Year's End - Favorite Anime Experiences of 2025
Hello r/anime! As 2025 draws to a close I find myself contemplating my year’s favorite anime experiences. Between new seasonals, classics, movies, shorts, and obscure OVAs I found a lot to love. I wanted to share 10\*\* of my highlights, and hopefully hear from some of you about your own favorites. These are Anime I experienced for the first time in 2025, not necessarily 2025 new releases. They all get a strong recommendation from me.
* Starting off with **Shounan Bakusouzoku** or **Bomber Bikers of Shonan**. This is a 12 episode OVA series that started in 1986 and finished in 1999. It's a classic biker gang story with heart. I consider it a must watch for fans of delinquent anime like Bebop Highschool or Great Teacher Onizuka. The background art is exceptional and the gang members all receive focus episodes to expand on their characterization. I'll call particular attention to episode 6 "GT380 History" which features an incredible mechanical repair sequence on a classic motorcycle that holds sentimental value to one of the members. I was awestruck by the care and detail put into the art & animation. Last thing I'll note here is the incredible real life time span between episode 1 and the finale. I could feel the weight of time and it was almost as if the show had become sentimental about itself toward the end, but not in a negative way.
* **Macross Plus**. 2025 was the year I finally dove into the Macross franchise starting with SDF Macross. My favorite entry so far however was the follow up OVA series Macross Plus from 1995. The staff on this is excellent with direction from Shinichirou Watanabe, music by Yoko Kanno, and sound direction from Masafumi Mima. As a Macross entry there is of course a love triangle. This time between two fighter test pilots working on a special military development project and the "producer" of an AI musician. The story was prescient about the advancement of AI including AI artwork as a theme. It features top-class fighter jet animation and aerial dogfight choreography. The climactic moments are perfectly accompanied by Yoko Kanno's music. The show is beautiful with excellent character designs, color work, and background art reminiscent of the mid 90s. I would recommend this to fans of the key staff involved. If the older SDF Macross is a turnoff for anyone I believe Macross Plus works as a standalone entry. Side note, there are OVA and movie versions. I recommend the OVA as the additional runtime helps flesh out the characters better.
* Forgive me for cheating a bit here as I lump **Patlabor: The Movie** and **Patlabor 2: The Movie** into a single entry. Patlabor was a blind spot for me despite hearing constant praise for legendary director Mamoru Oshii's work on the series. Patlabor is a world where mechs dubbed "Labors" are used for everyday tasks. This led to a new type of crime involving Labors which necessitated the creation of the "Patrol Labors" or “Patlabors” used by special police units. Our story follows Patlabor division 2 - a police unit trained to combat labor crime. Patlabor 1 is an exciting action flick with an element of overarching mystery and government incompetence. It's often overshadowed by its more philosophical sequel, but it stands on its own two feet with some of the most exciting action in the franchise. Patlabor 2 on the other hand is a slow burn where Oshii dives into the implications of police militarization and how modern society is built on military tragedies abroad. The film contests that our own comfort is fragile by showing the lengths those in power will go in the name of combating terrorism at the expense of personal freedoms. The film features a haunting montage sequence of soldiers and military equipment deployed throughout major cities as the citizens go about their daily lives - adults walking by armed soldiers, children waving at a tank, jet fighters overhead, etc. If - like me - you enjoy Oshii's works (Ghost in the Shell is an all time favorite) and you’ve put off Patlabor, I urge you to give it a chance. I would start with the OVA series for context -> Movie 1 -> Movie 2.
* **Chainsaw Man the Movie - Reze Arc**. Chainsaw Man's triumphant return was a joy to watch. I had eagerly awaited this part of the story. It represents a turning point and the film format allowed MAPPA to really flex their muscles in the lengthy action segment in the 3rd act. The fluid movement and explosions in particular were spectacular. More than simple action, author Tatsuki Fujimoto's characters and storytelling hit new heights in this work. Reze is a compelling character and the foundational question of "would you rather be a city mouse or a country mouse?" was thought provoking. I look forward to the next part of the story.
