The 5 Best Anime Crunchyroll Fans Need To Watch Before the New Year

by

With 2025 ending, it’s been a wonderful year for anime fans! We’ve seen a lot of popular shows released, and Crunchyroll continues to offer a huge selection of great anime to enjoy as we head into 2026.

I’m already getting excited for the next seasons of shows like Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, and I’ve got my eye on Gachiakuta coming in 2025! There’s still so much anime to enjoy this year, and I wanted to share a few memorable series that Crunchyroll users should definitely check out when they have the time. Seriously, you won’t regret it!

Gachiakuta Took the World By Storm in 2025

Kei Urana’s Gachiakuta was highly anticipated going into 2025, and now that the first season is finished, it’s proven to be a major success. From start to finish, Gachiakuta stands out as one of the most original shonen anime in years, thanks to its unique characters, interesting themes, and playfully rebellious attitude – making it wonderfully entertaining, even if it’s a bit over-the-top.

The anime Gachiakuta, whose title playfully translates to “legit garbage,” centers on Rudo Surebrec and his struggles to adapt to life in The Pit—a desolate wasteland filled with creatures called Trash Beasts. Having been exiled from a celestial realm called The Sphere, Rudo’s story explores themes of rejection and his search for belonging in a harsh new world.

With just 24 episodes, Gachiakuta is the perfect length to binge-watch leading up to the New Year, making it a top Crunchyroll anime choice as 2025 approaches.

My Dress-Up Darling Is the Latest, Greatest Romance Anime

In the world of romance anime, My Dress-Up Darling really stood out in 2025. While the show was already well-regarded after its first season in 2022, the anime adaptation of the manga became even more popular this year. Currently, it boasts an impressive 4.9 out of 5-star rating based on over 233,000 votes.

My Dress-Up Darling is a sweet and heartwarming anime about Marin Kitagawa, a lively cosplayer, and Wakana Gojo, a shy doll maker. The story follows their developing relationship throughout high school. While it sometimes includes suggestive content, the anime is ultimately genuine and charming.

With just 24 episodes across two seasons, you can easily finish watching My Dress-Up Darling before the end of the year. While a third season hasn’t been officially confirmed yet, the second season was so popular that it’s likely we’ll hear about the continuation of Gojo and Marin’s story soon.

To Be Hero X Tells 11 Memorable Stories in Its First Season

Wow, 2025 was incredible for Chinese animation! There were so many great shows, but honestly, nothing grabbed me quite like To Be Hero X. It totally revitalized the superhero genre for me, and it’s not just action – it’s a really clever look at what’s going on in the world today. I was completely hooked!

The 26-episode series To Be Hero X follows a group of heroes, each taking center stage in their own story arc. As the show progresses, these individual narratives begin to connect, ultimately leading to the story of the top-ranked hero, Hero X.

Beyond its fresh take on superhero stories, To Be Hero X is also innovative for how it uses the anime format. During its first season, the show let viewers vote on key characters, and the creators say these votes will directly impact the plot of Season 2. This interactive approach is a compelling experiment that could lead to an even more popular second season when it arrives.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 2 Is Just Around the Corner

This decade, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End has become one of the most critically acclaimed anime series. It’s set a new standard for fantasy anime that aren’t part of the ‘shonen’ genre, earning an impressive 96% of its 287,000 Crunchyroll ratings as perfect 5-star reviews. With Season 2 on the way, Frieren continues to be incredibly popular.

Taking place decades after the defeat of the Demon King, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End explores life after the epic adventure. The anime follows Fern, Stark, and a new generation of characters, but it’s the show’s peaceful and thoughtful nature that truly makes it stand out from other series.

Subscribe for Curated Anime Picks and Year-End Favorites

Subscribe for Curated Anime Picks and Year-End Favorites

When you sign up, you’ll receive emails about our newsletter and special offers, and you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You can stop receiving these emails at any time.

With its slow and reflective pace, Frieren might feel like a lot to watch all 26 episodes before the year ends. But if you’re new to the series and do, it’s sure to be a standout experience.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Explores Hero Society From a Different Perspective

The popular anime My Hero Academia finished its run in 2025, marking the end of a beloved series. While fans are sad to see Izuku Midoriya and Class 1-A’s story conclude, there’s good news: My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is continuing the world’s narrative.

Watching MHA: Vigilantes feels different than the main MHA story, which is all about Izuku Midoriya striving to be the best hero. This spin-off focuses on a much more local level, and honestly, it’s a strength. We follow Koichi Haimawari and his mentor, Knuckleduster, as they fight crime without official hero licenses. It really pulls back the curtain and shows us the gritty, dangerous side of Hero Society that the original series often doesn’t explore.

Season 2 of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes will premiere on January 5, 2026. This gives fans time to finish watching the first 13 episodes before the new season arrives.

Read More

2025-12-28 06:13