As we say good-bye to 2025, it’s time to take a look at the year as a whole rather than just the highlights of individual seasons.
2025 may have broken the record set in 2024 for anime titles either debuting or airing new seasons, as by my count over 210 non-kiddie titles made the schedule. Among those were reboots or continuations of a few notable titles from decades past, including Cat’s Eye and Black Butler. Trends this year were essentially a repeat of last year: more villainess (or villainess-adjacent) titles, more racy titles, and perhaps a slight increase in LGBTQ-aligned titles. This year did welcome newcomer OceanVeil to the collection of anime streaming sites, a site which initially focused on racy (often outright hentai) titles but looks to be starting to branch out to include some other fare which isn’t found elsewhere. (It has recently acquired Yamibo, Green Green, Bunny Drop, Ren The Fair Princess, and Genshiken, for instance.) Its most important niche-filling role is covering all those steamy AnimeFesta titles.
The Top 10 Series For 2025
Every year I begin this exercise by making a short list of titles worth serious consideration for the Top 10 ranking and then pare it down from there. This year my short list included 15 titles (out of the 87 I watched to completion). It did not include a few series that I’m sure will be on other people’s lists because I did not finish them; among these are The Summer Hikaru Died, SANDA, Takopi’s Original Sin, and CITY The Animation. Among titles I did finish, I did not consider critic-favorite ZENSHU primarily because I was disappointed with its ending, and I always felt that Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX was a bit overrated. Of the ones on my short list, I dropped DanMachi season 5 because it only aired four new episodes (although those were fairly strong episodes and will be considered for other awards). Three of the other four that form my Honorable Mention list are ones that I wound up giving B+ grades to: DAN DA DAN, Rock is a Lady’s Modesty, and (most surprisingly to me) Turkey! The other, Apocalypse Hotel, is the one title I gave an A- to which did not make this list, and so should be considered my #11 pick.
Series of the Year: The Apothecary Diaries s2
As redundant as it may seem to put this series in the top position two years in a row, there’s no getting around the fact that this was, from top to bottom, the year’s best series. It has everything going for it: strong artistic and technical merits, a great lead and supporting cast, complex intrigue and mysteries, big twists, and a compelling narrative that’s a big departure from most other anime fare. It even offers a satisfying sense of history (and how it’s important to current events!) and ventures out of the capital on a couple of occasions without missing a beat. And yes, there’s the frog, too, a joke that will live in anime history forever. It was the highest-rated TV series of the year on MyAnimeList, too.
2. Orb: On the Movement of the Earth
The wonder of this series is that its second half can cycle through successive lead protagonists without missing a beat or short-changing any of them on characterization. It features some of the year’s finest character writing in telling a gripping, intense, and sometimes bloody account of the efforts to establish the theory of heliocentrism in a thin stand-in for 15th century Poland. Its crowning achievement is its final scene, which shows how Oczy’s amateur writing ultimately does prove to be the key, just not in the way anyone might have expected. You’d also be hard-pressed to find a more thoroughly cerebral series.
3, May I Ask For One Final Thing?
This one is the complete opposite of #1 and 2 in the sense that it requires no thinking at all; it’s just pure, visceral pleasure. But no series in 2025 delivers more thoroughly on that front, and that includes its great visual flare in the way it portrays Scarlet and her fighting scenes. And as strong a character as Scarlet was, she had one of the year’s best complementary characters in Prince Julius, the charming tease who knows exactly how to read her and push all her buttons.
4. Shabake
Easily one of the most overlooked series of the year, this one is nearly as rich in period detail (though in a much more understated way) as The Apothecary Diaries and among the year’s better-animated titles (again in a more understated way than other top contenders for that title). It mixes its supernatural elements in by usually using them lightly but with undeniable impact as it weaves an intricate murder-mystery that the sickly heir to a prosperous Edo-era store takes it upon himself to solve, since it ultimately does seem to have something to do with him. You may need to do some research to keep up with all of the little details, but that’s never a negative.
5. Clevatess
This is what old-school fantasy looks like when brilliantly executed. The concept is a great one: one of the Great Beasts of the world becomes curious enough about humans to become the caretaker of the baby princeling of a nation he just destroyed (for sending a group of heroes to kill him) and resurrects the woman among the heroes to look after the baby and generally be his servant. Later an exceptionally strong former slave/prostitute joins them as well. The cast is stocked with great characters, the action is crisp and detailed, the pacing and world-building both zing, and it’s blessed with one of the year’s stronger English dubs, too. I’m a bit ambivalent about the direction it seems to be going at the end, but up to that point it’s everything one could ask for in a non-RPG-influenced fantasy tale.
