Anime fans, get ready—2025 is looking like a dream year for Japanese animation. With streaming platforms battling for dominance, studios leveling up their craft, and fandom louder (and bigger) than ever, this is the perfect moment to dive in. Whether you’re a lifelong otaku or just starting, here’s a countdown of the 10 best anime to watch in 2025—ranked in reverse order because, hey, suspense makes it fun.
10. My Hero Academia: Vigilantes
Before you knew it, MHA was slowing down, and along came this spin-off to show you otherwise. Taking place five years before Deku’s start, Vigilantes track college student Koichi Haimawari as he takes matters into his own hands—hero license notwithstanding. It’s darker, quicker, and more realistic compared to the main series, and with a visual style that might top it. Oh, and Simuldub’s back on, so no skipping spoilers.
9. Dan Dan Dan (Season 2 & Movie)
The epitome of crazy fun. This supernatural rollercoaster of aliens, curses, and high school shenanigans ramps up with a movie that sets off Season 2. It’s ridiculous, laugh-out-loud funny, and endearing—where else can you get a plot about a boy attempting to regain his lost… oh dear, you’ll see. Science Saru’s animation keeps it in-your-face and colorful, and the romance gives it unexpected emotional depth.
8. Solo Leveling (Season 2)
The power fantasy everyone was obsessed with in 2024 isn’t going anywhere. Sung Jinwoo’s transformation from weakest hunter to unstoppable juggernaut continues, with even more gigantic dungeons, increased stakes, and more breathtaking animation. If you’re a fan of slick action coupled with mystery, this one’s still top of its class.
7. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Want something a bit quieter but equally powerful? Frieren is a poignant meditation on time, memory, and the value of friendship. It’s exquisitely animated, subtly written, and uncommonly introspective in a genre that often thrives on hyperactive combat. Fantasy storytelling doesn’t get better than this.
6. Kaiju No. 8 (Season 2)
This series turns the shonen formula on its head by introducing us to Kafka, a 32-year-old hero who’s been shown plenty of real-world discouragement before he finds himself capable of turning into the same monsters that humanity fears. Season 2 guarantees more drop-your-jaw kaiju battles while maintaining the humor and the heart on the ground and in Kafka’s path. A tale of heroism for anyone who believes their moment of glory has slipped away.
5. Vinland Saga (Season 2)
From the brutal Viking invasions to the subdued reckoning of redemption, Vinland Saga takes a different turn in its second season. The action is more measured, but the emotional stakes are through the roof as Thorfinn grapples with the hollowness of vengeance. It’s considered poignant and multi-layered—a rare mix of historical epic and intensely personal narrative.
4. Chainsaw Man: The Movie – Reze Arc
Denji finally gets his shot at romance, but in true Chainsaw Man style, it comes wrapped in heartbreak, devilish chaos, and lots of blood. Skipping TV and heading straight to theaters, the Reze Arc is set to deliver cinematic-scale madness with all the heart, humor, and horror that made the series iconic.
3. Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle (Film Trilogy)
The final act starts. Demon Slayer isn’t simply concluding its narrative—it’s betting everything on a trilogy of movies. The first, Infinity Castle, pits Tanjiro and his friends against Muzan in what will be one of the most visually stunning and emotionally shattering conclusions to an anime. If you thought battles thus far were breathtaking, hold on tight.
2. One Piece: Egghead Island Arc, Part 2
Even after 25 years, One Piece continues to set the bar higher. The Egghead Island Arc picks up with breathtaking visuals and some of the most eagerly awaited fights in the series. As the tale creeps closer to its legendary conclusion, the anime feels more revitalized than ever. Manga readers are aware of what’s in store— anticipate fireworks.
1. Attack on Titan: The Final Season & Beyond
While its tale is done, Attack on Titan’s darkness continues to cast a shadow over anime. Its last season solidified its status as one of the most ambitious, shocking, and impactful shows in the medium. Even today, viewers are unpacking its themes, and new fans are finding it the go-to gateway anime. Its legacy in 2025 continues to set the bar for the industry.
Outside of those big-name attractions, 2025 is loaded with gems of different genres: isekai (Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra, Lord of Mysteries), romance (My Happy Marriage, Fruits Basket), slice-of-life (Barakamon, A Place Further Than the Universe), and magical girls (Cardcaptor Sakura, Puella Magi Madoka Magica). Stream services are making it simpler than ever to watch classics and new favorites, bringing anime’s worldwide fandom to new heights. So grab your popcorn, fill up your watch list, and prepare yourself—2025 could be the greatest year of anime ever.