* **Shashinkan** or **The Portrait Studio** is a 16 minute short film by Studio Colorido. The story covers the life of a little girl starting prior to WWII through her interactions with the operator of a photo shop throughout the years. Despite having no dialogue, the emotions of the story come through clearly. I could feel the passage of time and the inevitability of change throughout. This was a surprise favorite of mine as I did not enjoy director Takashi Nakamura's other works. I recommend giving it a try. With such a short runtime you do not have much to lose.
* **Space Cobra (TV - 1982)**. They simply don't make shows like Space Cobra anymore. The titular Cobra is essentially James Bond in space, a suave space pirate hunted by both the Galactic Police and the nefarious Pirate Guild. Space Cobra is pulpy. His adventures constantly include exaggerated villains and beautiful women. What sets the show apart is the sincerity that it approaches this power fantasy concept with. Crystal Bowie as a villain is worth mentioning as a memorable nemesis. The quality of the animation, art, and direction is surprisingly high for a 40+ year old show with high quality blu ray releases available. Unfortunately, other forays into this franchise lack the charm of the original TV series. I can't recommend the re-boot style OVAs or newer TV show.
* **Medalist** was an excellent sports anime released this year. Inori Yuitsuka dreams of being a singles figure skater. She starts as a "girl failure" character you can't help but root for and throughout the series find confidence in herself through her love of skating and the support of her trainer Tsukasa Akeuraji. Inori and Tsukasa both started skating "too late" in the eyes of the skating community and together their goal is to compete in the Olympics. Studio Engi has put out many lackluster works, so I was happy to see the quality of Medalist was consistently excellent. The skating sequences were well done and the voice actors for our protagonists stole the show. This show gave me exactly what I'm looking for in a sports show - steady growth, adversity, believable setbacks, earned improvements and more. Hopefully Season 2 (which begins in January) will continue to build on this strong foundation.
* **Fuujin Monogatari** or **Windy Tales** is a slice of life show from 2004 by Product IG that flew under the radar. The art style is unusual and may take some getting used to, but the designs and animation are incredibly compelling in combination. The show features a group of 8th graders who learn to control the wind after an encounter with one of their teachers who is secretly a Wind Manipulator. That makes the show sound much more fantastical than it really is. At its core Fuujin Monogatari is a human story about life and relationships. It sets a calm, contemplative tone that I have rarely seen in anime. As Wind Manipulators the wind is essentially a character in and of itself. The show constantly features the wind and animation sequences of the wind interacting with the environment. The writing for the dialogue felt minimalist. The show preferred to show, not tell its story.
* **Tonkatsu DJ Agetarou** is an odd show with short \~10 minute episodes. Our protagonist Agetarou Katsumata works at his family's Tonkatsu Ramen shop by day and is inspired to be a professional DJ by night. As it happens, there is substantial (and surprising) overlap in the skills required for both jobs. The show is very funny, but what makes it memorable is the humor is not at the expense of the premise. It takes the premise completely seriously. Agetarou truly wants to be a "Tonkatsu DJ" and the overlap in skills is portrayed repeatedly. The skills he learns DJing improve his work at the Ramen shop and vice-versa. This one isn't for everyone, but it's a quick watch and I found the earnestness refreshing.
* **Gin no Saji** or **Silver Spoon** is a critically acclaimed work from 2013 based on a manga by Hiromu Arakawa (of Full Metal Alchemist fame). It was another blind spot for me that I am happy to rectify. It features a student, Yuugo Hachiken, who enrolls at an Agricultural Boarding Highschool as a means to run away from the conventional world of entrance exams and the suffocating expectations from his family. There he learns to appreciate the other students and their goals to pursue various agricultural careers. The story tackles the challenges of agricultural work and the morality of livestock in a mature way.. I enjoyed the change of pace. While ostensibly taking place in a high school, it is a high school environment unique from what we typically see in anime.