6. Secrets of the Silent Witch
I may be letting my bias show more with this one than the others, but I also do genuinely feel that this is a wonderfully-executed concept. Monica Everett may be among the most powerful mages in the land, but she’s the diametric opposite of May I Ask‘s Scarlet; her struggle to overcome her own social insecurities makes for a compelling character study, and the balance the series finds between its light-hearted and more serious elements is flawless. This is a story which achieves genuine emotion, and not just for Monica; Prince Felix also makes for a fine counterpart and the supporting cast around her is well-defined without resorting too much to one-note stereotypes. The series even manages to make Monica’s use of magic impressive without resorting much to flashy displays. This one is as much a personal favorite for the year as my #1 and #3 picks are.
7. My Dress-Up Darling s2
Marin and Wakana are back for more cosplay activities and relationship-building, and the series zings on both fronts. Marin is positively adorable as we watch her lose her mind when she finally realizes what everyone around her already has: that she’s fallen for Wakana. On the other side, seeing Wakana gradually start to realize what everyone else does – that he has a real talent for being a support person for cosplay – is a treat, too. A bunch of new characters also contribute, and we get both some regular and some seriously perverse cosplay, all without losing the sexy edge that the series has been known for. Cosplay has rarely been as entertaining than this.
8. Call of the Night s2
This series has a tendency to meander around as it explores various philosophical issues, which is fine for for its format. With its second season, though, it proves that it can deliver big-time when a plot is involved, and the motive force behind that plot is a character who appeared briefly in the first season: a detective who’s out to kill vampires. The exploration of how Anko is intimately related to Nazuna’s own forgotten past, and how vampire lore in this setting has a lot to do with it, forms a fascinating core to the season’s key events, and the season’s climax shows that the series can handle both action and drama when needed. This is definitely the stronger of the franchise’s two seasons.
9. Touring After The Apocalypse
Any short description of the concept here isn’t adequate to convey how thoroughly this travelogue-type series is actually one big mystery: what really happened to cause the titular apocalypse? And who (and perhaps what) is Yoko and what is the real agenda behind her being allowed – or perhaps guided? – into this journey? Tantalizing clues are dropped everywhere amongst the absolutely gorgeous scenic vistas and equally beautiful ruins of modern civilization, as are all manner of oddities, some of which may have nothing to do with the apocalypse (like the appearance of aliens, for instance). The uncertainty of it all fascinated me every bit as much as the travails of Yoko and Airi. I can’t think of another series I saw in 2025 that I more badly want to see a follow-up to that doesn’t already have one announced.
10. Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus
I’ve long thought this franchise is underrated and underappreciated, and this newest season only bolsters my high opinion of the franchise. While it also has its mystery and intrigue elements, it’s much more a character study, this time taking place as protagonist Sakuta starts his college life. Full familiarity with all previous content (including especially the movies) is necessary, but getting to see characters featured in earlier installments move on with their lives is a treat. So is every opportunity to watch Sakuta and Mai (who’s now driving!) together. One more installment is coming, and I can’t wait.
Individual Awards
Lead Character of the Year: Scarlet El Vandimion, May I Ask For One Final Thing?
The only hard choice here was whether or not to give this award to Maomao again, as she still deserves it. Once I decided to prioritize variety, though, Scarlet was the easy choice. Our Lady of Beatings was a force to be reckoned with not just in her series but within the anime landscape, too. Sure, there are more complex or thoughtfully-written characters out there, but Scarlet seized control of her series when she let her first punch fly at Terrenezza and won me over the moment she donned those metal-studded gloves. Fighting women in anime are a dime a dozen, but few relish it like Scarlet does or get such cheery satisfaction out of administering a proper beating. How sharply that contrasts with her elegant looks and proper manners is part of her charm, and she can certainly be warm and gentle when she wants to be. Aside from Maomao, distant also-rans would be Alina Clover from I May Be A Guild Receptionist and Kenzaburo/Grace from From Bureaucrat to Villainess: Dad’s Been Reincarnated!
Supporting Character of the Year: Sera, The Water Magician
This award specifically goes to a character who’s not a protagonist or lead ensemble member but still has an outsized impact on his/her show and/or is especially memorable. In her series’ case, the content always brightened whenever Sera was on the screen. She’s plenty skilled enough to go toe-to-toe with protagonist Ryo in a fight but gives no airs of superiority, instead remaining cheery and good-natured as she swiftly becomes good friends with Ryo. She is easily the series’ most dynamic character. Runner-up here would probably be Mio, the hyper-competent maid to Kyros in Betrothed to My Sister’s Ex.
