and cute dates. They are so incredibly respectful of each other, it borders on sickening. While not completely devoid of tension, The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity is confident enough to just let Rintarou and Kaoruko enjoy their time together, and their obvious joy is contagious.
8 To Be Hero X
A Superhero Sensation – 2025's Incredible Chinese Donghua
To Be Hero X
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- April 6, 2025
- Studio
- Pb Animation Co. Ltd., LAN Studio, Paper Plane Animation Studio
- Creator(s)
- Li Haoling
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Although Chinese animated series have been steadily growing in global stature for a while, 2025 felt like a banner year for donghua. Lord of Mysteries was the greatest isekai show of 2025, and it came very close to cracking the overall top 10. However, To Be Hero X was just a little bit more consistent, and its superhero premise and themes grant an accessibility that LoM struggles to obtain. That said, I would recommend both of them without hesitation.
With arguably one of the best opening episodes of the year, To Be Hero X instantly sinks its hooks into viewers by instantly introducing a protagonist who is forced into a situation that goes well beyond his knowledge and capabilities. This universe uses the principle that superhero powers are fueled by the public's belief in them; consequently, when a very popular hero, Nice, commits suicide, a nobody named Lin is forced to take on his role. As the public believes that Lin is Nice, the former gradually becomes the latter.
I believe… that in this world where heroes are forged by trust, even a nobody has the possibility of becoming a hero.
Although tackling ideas explored by shows like My Hero Academia and Tiger & Bunny, To Be Hero X instantly forms a unique identity that is only reinforced with each new episode. Lin serves as a great bed for the rest of the story to flourish, allowing it to expand and explore a wide range of rich characters defined by nuance rather than stunts. Also, the animation is breathtaking.
7 Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray
A Sports Anime About Horse Girls That Will Make You Cheer, Laugh, And Cry
Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- April 6, 2025
- Studio
- CygamesPictures
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator(s)
- Masafumi Sugiura
- Streaming Service(s)
- Amazon Prime Video
To the uninitiated, Uma Musume is such a difficult sell. How do you make "horse girls" sound tempting to people who don't know that we already had ship girls, tank girls, and airplane girls? Well, ignore the "horse" part and view Uma Musume as simply a racing sports anime. Cinderella Gray is the perfect entry point into this franchise, as it is completely standalone and, more importantly, consistently amazing.
The series produced two cours in 2025, so Oguri Cap, Tamamo Cross, and Fujimasa March's journeys covered half a year and produced exhilarating highs and devastating losses. While arguably the strongest characters, they are hardly the only ones who go through gripping arcs that force you to root for them, even for girls who are initially introduced as temporary rivals. Don't be fooled by Uma Musume's gacha origins and apparent fluff; Cinderella Gray is among the tensest dramas of the year, one that dives deep into these girls' commitment to racing and the inescapable fate that many of them will never be special enough to achieve their dreams.
6 Kingdom: Season 6
One Of The Greatest Seinen Anime Returns With Its Best Season To Date
Kingdom
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- June 4, 2012
- Directors
- Jun Kamiya, Akira Iwanaga, Kenichi Imaizumi, Kazuya Monma
- Writers
- Naruhisa Arakawa, Noboru Takagi
- Studio
- Pierrot
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator(s)
- Yasuhisa Hara
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
If a new Kingdom season comes out, then it has to be among the year's best anime. It happened in 2024 with season 5, and its successor is even better. I don't make the rules, as this is just the way things are.
Although it got off to a notoriously rough start due to its animation quality, this series is nowadays firmly established as one of the greatest seinen anime of all time, fittingly so since the manga is also rightfully regarded as one of the best. Season 6 sees the Qin army march against Zhou, setting the stage for the biggest conflict in the story so far, and that covers both stakes and sheer size. Combined, these armies have roughly 500,000 soldiers, and Kingdom conveys this sense of scale well.
Best War Anime, Ranked
Anime has tackled a lot of settings and subject matters. Those that depict major wars are no exception.
Naturally, season 6 has plenty of intense, bloody battle sequences, but its focus is still on strategy rather than pure action. Battles are largely won before they are even fought, depending on which commander puts together the most flawless and flexible plan. At this point, only people who love Kingdom are watching it, and I cannot recommend any newcomers to jump into this recent season. However, if you are craving a war epic and don't mind sitting through some rough animation that eventually subsides, you need to watch Kingdom.