If you've made it this far, thank you for reading and have a happy new year.
Please share some of your own highlights below!
* Starting off with **Shounan Bakusouzoku** or **Bomber Bikers of Shonan**. This is a 12 episode OVA series that started in 1986 and finished in 1999. It's a classic biker gang story with heart. I consider it a must watch for fans of delinquent anime like Bebop Highschool or Great Teacher Onizuka. The background art is exceptional and the gang members all receive focus episodes to expand on their characterization. I'll call particular attention to episode 6 "GT380 History" which features an incredible mechanical repair sequence on a classic motorcycle that holds sentimental value to one of the members. I was awestruck by the care and detail put into the art & animation. Last thing I'll note here is the incredible real life time span between episode 1 and the finale. I could feel the weight of time and it was almost as if the show had become sentimental about itself toward the end, but not in a negative way.
* **Macross Plus**. 2025 was the year I finally dove into the Macross franchise starting with SDF Macross. My favorite entry so far however was the follow up OVA series Macross Plus from 1995. The staff on this is excellent with direction from Shinichirou Watanabe, music by Yoko Kanno, and sound direction from Masafumi Mima. As a Macross entry there is of course a love triangle. This time between two fighter test pilots working on a special military development project and the "producer" of an AI musician. The story was prescient about the advancement of AI including AI artwork as a theme. It features top-class fighter jet animation and aerial dogfight choreography. The climactic moments are perfectly accompanied by Yoko Kanno's music. The show is beautiful with excellent character designs, color work, and background art reminiscent of the mid 90s. I would recommend this to fans of the key staff involved. If the older SDF Macross is a turnoff for anyone I believe Macross Plus works as a standalone entry. Side note, there are OVA and movie versions. I recommend the OVA as the additional runtime helps flesh out the characters better.
* Forgive me for cheating a bit here as I lump **Patlabor: The Movie** and **Patlabor 2: The Movie** into a single entry. Patlabor was a blind spot for me despite hearing constant praise for legendary director Mamoru Oshii's work on the series. Patlabor is a world where mechs dubbed "Labors" are used for everyday tasks. This led to a new type of crime involving Labors which necessitated the creation of the "Patrol Labors" or “Patlabors” used by special police units. Our story follows Patlabor division 2 - a police unit trained to combat labor crime. Patlabor 1 is an exciting action flick with an element of overarching mystery and government incompetence. It's often overshadowed by its more philosophical sequel, but it stands on its own two feet with some of the most exciting action in the franchise. Patlabor 2 on the other hand is a slow burn where Oshii dives into the implications of police militarization and how modern society is built on military tragedies abroad. The film contests that our own comfort is fragile by showing the lengths those in power will go in the name of combating terrorism at the expense of personal freedoms. The film features a haunting montage sequence of soldiers and military equipment deployed throughout major cities as the citizens go about their daily lives - adults walking by armed soldiers, children waving at a tank, jet fighters overhead, etc. If - like me - you enjoy Oshii's works (Ghost in the Shell is an all time favorite) and you’ve put off Patlabor, I urge you to give it a chance. I would start with the OVA series for context -> Movie 1 -> Movie 2.
* **Chainsaw Man the Movie - Reze Arc**. Chainsaw Man's triumphant return was a joy to watch. I had eagerly awaited this part of the story. It represents a turning point and the film format allowed MAPPA to really flex their muscles in the lengthy action segment in the 3rd act. The fluid movement and explosions in particular were spectacular. More than simple action, author Tatsuki Fujimoto's characters and storytelling hit new heights in this work. Reze is a compelling character and the foundational question of "would you rather be a city mouse or a country mouse?" was thought provoking. I look forward to the next part of the story.
