Was 2025 a good year for Anime?
I’ve been doing this since 2017, so here we are once again, looking back and asking the same question.
I watched **139 anime** in 2025 (according to MAL Badges, I didn't actually count), which includes seasonals and movies.
As usual, let's start with the older anime.
# Sequels and Continuations:
Many anime received sequels this year:
* *Grand Blue*
* *My Hero Academia (Final Season)*
* *Dandadan*
* *The Apothecary Diaries*
* *To Your Eternity*
* *Fire Force*
* *Link Click*
* *Ranma (2024)*
* *Go! Go! Loser Ranger*
* *Dr. Stone*
* *Blue Exorcist*
* *Blue Orchestra*
* *Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun*
* *Spy×Family*
* *My Happy Marriage*
* *Kinnikuman*
* *Uma Musume*
* *Black Butler*
* *Shoushimin Series*
* *Wind Breaker*
* *Aharen-san*
* *Call of the Night*
* *My Dress-Up Darling*
* *Kaijuu No. 8*
* *Osomatsu-san*
* *Pokémon Concierge*
* *Grisaia*
* *Panty & Stocking*
* *Noble Farmer*
* *The Rising of the Shield Hero*
* *Solo Leveling*
* *Isekai Quartet*
* *Campfire Cooking in Another World*
* *Rascal Does Not Dream*
* *Reborn as a Vending Machine*
* *Rent-a-Girlfriend*
* *The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You*
On top of that:
* *Star Wars: Visions* received a new volume
* *Digimon* and *Sousei no Aquarion* got new series
* *Cat’s♥Eye* and *Hell Teacher Nube* got remakes
* *Lycoris Recoil* got short specials
* *Gintama* had a spin-off
* *Lupin the IIIrd* dropped an ONA prequel just before of its new film
Such a packed year for sequels, we had the long awaited season 2 for Grand Blue, the amazing final season for My Hero Academia, Fire Force showing a lot in the final episode and Black Butler with its Emerald Loli arc.
# Sequel Movies:
We also got some heavyweight movie releases:
* *Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc*
* *Mononoke: Movie 2*
* *Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League*
* *The Rose of Versailles (Remake)*
* *Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle*
Amazingly produced movies, fun to watch, although I still wish they had made a whole series for The Rose of Versailles.
And a few movie sequels I haven’t gotten to watch yet:
* *Lupin the IIIrd: The Immortal Bloodline*
* *The Legend of Hei 2*
* *My Senpai Is a Girl*
* *Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid: A Lonely Dragon Wants to Be Loved*
* *Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans (Movie)*
# Now, let's look at the seasonals:
**Winter:**
* *Flower and Asura*
* *Sakamoto Days*
* *Zenshuu*
* *Honey Lemon Soda*
* *Sorairo Utility*
* *Medalist*
* *Okitsura*
* *Medaka Kuroiwa*
* *NEET Kunoichi*
* *Anyway, I’m Falling in Love with You*
* *Farmagia*
* *Momentary* *Lily*
Winter was just an okay-ish start to this year, but I still enjoyed watching Sakamoto Days, Flower and Asura, and Okitsura.
**Spring:**
* *To Be Hero X*
* *Kowloon Generic Romance*
* *Yaiba*
* *The All-Devouring Whale*
* *Anne Shirley*
* *Apocalypse Hotel*
* *Mono*
* *Food for the Soul*
* *Vigilante: My Hero Academia*
* *Koupen-chan*
* *Summer Pockets*
* *Dinner Table Detective*
* *Zatsu Tabi*
* *Witch Watch*
* *Once Upon a Witch’s Death*
* *Lazarus*
* *Moonrise*
* *The Super Cube*
* *Kijin Gentoushou*
* *Catch Me at the Ballpark!*
* *The Beginning After the End*
* *Can a Boy–Girl Friendship Survive?*
Spring was very good, with To Be Hero X and Kowloon taking all the attention, the slice of life shows were still good to watch, tho I was disappointed with Lazarus, Moonrise and TBATE.