5 Solo Leveling Season 2: Arise from the Shadow
Top-Tier Action With A Dash Of Emotion – The Biggest Anime Of 2025
Solo Leveling
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2024 - 2025-00-00
- Studio
- A-1 Pictures
- Based On
- Manhwa
- Creator
- Chugong
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Ah, here it is. Solo Leveling Season 2 was inescapable during 2025's early months, and its shadow has loomed large over the rest of the year. Be it in the form of a movie or a new season, a sequel will almost definitely be that upcoming year's most-hyped anime, an achievement guaranteed by Arise from the Shadow's quality.
At this point, you should know what you are going to get from Solo Leveling: beautiful animation, aura farming, a cold-as-ice protagonist, and some of the best animated fights in recent memory. Season 2 not only delivers on all those promises but also far exceeds the standards set by its predecessor. Sung's journey to become the strongest ever is, nowadays, defined mostly by demolitions rather than constant struggles, so the tension comes from how he will overcome his next opponent rather than if.
Do magic beasts feel fear? Guess I have my answer.
Fortunately, the "how" is always spectacular. We even get to see a softer side of Sung, in an emotionally-charged segment that trades shadows for tears. This episode was surprisingly divisive, but it played a vital role in spotlighting Sung's fading humanity.
The season's last few episodes adapt the Jeju Island Arc, which is arguably the best storyline in Solo Leveling. While Sung gets his showdown as usual, we also get to spend more time with other major hunters, who are far more susceptible to untimely deaths. Honestly, Solo Leveling needs to have more collateral damage that matters to the audience, especially as Sung becomes god-like.
4 Orb: On the Movements of the Earth
A Challenging And Enthralling Tale About Truth, Science, Faith, And Control
Orb: On the Movements of the Earth
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2024 - 2025
WHERE TO WATCH
- Japanese Title
- Chi. Chikyuu no Undou ni Tsuite
- Studio
- Madhouse
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Uoto
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
Orb: On the Movements of the Earth started in Fall 2024, and while it was good from the start, the anime got better and better as it moved along. By March 2025, Orb was arguably the best anime that debuted in 2024, and it had already cemented a spot among 2025's best anime series.
Spanning decades and multiple protagonists, the story chronicles a select few's attempt to understand the Earth's place in the universe, scientifically exploring research that proves that the planet is just one of many. This belief directly contradicts the church's teachings, which paint Earth as the center of the universe and existing right below Heaven, which means humans are constantly subjects of God's judgment, kindness, and wrath. Rejecting this mythos is the same thing as rejecting the church and God, an act punishable by torture and eventually death.
A wrong answer isn't a meaningless one.
Although not exactly based on real history, Orb: On the Movements of the Earth takes plenty of inspiration from centuries gone by as it carves a journey driven by people who all share a desire to discover and preserve what is true, rather than just simply accepting the church's teachings as the unquestionable truth. The story goes to some extremely dark places, but it is constantly riveting.
3 The Apothecary Diaries Season 2
The Anime That Defined Half Of 2025
The Apothecary Diaries
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2023 - 2025-00-00
- Japanese Title
- Kusuriya no Hitorigoto
- Studio
- OLM, TOHO animation STUDIO
- Based On
- Novel & Light Novel
- Creator
- Natsu Hyūga
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Solo Leveling was the biggest show of Winter 2025, but The Apothecary Diaries was a close second; more importantly, Maomao's story extended into Spring, and it was (by far) the best anime of that season. Building on the impeccable foundation of the first season, the sequel dives a bit deeper into Imperial China's politics, showing the ins and outs of the royal court while exploring further the role of the ladies-in-waiting. Although still incorporating standalone-ish mysteries that last an episode or two, season 2 is far more concerned with presenting a consistent and coherent whole than fantastic individual pieces.
Best Mystery Anime, Ranked
Whether investigating an impossible murder or trying to figure out something inconsequential, these mystery anime are constantly captivating.
As was the case with season 1, Maomao is the highlight of The Apothecary Diaries, and she was arguably 2025's best female character. She is charming, realistic, relatable, and individualistic. Her analytic mind not only makes her valuable within the Imperial Palace, but also sets her apart from the crowd for audiences. In season 2, we get to know more about her past and family background, all the while extending her relationship with Jinshi.