2025 Was Officially One of the Best Years for Anime Ever

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Wow, looking back on 2025, it was just an incredible year for anime! We saw huge sequels like Season 2 of Solo Leveling, Chainsaw Man: The Reze Arc, and Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle absolutely blow everyone away. But it wasn’t just the big names – shows like To Be Hero X really shook things up with fresh ideas. Honestly, 2025 just cemented anime’s place as a major global phenomenon, and I couldn’t be more excited for what’s next!

2025 is shaping up to be a landmark year for anime. We’re seeing incredible improvements in animation quality, with studios like MAPPA and Science SARU pushing boundaries with both exciting action and unique artistic styles that really connect with viewers. This growth is not only making the anime industry more successful financially, but it’s also bringing anime to a much wider audience, solidifying its place as a major part of popular culture.

Winter 2025 Was a Perfect Start For the Anime Fandom

Winter 2025 was a fantastic season for new releases, most notably the debut of Solo Leveling Season 2. It quickly became a hit, earning an 8.60 out of 10 on MyAnimeList based on over 715,000 ratings, and a near-perfect 4.9 out of 5 stars from over 900,000 viewers on Crunchyroll. The season delved deeper into the series’ urban fantasy themes and featured a highly anticipated battle – Jinwoo versus the Ant King – which was brilliantly adapted. Thanks to the stunning animation and fluid fight scenes by A-1 Pictures, Solo Leveling Season 2 lived up to the hype.

Both The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 and Dr. Stone: Science Future were hits with anime fans. The Apothecary Diaries reached a high score of 8.91 on MyAnimeList, drawing viewers in with its smart mysteries and historical setting. The beautiful 2D animation by OLM and TOHO really brought the characters and world to life. Dr. Stone: Science Future earned an 8.25, successfully combining learning with thrilling adventures as Senku used his inventions. TMS Entertainment’s bright and clear animation style made even complex scientific ideas easy to understand and visually appealing.

Spring 2025’s Bold Anime Lineup Quietly Dominated

Spring 2025 saw a few anime really stand out from the crowd, earning high ratings and positive feedback from viewers. To Be Hero X was the season’s frontrunner, achieving an impressive IMDb score of around 8.6/10. This was especially notable because it was an experimental series that captivated audiences, generating a lot of votes and praise for its unique blend of animation styles and clever commentary on superhero tropes. To Be Hero X seamlessly combined many different elements – amazing music, well-developed characters, and a compelling storyline – creating a truly groundbreaking experience.

Following closely behind in popularity was Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray, which scored 7.8 on IMDb. It consistently topped weekly polls on sites like Anime Corner and Anime Trending, and won Anime of the Season awards, showing strong viewer engagement and positive buzz. Rock Is a Lady’s Modesty, with a 7.7 IMDb score, became a surprise hit, gaining a dedicated fanbase and boosting its reach through a popular soundtrack on streaming services.

With a score of 7.4 on IMDb, Apocalypse Hotel was particularly well-received by critics, though it didn’t generate a lot of mainstream attention. Reviewers praised its mood and subtle storytelling, which resonated with critics and audiences alike. Looking at the top anime of Spring 2025, it’s clear that success isn’t just about high ratings. Consistent quality throughout the season, positive fan feedback, and lasting cultural impact are now just as important as numerical scores for building a dedicated audience.

Summer 2025 Highlighted Generation-Defining Hits

Summer 2025 continued the strong performance of the previous season with shows that mixed different genres. Season 2 of Dandadan, created by Science SARU, received an 8.44 rating on MyAnimeList. Its wild, supernatural story was brought to life with unique animation, using bright colors and unusual angles to create a thrilling and funny horror experience. The Summer Hikaru Died earned an 8.03 on MyAnimeList, and used CygamesPictures’ delicate shading to create a tense atmosphere in a rural mystery, exploring deep themes of who we are and dealing with loss.

Meanwhile, Grand Blue Season 2 earned a score of 8.50 on MyAnimeList, captivating viewers with its over-the-top characters and stunning underwater scenes, making the show’s diving adventures a hilarious escape. This success was part of a larger trend, with series like My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 – which scored 8.20 on MyAnimeList – sparking a surge in cosplay, highlighting anime’s growing impact on fashion and social media in 2025.

Fall 2025 Showcased Epic Finales & Fresh Starts

The Fall 2025 anime season was incredibly strong. The final season of My Hero Academia earned an 8.77 on MyAnimeList, with the studio Bones delivering particularly impactful action and emotional moments through its unique animation style. Spy x Family Season 3, animated by Wit Studio, also performed well, achieving an 8.82 on MyAnimeList, thanks to animation that perfectly complemented the show’s clever humor and ensured another successful season.

Recent anime like Gachiakuta have stood out with their realistic and often dark city settings. Gachiakuta also offers a timely message about the consequences of recklessness, suggesting that destructive behavior could lead to a bleak future. These popular shows have boosted the anime industry, with some, like this one, earning significant revenue – over $155 million globally – and high ratings, such as a 9.13 on MyAnimeList.

In 2025, anime wasn’t just strong in individual series, but overall quality significantly improved. Top releases consistently received high ratings – averaging 8.0 to 9.0 on MyAnimeList and 8.5 or higher on IMDb – much better than in previous years. Viewership also doubled across various platforms, thanks to a wider range of genres attracting fans worldwide.

2025 was a remarkable year for animation, with shows like Dandadan – a breakout hit after just two seasons – dominating the Crunchyroll Anime Awards and winning Best Animation. The Japanese anime industry also saw record profits, reaching $25 billion thanks to strong international interest and streaming services like Netflix. While this growth exposed problems with working conditions, the quality and quantity of new anime remained exceptional.

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2026-01-04 05:10