* **Shashinkan** or **The Portrait Studio** is a 16 minute short film by Studio Colorido. The story covers the life of a little girl starting prior to WWII through her interactions with the operator of a photo shop throughout the years. Despite having no dialogue, the emotions of the story come through clearly. I could feel the passage of time and the inevitability of change throughout. This was a surprise favorite of mine as I did not enjoy director Takashi Nakamura's other works. I recommend giving it a try. With such a short runtime you do not have much to lose.
* **Space Cobra (TV - 1982)**. They simply don't make shows like Space Cobra anymore. The titular Cobra is essentially James Bond in space, a suave space pirate hunted by both the Galactic Police and the nefarious Pirate Guild. Space Cobra is pulpy. His adventures constantly include exaggerated villains and beautiful women. What sets the show apart is the sincerity that it approaches this power fantasy concept with. Crystal Bowie as a villain is worth mentioning as a memorable nemesis. The quality of the animation, art, and direction is surprisingly high for a 40+ year old show with high quality blu ray releases available. Unfortunately, other forays into this franchise lack the charm of the original TV series. I can't recommend the re-boot style OVAs or newer TV show.
* **Medalist** was an excellent sports anime released this year. Inori Yuitsuka dreams of being a singles figure skater. She starts as a "girl failure" character you can't help but root for and throughout the series find confidence in herself through her love of skating and the support of her trainer Tsukasa Akeuraji. Inori and Tsukasa both started skating "too late" in the eyes of the skating community and together their goal is to compete in the Olympics. Studio Engi has put out many lackluster works, so I was happy to see the quality of Medalist was consistently excellent. The skating sequences were well done and the voice actors for our protagonists stole the show. This show gave me exactly what I'm looking for in a sports show - steady growth, adversity, believable setbacks, earned improvements and more. Hopefully Season 2 (which begins in January) will continue to build on this strong foundation.
* **Fuujin Monogatari** or **Windy Tales** is a slice of life show from 2004 by Product IG that flew under the radar. The art style is unusual and may take some getting used to, but the designs and animation are incredibly compelling in combination. The show features a group of 8th graders who learn to control the wind after an encounter with one of their teachers who is secretly a Wind Manipulator. That makes the show sound much more fantastical than it really is. At its core Fuujin Monogatari is a human story about life and relationships. It sets a calm, contemplative tone that I have rarely seen in anime. As Wind Manipulators the wind is essentially a character in and of itself. The show constantly features the wind and animation sequences of the wind interacting with the environment. The writing for the dialogue felt minimalist. The show preferred to show, not tell its story.
* **Tonkatsu DJ Agetarou** is an odd show with short \~10 minute episodes. Our protagonist Agetarou Katsumata works at his family's Tonkatsu Ramen shop by day and is inspired to be a professional DJ by night. As it happens, there is substantial (and surprising) overlap in the skills required for both jobs. The show is very funny, but what makes it memorable is the humor is not at the expense of the premise. It takes the premise completely seriously. Agetarou truly wants to be a "Tonkatsu DJ" and the overlap in skills is portrayed repeatedly. The skills he learns DJing improve his work at the Ramen shop and vice-versa. This one isn't for everyone, but it's a quick watch and I found the earnestness refreshing.
* **Gin no Saji** or **Silver Spoon** is a critically acclaimed work from 2013 based on a manga by Hiromu Arakawa (of Full Metal Alchemist fame). It was another blind spot for me that I am happy to rectify. It features a student, Yuugo Hachiken, who enrolls at an Agricultural Boarding Highschool as a means to run away from the conventional world of entrance exams and the suffocating expectations from his family. There he learns to appreciate the other students and their goals to pursue various agricultural careers. The story tackles the challenges of agricultural work and the morality of livestock in a mature way.. I enjoyed the change of pace. While ostensibly taking place in a high school, it is a high school environment unique from what we typically see in anime.
If you've made it this far, thank you for reading and have a happy new year.
Please share some of your own highlights below!
Commentaires
Tsukasa-sensei ("Medalist"), you handsome bastard. Best life coach there is.
I AM straight, for context.
Monogatari