Duo or Couple of the Year: Kazuhiro and Maribelle, Welcome to Japan, Ms. Elf!
This category had a lot of worthy competition this year. Among not-explicitly-romantic pairings, Lilisa and Otoha from Rock is a Lady’s Modesty was arguably the best duo, as the way they played off each other in performances and their fierce insults battles were always highlights, though Soshiro and No. 10 in Kaiju No. 8 were an interesting pair to watch in action, too. Sakuta and Mai make one of the best “settled” couples in Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus, while Marin and Wakana from My Dress-Up Darling are a delight as one of the stronger wannabe-couples. Alina and Jade from I May Be a Guild Receptionist and Melphia and Aristide from Pass The Monster Meat, Milady! are lesser but still solid contenders, while Scarlet and Julius from May I Ask For One Final Thing? had a neat thing going on, too. And we can’t forget returners Miyo and Kiyoka from My Happy Marriage s2 (though I find them to be a less dynamic pairing). However, my judging standard for this award all year has been Maribelle and Kazuhiro, and ultimately none of the others equaled or beat them. They are one of the most charming couples I’ve ever come across in anime, and how well they go together in both work and play makes a series with only middling technical merits completely tolerable.
Scene of the Year: Scarlet Punches Terrenezza, May I Ask For One Final Thing? episode 1
This was the hardest award to choose, because while there were a few legitimate contenders this season, none of them clearly stood above the others. This one may have won out because of recency bias, but it’s also the series’ defining moment, the one which sets it apart from all other villainess (or villainess-adjacent) titles. This unexpectedly brutal display of violence is as electrifying as it is cathartic, the perfect dramatic distillation of Scarlet’s years of pent-up rage over her treatment by Prince Kyle. Other scenes seriously considered here include the infamous “frog” scene from The Apothecary Diaries, the very final scene of Orb, the truth about the Royal Family being cursed by the spirits coming out in Dad’s a Hero, Mom is a spirit, I’m a reincarnator episode 6, and Ryu invoking Alise as part of her Astrea Record spell in Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? season 5 episode 13.
OP of the Year: “Perfect Day” by 310, I May Be A Guild Receptionist
There were a few standouts this year, with other songs considered including “In Bloom” (the first OP for The Apothecary Diaries s2), the soaring “Flower of the Battlefield” (May I Ask For One Final Thing?), and the rap-infused”Black Flame” (The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess) and “realitYhurts” (Shangri-La Frontier s2 OP 2). This one (which was used at the ED in a couple of episodes) gets the nod partly because it’s a great song and partly because of its full, original animation which conveys well the spirit of the series.
ED of the Year: “Beautiful Colors” by OneRepublic, Kaiju No. 8 s2
Simply a beautiful song whose lyrics also fit well for the series. The visual approach also supports the song’s title and lyrics well. Other strong contenders here include the cutesy “May the Future Be Happy” (I May Be a Guild Receptionist) and the fairy tale-themed “Inferior” (May I Ask For One Final Thing?).
Insert Song of the Year: “Hunting Soul” by HAYASii (DAN DA DAN episode 18)
There were some great performance numbers in titles like Rock is a Lady’s Modesty and Ave Mujica, but it’s hard to deny the sheer intensity and spectacle of this head-banger. And it comes with a performance by the lead singer of Western rock band Dragonforce, too!
Best English Dub Performance: Morgan Lauré as Scarlet, May I Ask For One Final Thing?
A case could also be argued here for Reagan Murdock’s performance as Prince Julius in the same series, but this performance defined the series nearly as much as the character herself did. I have to think Ms. Lauré had an absolute blast voicing this role, especially all of the creative ways of pronouncing “bitch.” Other noteworthy performances include Katie Wetch as Alicia in Clevatess, most of the English cast for DAN DA DAN, and Alejandra Reynoso and Harrison Xu as Monica and Felix in The Secrets of the Silent Witch.
Most Ridiculous Use of Censoring: Yandere Dark Elf
I don’t think this screenshot needs any further elaboration.
Most Bizarre Enemy: Zombie Pasta, Isekai Quartet 3 episode 4
In a setting where undead exist and the pasta is so fresh that it’s still alive, is undead pasta monsters really all that surprising? Besides, this allows for one of the year’s best lines of dialog: “stop trying to eat the zombie pasta corpse!”
Best Facial Expressions: Monica Everett, The Secrets of the Silent Witch
Iana Magnolia from The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess is also a contender here, but it’s hard to beat the diversity of panicked expressions that Monica displays over the course of her series. It’s one of the series’ many fun aspects.
That’s it for this installment. Look for the Winter 2026 Preview Guide to debut on 1/1.
USA Anime 