The Best Anime Of 2025, Ranked – Investment Policy

The competition for the best anime of 2025 wasn’t just about the most popular shows like Solo Leveling. The year was full of surprises and truly exceptional anime. In fact, many fans believe 2025 surpassed even the strong lineups of 2023 and 2024. Hopefully, the best anime from 2025 will be remembered for years to come as timeless masterpieces.

Wow, 2025 was just packed with amazing anime! It felt like every season had around 5 to 10 shows that could have easily been in the running for best of the year. Honestly, trying to pick my favorites was the toughest it’s ever been – I ended up with a shortlist of almost 30! As the year wraps up, I’ve been thinking back on everything and just wanted to celebrate all the incredible series we got in 2025.

Some notes and criteria:

New anime and sequels will both be included.
Never-ending shows like One Piece will not be considered, just because they extend well beyond 2025.
If an anime started in Fall 2024 but continued to air episodes in Winter 2025, it is eligible.
Fall 2025 anime will be included, but please keep in mind that most shows have an episode or two left. Their rankings are unlikely to change, but there is always a small chance that they could hit a homerun or end with a dud.
Only series, no movies.
We are going to try and highlight different genres and categories, just to spread the love around.
Donghua will be considered. Basically, if a show is on Crunchyroll, it qualifies.
Criteria for the rankings: While my opinion plays a part to an extent, as otherwise I would have watched nearly 200 anime for nothing, the rankings are also partially inspired by a show’s scores on platforms like MyAnimeList and Anime-Planet.

Honorable Mentions: Other Fantastic 2025 Anime – This Really Was A Stacked Year

2025 was an amazing year for anime, making it tough to narrow down the best shows. Every series mentioned is excellent, and truly deserving of recognition. In fact, even though I love Dandadan – it’s been one of my favorites recently – its second season didn’t even make my top picks!

Anne Shirley
Apocalypse Hotel
Black Butler: Emerald Witch Arc
Call of the Night Season 2
Clevatess
Dandadan Season 2
Dr. Stone: Science Future
Gachiakuta
Link Click: Bridon Arc
Lord of Mysteries
Medalist
My Dress-Up Darling Season 2
Tatsuki Fujimoto 17-26
The Summer Hikaru Died
Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 3
Secrets of the Silent Witch
Spy x Family Season 3

10. Grand Blue Dreaming Season 2

Laugh A Minute Relief – The Best Comedy Anime Of 2025

While Grand Blue Dreaming gave me the most enjoyment of any show, I’m trying to be fair, so I won’t rank it number one. It was a really close call, though!

Everyone needs a good laugh now and then, and anime has long been a source of comfort through both lighthearted fun and over-the-top comedy. Grand Blue Dreaming perfectly captures both of these qualities. Beyond the interesting premise of college diving, the show is primarily a hilarious comedy about drinking, partying, and awkward attempts at romance. Whenever the plot tries to become serious or develop romantic relationships, Grand Blue cleverly avoids it by having the main character, Iori (or Kouhei), act hilariously clueless, and it works wonderfully.

This season wasn’t particularly groundbreaking, largely improving on what came before. But despite a year that included shows like 100 Girlfriends, a Gintama spin-off, and a series reminiscent of Nichijou, Grand Blue really shone as the funniest anime of 2025. Every episode delivered moments that were genuinely hilarious, often to the point of being uncomfortable.

9. The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity

A Wholesome Love Story That Defined 2025’s Romance Anime

While anime often relies on familiar themes and character types, the industry is always changing, often in small ways. Lately, there’s been a trend towards more relaxed romance stories. These shows tend to pair up characters relatively quickly and focus on building their relationship without adding a lot of forced conflict. Not every anime follows this pattern – some still create drama for the sake of it – but many new releases seem to be moving in this direction.

“The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity” is a truly charming romance anime, and possibly one of the sweetest ever made. While there’s a minor element of rivalry between schools, the story mainly focuses on the blossoming relationship between Rintarou and Kaoruko. Their connection begins with a delightful first meeting and quickly evolves into comfortable, endearing dates. What makes this anime special is the incredible respect they have for each other. Though there’s a little bit of tension, the show mostly lets them simply enjoy each other’s company, and their happiness is infectious.

8. To Be Hero X

A Superhero Sensation – 2025’s Incredible Chinese Donghua

Chinese animation, known as donghua, has been gaining popularity internationally for some time, but 2025 was a particularly successful year. Lord of Mysteries was arguably the best “isekai” (transported to another world) anime of the year, nearly making it into the top 10 overall. However, To Be Hero X was a bit more consistently strong, and its superhero story is easier for a wider audience to enjoy than Lord of Mysteries. I highly recommend watching both series.

