It’s Official: Solo Leveling Isn’t 2025’s Best Anime Anymore

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The anime *Solo Leveling* gained massive popularity with fans internationally, as seen at the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards. While Season 1 won Anime of the Year, many fans are even more enthusiastic about the recently released Season 2. Though some consider Season 2 the best anime of 2025, ratings on MyAnimeList tell a different story. *Solo Leveling* isn’t the top-rated anime of the year on that platform; that title belongs to *The Apothecary Diaries Season 2*. *The Apothecary Diaries* is rapidly becoming a fan favorite in both Japan and other countries, and it’s a strong contender to win Anime of the Year in 2026.

Solo Leveling Is Big, But The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 is the Highest Rated Anime of 2025

Apothecary Diaries

  • The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Has a Rating of 8.91 on MAL
  • Solo Leveling Season 2 Has A Rating Of 8.65

This year, *Solo Leveling* surprised many at the Crunchyroll Awards by winning Anime of the Year for 2025. Interestingly, the award recognized the first season, which aired in 2024, despite the buzz around its ongoing second season. While some felt the series lacked a strong storyline, it still took home the prize. Later in the year, other highly-regarded anime emerged, including *Takopi’s Original Sin*, *To Be Hero X*, and *The Lord of the Mysteries*.

I can’t officially announce Season 3 yet, but we really need everyone’s support to make it happen. Just like Son Goku’s Spirit Bomb, which gathers energy from everyone to overcome challenges, the success of Solo Leveling Season 3 depends on fans around the world getting behind the series. – Atsushi Kaneko

Although many anime series have been well-received, *The Apothecary Diaries Season 2* currently holds the top spot for the year, according to ratings on MyAnimeList (MAL). It boasts an impressive 8.91 rating, placing it among the highest-rated anime of all time – specifically, 19th overall – and number one for 2025. In comparison, *Solo Leveling Season 2* has a rating of 8.65 on MAL, which ranks it 79th overall and outside the top 5 anime of 2025.

Atsushi Kaneko expressed excitement about the positive reception to the series, but noted that it hasn’t yet reached mainstream popularity in Japan. While popular, ‘Solo Leveling’ isn’t as widely known as established anime like ‘Dragon Ball,’ ‘One Piece,’ or ‘Naruto.’ He believes a third season could be the key to achieving that broader recognition.

Compared to *Solo Leveling*, *The Apothecary Diaries* is the more popular series overall. While *Solo Leveling* has a large following internationally, *The Apothecary Diaries* is a hit both outside of Japan and within the country-and Japan is a much larger anime market.

Could The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Win Anime of the Year 2026?

It’s Possible, But it Has Heavy Competition

Even though 2025 isn’t over yet, several excellent anime series are already potential candidates for the 2026 Crunchyroll Anime of the Year award. *The Apothecary Diaries* is a leading contender, but it faces strong competition. *Solo Leveling* remains popular despite having fewer reviews. However, because the third season of *Solo Leveling* won’t be released before the 2026 awards, it likely won’t have the same boost it received during the 2025 competition.

I’m telling you, finding another anime quite like *Takopi’s Original Sin* is going to be tough! It’s already the second highest-rated anime of 2025, scoring an incredible 8.84 – seriously close behind the score of the *Maomao* series. It’s a real standout!

There are currently 25 episodes of Solo Leveling available to stream. The first season has 12 episodes, and the second has 13. You can watch both seasons on Crunchyroll while waiting for news about a potential third season.

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2025-09-29 01:39