**Summer**:
* *Takopi’s Original Sin*
* *Lord of Mysteries*
* *The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity*
* *Gachiakuta*
* *Silent Witch*
* *CITY The Animation*
* *Dungeons & Television*
* *The Summer Hikaru Died*
* *Ruri Rocks*
* *Milky☆Subway*
* *Leviathan*
* *Bullet/Bullet*
* *Game Center Girl*
* *The Mikadono Sisters*
* *With You and the Rain*
* *See You Tomorrow at the Food Court*
* *Detectives These Days Are Crazy*
* *Futari Solo Camp*
* *Fermat’s Kitchen*
* *Outcast’s Restaurant*
* *Turkey!*
* *Nyaight of the Living Cat*
* *Necronomico*
Summer was the best season of 2k25 for me, all of the first 10 shows on the list are good, some might argue that they are peak. The Food Court anime was also surprisingly enjoyable, lol, even though it's just about two girls yapping.
**Fall:**
* *Fujimoto Tatsuki: 17–26*
* *Sanda*
* *Yano-kun’s Ordinary Days*
* *Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider*
* *Touring After the Apocalypse*
* *A Mangaka’s Weirdly Wonderful Workplace*
* *WataTabe*
* *Disney Twisted-Wonderland*
* *Dusk Beyond the End of the World*
* *Wandance*
Fall was just alright with the new shows, the spotlights for this season were sequels, albeit Sanda still stood out with its direction and crispy animation. Fujimoto Tatsuki's 17-26 stories were pretty cool, and Yano-kun was easily the cutest show of the season for me.
# So, was 2025 a good year for anime?
Yes. Yes, it was.
It’s honestly wild how many anime are released every year, and it’s getting harder to keep up. This year alone, each season had around 70–80 new anime.
Still, I appreciate that the industry is willing to take risks and keep producing new things that people can genuinely enjoy.
I watched **139 anime** in 2025 (according to MAL Badges, I didn't actually count), which includes seasonals and movies.
As usual, let's start with the older anime.
# Sequels and Continuations:
Many anime received sequels this year:
* *Grand Blue*
* *My Hero Academia (Final Season)*
* *Dandadan*
* *The Apothecary Diaries*
* *To Your Eternity*
* *Fire Force*
* *Link Click*
* *Ranma (2024)*
* *Go! Go! Loser Ranger*
* *Dr. Stone*
* *Blue Exorcist*
* *Blue Orchestra*
* *Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun*
* *Spy×Family*
* *My Happy Marriage*
* *Kinnikuman*
* *Uma Musume*
* *Black Butler*
* *Shoushimin Series*
* *Wind Breaker*
* *Aharen-san*
* *Call of the Night*
* *My Dress-Up Darling*
* *Kaijuu No. 8*
* *Osomatsu-san*
* *Pokémon Concierge*
* *Grisaia*
* *Panty & Stocking*
* *Noble Farmer*
* *The Rising of the Shield Hero*
* *Solo Leveling*
* *Isekai Quartet*
* *Campfire Cooking in Another World*
* *Rascal Does Not Dream*
* *Reborn as a Vending Machine*
* *Rent-a-Girlfriend*
* *The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You*
On top of that:
* *Star Wars: Visions* received a new volume
* *Digimon* and *Sousei no Aquarion* got new series
* *Cat’s♥Eye* and *Hell Teacher Nube* got remakes
* *Lycoris Recoil* got short specials
* *Gintama* had a spin-off
* *Lupin the IIIrd* dropped an ONA prequel just before of its new film
Such a packed year for sequels, we had the long awaited season 2 for Grand Blue, the amazing final season for My Hero Academia, Fire Force showing a lot in the final episode and Black Butler with its Emerald Loli arc.
# Sequel Movies:
We also got some heavyweight movie releases:
* *Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc*
* *Mononoke: Movie 2*
* *Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League*
* *The Rose of Versailles (Remake)*
* *Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle*
Amazingly produced movies, fun to watch, although I still wish they had made a whole series for The Rose of Versailles.
And a few movie sequels I haven’t gotten to watch yet:
* *Lupin the IIIrd: The Immortal Bloodline*
* *The Legend of Hei 2*
* *My Senpai Is a Girl*
* *Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid: A Lonely Dragon Wants to Be Loved*
* *Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans (Movie)*
# Now, let's look at the seasonals:
**Winter:**
* *Flower and Asura*
* *Sakamoto Days*
* *Zenshuu*
* *Honey Lemon Soda*
* *Sorairo Utility*
* *Medalist*
* *Okitsura*
* *Medaka Kuroiwa*
* *NEET Kunoichi*
* *Anyway, I’m Falling in Love with You*
* *Farmagia*
* *Momentary* *Lily*
Winter was just an okay-ish start to this year, but I still enjoyed watching Sakamoto Days, Flower and Asura, and Okitsura.