I was really struck by the first episode of To Be Hero X – it’s easily one of the best I’ve seen all year. The show immediately throws you into the story with a regular guy, Lin, who suddenly finds himself completely out of his depth. The world-building is fascinating: superheroes actually get their power from people believing in them. So, when the hugely popular hero Nice unexpectedly takes his own life, Lin is thrust into the role, and because everyone thinks he’s Nice, he slowly starts to become him. It’s a really clever premise.

I think that anyone can become a hero in a world where trust is what creates them. Even someone who feels ordinary has the potential to rise up.

Despite sharing some themes with popular shows like My Hero Academia and Tiger & Bunny, To Be Hero X quickly establishes its own distinct personality, and each episode only strengthens that identity. The story centers around Lin, which provides a solid foundation for a compelling narrative and allows for the development of complex, well-rounded characters—characters who are defined by their depth, not just flashy action. Plus, the animation is stunning.

7. Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray

A Sports Anime About Horse Girls That Will Make You Cheer, Laugh, And Cry

It’s tough to explain Uma Musume to someone who’s never heard of it. How do you get people excited about “horse girls” when they’re already familiar with anime featuring ships, tanks, and planes as girls? The trick is to forget the “horse” part and think of Uma Musume as a thrilling sports anime about racing. Cinderella Gray is a fantastic place to start, because it’s a complete story on its own and consistently well-made.

In 2025, the series delivered two seasons that followed Oguri Cap, Tamamo Cross, and Fujimasa March through six months of intense competition, filled with both incredible victories and heartbreaking defeats. While these three are certainly powerful characters, they’re not the only ones with compelling stories that will make you care about their success. Despite its origins as a gacha game and its seemingly lighthearted nature, Uma Musume‘s Cinderella Gray is a surprisingly gripping drama. It explores the girls’ dedication to racing and the harsh reality that not everyone can achieve their dreams, making it one of the most emotionally impactful shows of the year.

6. Kingdom: Season 6

One Of The Greatest Seinen Anime Returns With Its Best Season To Date

Whenever a new season of Kingdom is released, it consistently ranks among the year’s best anime. That was true with season 5 in 2024, and the current season is even more impressive. It’s simply a pattern – the show always delivers high quality.

Despite initially being criticized for its animation, this series has become recognized as one of the best seinen anime ever made, a reputation it shares with the equally acclaimed manga it’s based on. The sixth season kicks off the largest conflict in the story, as the Qin army prepares to battle Zhou. With a combined force of around 500,000 soldiers, Kingdom effectively captures the epic scale of this war.

Season 6 definitely delivers on the intense, violent battles fans expect, but the show still prioritizes smart strategy over non-stop action. Victories are usually decided by careful planning and adaptable commanders, not just brute force. At this stage, Kingdom is really for dedicated fans, and I wouldn’t suggest starting with this season if you’re new to the series. That said, if you’re looking for a sweeping war story and can tolerate some initially shaky animation that improves as the season goes on, Kingdom is worth watching.

5. Solo Leveling Season 2: Arise from the Shadow

Top-Tier Action With A Dash Of Emotion – The Biggest Anime Of 2025

Everyone was talking about Solo Leveling Season 2 in the beginning of 2025, and it continued to be a major topic throughout the year. A movie or another season is almost certain to be the most anticipated anime of the following year, thanks to the high quality of Arise from the Shadow.

By now, you likely know what to expect from Solo Leveling: stunning visuals, the protagonist growing stronger through absorbing energy, a cool and collected main character, and incredibly well-animated action scenes. Season 2 doesn’t just meet those expectations—it surpasses them. Sung’s path to becoming the most powerful is now more about decisively defeating enemies than struggling to survive, meaning the suspense comes from how he’ll win, not if he’ll win.

Do magic beasts feel fear? Guess I have my answer.

The way things unfolded in this episode was truly impressive. We also saw a more vulnerable side of Sung, with a powerful and emotional scene that replaced darkness with genuine sadness. While the episode sparked some disagreement, it importantly highlighted Sung’s diminishing connection to his own humanity.

The final episodes of this season cover the Jeju Island Arc, widely considered the strongest part of Solo Leveling. While Sung Jinwoo has his usual climactic battle, the story also focuses on other important hunters, making their potential deaths feel much more impactful. Solo Leveling could benefit from showing more significant consequences and losses, particularly as Sung becomes incredibly powerful.

