My Top 10 Favorite Anime Projects of 2025
Anime in 2025 delivered across the board, with standout stories that took real risks, pushed emotional boundaries, and reminded me why this medium continues to evolve in exciting ways.
Between cool new adaptations, sequels, and anime theatrical experiences, these ten projects left the biggest impression on me this year. Each one connected for different reasons, whether through character, atmosphere, or sheer creative ambition.
Dandadan Season 2 – Evil Eye Arc
Dandadan Season 2 leans fully into its chaotic identity while finding more emotional grounding for its characters. The Evil Eye arc blends supernatural insanity with genuine character development, especially as Momo and Okarun’s bond grows in ways that feel awkward, sweet, and honest.
The series balances outrageous humor and explosive action with moments of sincerity that hit harder than expected. Science Saru’s animation style remains unpredictable and expressive, making every episode feel alive and constantly surprising.
The Apothecary Diaries Season 2
This second season doubles down on what makes The Apothecary Diaries so compelling, its intelligence and restraint. Maomao’s sharp mind continues to cut through palace politics, and the mysteries surrounding her work grow more layered and personal.
The show thrives in quiet tension, letting conversations and subtle expressions carry weight. Her evolving dynamic with Jinshi adds warmth without derailing the story’s focus, making this season feel richer and more awesome.
The Summer Hikaru Died
The Summer Hikaru Died is unsettling in the quietest, most personal ways. Instead of relying on constant shocks, the horror comes from watching Yoshiki navigate grief, isolation, and forbidden longing while living beside something wearing his friend’s face.
The series lets discomfort linger, using silence and small gestures to deepen the dread. Its coming-of-age themes hit hard, especially as Yoshiki struggles with identity and desire in a town that offers no escape. When the violence arrives, it feels sudden and cruel, reinforcing how fragile everything already was.
Sakamoto Days
Sakamoto Days nails its balance of absurd action and heartfelt comedy right out of the gate. Watching a former legendary hitman navigate family life while being dragged back into chaos never gets old, largely thanks to how effortlessly the series shifts tones.
The action is sharp and creative, the humor is fun andnatural, and the character chemistry carries every scene. It’s fast, funny, and packed with personality, making it one of the most entertaining debuts of the year.
Gachiakuta
Gachiakuta delivers a brutal and emotionally charged experience that sticks with you. Rudo’s fall into the Abyss feels cruel and unjust, and the world around him reflects that ugliness at every turn.
The concept of weaponized trash gives the action a raw creativity, while the story’s focus on class, rage, and survival adds real weight. Bones brings the grime and intensity to life with confidence, making this series feel aggressive, personal, and uncompromising.
Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
The Reze Arc hits Denji at his most vulnerable, pairing fleeting happiness with inevitable cruelty. What starts as a rare moment of connection quickly twists into paranoia, violence, and heartbreak, perfectly capturing the emotional whiplash that defines Chainsaw Man.
Reze is magnetic and dangerous, and her relationship with Denji exposes how badly he wants a normal life, even when he barely understands what that means. The film balances intimacy and chaos with stunning precision, delivering brutal action while never losing sight of Denji as a kid being used by forces far bigger than him.
Orb: On the Movements of the Earth
Orb: On the Movements of the Earth stands out as one of the most thoughtful anime in years. By focusing on the idea of heliocentrism rather than a single hero, the series turns scientific discovery into a powerful human drama.
Every character feels like part of a larger struggle against fear and authority, and the cost of knowledge is felt at every step. The animation gives equal care to intimate performances and cosmic imagery, creating a moving portrait of curiosity, sacrifice, and progress.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle
Infinity Castle feels like Demon Slayer operating at its absolute peak. Designed for the big screen, the film delivers jaw-dropping visuals while pushing the story closer to its emotional and narrative endgame.
As the first chapter of the finale trilogy, it balances spectacle with tension, giving longtime fans major payoffs while setting the stage for what’s to come. The scale and story makes it unforgettable, and the emotional weight lands hard.
Kaiju No. 8 Season 2
Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 sharpens its focus on identity, fear, and responsibility. Kafka’s struggle becomes more intense as the threats escalate and trust grows harder to maintain.
The action remains explosive, but it’s the character-driven tension that gives each fight meaning. Production I.G continues to deliver slick, powerful animation while letting quieter moments breathe, making this season feel more mature and emotionally grounded.
Solo Leveling Season 2 – Arise from the Shadow
This season fully embraces Sung Jinwoo’s transformation into something terrifying and unstoppable. The power progression feels earned, and the expanded lore adds depth without slowing the pace.
Every dungeon crawl and battle is staged with intensity, showing just how far Jinwoo has come and how much he’s leaving behind. A-1 Pictures delivers relentless action paired with a darker tone, making this one of the most satisfying shonen experiences of the year.
I wish I was able to watch more anime, but 2025 reminded me just how versatile anime can be. Whether it was intimate character drama, massive theatrical experiences, or wild genre mashups, these projects delivered across the board. If this is the direction anime keeps heading, I’m excited for what comes next.