**Spring:**
* *To Be Hero X*
* *Kowloon Generic Romance*
* *Yaiba*
* *The All-Devouring Whale*
* *Anne Shirley*
* *Apocalypse Hotel*
* *Mono*
* *Food for the Soul*
* *Vigilante: My Hero Academia*
* *Koupen-chan*
* *Summer Pockets*
* *Dinner Table Detective*
* *Zatsu Tabi*
* *Witch Watch*
* *Once Upon a Witch’s Death*
* *Lazarus*
* *Moonrise*
* *The Super Cube*
* *Kijin Gentoushou*
* *Catch Me at the Ballpark!*
* *The Beginning After the End*
* *Can a Boy–Girl Friendship Survive?*
Spring was very good, with To Be Hero X and Kowloon taking all the attention, the slice of life shows were still good to watch, tho I was disappointed with Lazarus, Moonrise and TBATE.
**Summer**:
* *Takopi’s Original Sin*
* *Lord of Mysteries*
* *The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity*
* *Gachiakuta*
* *Silent Witch*
* *CITY The Animation*
* *Dungeons & Television*
* *The Summer Hikaru Died*
* *Ruri Rocks*
* *Milky☆Subway*
* *Leviathan*
* *Bullet/Bullet*
* *Game Center Girl*
* *The Mikadono Sisters*
* *With You and the Rain*
* *See You Tomorrow at the Food Court*
* *Detectives These Days Are Crazy*
* *Futari Solo Camp*
* *Fermat’s Kitchen*
* *Outcast’s Restaurant*
* *Turkey!*
* *Nyaight of the Living Cat*
* *Necronomico*
Summer was the best season of 2k25 for me, all of the first 10 shows on the list are good, some might argue that they are peak. The Food Court anime was also surprisingly enjoyable, lol, even though it's just about two girls yapping.
**Fall:**
* *Fujimoto Tatsuki: 17–26*
* *Sanda*
* *Yano-kun’s Ordinary Days*
* *Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider*
* *Touring After the Apocalypse*
* *A Mangaka’s Weirdly Wonderful Workplace*
* *WataTabe*
* *Disney Twisted-Wonderland*
* *Dusk Beyond the End of the World*
* *Wandance*
Fall was just alright with the new shows, the spotlights for this season were sequels, albeit Sanda still stood out with its direction and crispy animation. Fujimoto Tatsuki's 17-26 stories were pretty cool, and Yano-kun was easily the cutest show of the season for me.
# So, was 2025 a good year for anime?
Yes. Yes, it was.
It’s honestly wild how many anime are released every year, and it’s getting harder to keep up. This year alone, each season had around 70–80 new anime.
Still, I appreciate that the industry is willing to take risks and keep producing new things that people can genuinely enjoy.
Commentaires
I think that there were fewer series I watched that turned out to be bad, which is a good thing on the other hand. I'd describe the year as low ceiling, high floor. Not the worst thing in the world but not the best.
However, going by my MAL ratings, rather than my personal ratings which are not rounded up, 3/4 seasons (provided by the new year in review function) were below an average score of 5, while only Summer exceeded that and not by a lot.
Good for movies with the demon slayer & CSM ones but for new shows bursting onto the scene not really.
Can't say it was "good year for anime" since that would imply there was at least 1 bad year (which never happened)
watch part 3 of Space Battleship Yamato 3199 once I finish the first two parts, but otherwise not a very interesting year, as I spent the vast majority of my time watching older shows.
Edit: With Hathaway 2, Patlabor EZY, new Votoms, and a remake of Magic Knight Rayearth, 2026 is looking more interesting than 2025.
According to the MALGraph overview of my list, I had an average rating of 6.24 over the year's releases. That means 2025 had the worst rating since 2020 and the plague year. Not to mention that I have an average score of 6.46 over the 2020s, so it isn't like the rest of this decade has underperformed either.