4. Orb: On the Movements of the Earth

A Challenging And Enthralling Tale About Truth, Science, Faith, And Control

The anime series Orb: On the Movements of the Earth began airing in Fall 2024 and quickly gained popularity. It steadily improved over time, and by March 2025, it was considered by many to be the best new anime of 2024, even earning a place among the top series of 2025.

Over several decades, the story follows a small group of people trying to figure out Earth’s place in the universe through scientific discovery. Their research leads them to believe Earth is just one planet among many, a belief that clashes with the church’s teachings. The church insists Earth is the center of everything, positioned directly beneath Heaven, and that humans are constantly watched and judged by God. To challenge this worldview is to reject the church and God themselves – an act that carries severe consequences, including torture and death.

A wrong answer isn’t a meaningless one.

While not a direct retelling of historical events, Orb: On the Movements of the Earth draws heavily from the past. It follows characters driven to seek and protect genuine knowledge, rather than blindly accepting the teachings of the church. The story explores some very difficult themes, but remains consistently captivating.

3. The Apothecary Diaries Season 2

The Anime That Defined Half Of 2025

While Solo Leveling was the standout anime of Winter 2025, The Apothecary Diaries quickly followed as a strong contender. However, The Apothecary Diaries truly shined in Spring, becoming the season’s best anime overall. The second season builds upon the excellent groundwork laid by the first, delving deeper into the complex politics of Imperial China and the inner workings of the royal court, especially the lives of the women who serve there. Though it still features self-contained mysteries, this season focuses more on creating a cohesive and overarching story than showcasing individual, impressive episodes.

Just like in the first season, Maomao is the best part of The Apothecary Diaries, and many would say she was the standout female character of 2025. She’s likable, feels like a real person, and is wonderfully unique. Her sharp mind makes her a valuable asset in the Imperial Palace, and also keeps viewers engaged. The second season delves deeper into her history and family, while also developing her connection with Jinshi.

2. My Hero Academia Final Season

A Brilliant End To A Beloved Shonen Anime

The animated version of Deku’s story is now complete, about a year after the manga finished. While My Hero Academia had some weaker moments, it was generally quite good throughout its run. Everyone expected the final season to be decent, but Studio Bones really delivered, making sure this groundbreaking superhero anime ended stronger than many anticipated.

Season 8 of My Hero Academia delivers exactly what you’d expect from the epic conclusion of an action-packed series. The fight scenes are frequent, impactful, and large in scale, focusing on a wide range of key characters – not just Deku. While Deku certainly has his moments, the season also provides satisfying and stunning conclusions to the stories of All Might and Bakugo.

This is our story.

The manga ending divided fans, so this anime adaptation had to be amazing. These episodes were so impressive they likely made My Hero Academia the biggest anime event of 2025. While it might not be remembered as perfectly as some other shows, MHA finished strong – better than most.

1. Takopi’s Original Sin

The Best Anime Of 2025

Takopi’s Original Sin was a surprising hit. While manga artist Taizan 5 is well-regarded, his work isn’t usually considered a classic. The anime adaptation was created by Enishiya, a new studio previously involved in the production of Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf. The series deals with incredibly difficult topics like childhood neglect, abuse, suicide, bullying, pressure, and depression, demanding careful and sensitive handling. Most people expected a good, but not exceptional, show. Instead, Takopi’s Original Sin turned out to be one of the most consistently strong anime series in recent years.

If you haven’t seen this anime yet, it’s best to go in knowing as little as possible. But here’s a quick overview: Takopi is an alien who comes from a planet where everyone thrives on happiness. He becomes friends with a young girl named Shizuka, who is dealing with difficulties at school and at home. Takopi tries to cheer her up, but it’s not easy. As Takopi spends more time on Earth, his simple, optimistic view of life is shaken by the harsh realities and sadness he witnesses. He quickly learns about the full spectrum of human emotions, including pain, and their story is truly heartbreaking.

I’m completely captivated by Takopi’s Original Sin because it really dives into how complicated people are. No one is simply ‘good’ or ‘bad,’ and that makes every character so compelling. You initially feel so bad for Shizuka, but then you see how desperate people become when they’ve lost everything. Marina, on the other hand, is instantly unlikeable, but as the story unfolds, you start to understand why she is the way she is. What’s amazing is the anime doesn’t try to excuse her behavior or make you feel sorry for her – it just shows you what she does and lets you form your own opinion. It’s brilliantly done!

2025-12-14 19:11