We’re days away from the New Year, and so it’s natural for us as anime fans to be interested in what to expect on the anime side in 2025.
We’ve already written about the winter shows (some of which are starting next week!), both for the promising brand-new ones and the exciting sequels.
That’s why this list will only feature a couple of those and instead focus more on the ones coming further down the line. In addition, each of the winter shows will be streaming on Crunchyroll as part of their Winter 2025 anime lineup.
Note that this list is not ranked in any way, nor is it listed according to release dates. Now let’s see what will make 2025 a great year for anime fans!
Check Out 30 Best Upcoming 2025 Anime Series & Movies
- Solo Leveling Season 2
- ZENSHU
- The Apothecary Diaries Season 2
- Fire Force Season 3
- Wind Breaker Season 2
- The Beginning After the End
- DAN DA DAN Season 2
- SANDA
- One Punch Man Season 3
- Kaiju No. 8 Season 2
- My Hero Academia Season 8
- My Hero Academia: Vigilantes
- Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus
- Witch Hat Atelier
- The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity
- Gintama: 3-Z Ginpachi Sensei
- YAIBA
- Lazarus
- Gachiakuta
- The Summer Hikaru Died
- TOUGEN ANKI: Legend of the Cursed Blood
- Kowloon Generic Romance
- CITY THE ANIMATION
- My Dress-Up Darling Sequel
- SPY x FAMILY Season 3
- Virgin Punk: Clockwork Girl
- Scarlet
- Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid: A Lonely Dragon Wants to be Loved
- Chainsaw Man: The Movie – Reze Arc
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
- Honorable Mentions
Solo Leveling Season 2
The most anticipated anime of Winter 2025, Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise From the Shadow- will definitely leave a mark on next year. Coming after a beautiful Season 1 finale, the stakes are only going to get higher as Jinwoo levels up more.
The first season aired exactly a year behind from January 7 to March 31, 2024.
The ReAwakening movie also showed the first 2 episodes and proved that the high expectations are justified. Shunsuke Nakashige is directing, with Hiroyuki Sawano as the music composer. LiSA performs the new opening theme song “ReawakeR” featuring Felix from Stray Kids, while TK From Ling Tosite Sigure performs the ending song “UN-APEX.” Crunchyroll will be streaming the anime.
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Premiere Date: January 4, 2025
© Solo Leveling Animation Partners
ZENSHU
Probably the new anime I am most excited for is MAPPA’s upcoming ZENSHU. The anime will focus on a talented female anime director who ends up getting isekaid to a world of fantasy and magic. It’s not a world completely unknown to her though, as it is based on her favorite movie.
Directed by Mitsue Yamasaki (also a female director), each of the trailers have made me think that this will be a beautiful show with a rather chaotic setting. Crunchyroll will be streaming the anime.
Studio: MAPPA
Premiere Date: January 5, 2025
©ZENSHU/MAPPA
The Apothecary Diaries Season 2
Another big anime sequel coming in winter, Maomao is also coming back next year in the The Apothecary Diaries Season 2. Norihiro Naganuma is returning to direct Season 2 with the same staff, and the second season will also run for two consecutive cours. Crunchyroll will be streaming the anime.
The anime was voted as the second most anticipated show of Winter 2025, only behind Solo Leveling Season 2.
Studio: OLM, TOHO Animation STUDIO
Premiere Date: January 10, 2025
©Hyuganatsu/Imagika Infos/”The Apothecary Diaries”Project
Fire Force Season 3
Coming over 4 years since Season 2, Fire Force Season 3 is also going to be one of the biggest anime to watch in 2025. Studio David Production is returning to animate, and this was confirmed to be the final season.
There will be two split cours. The first one is coming in April next year, while the second one is scheduled for January 2026. Crunchyroll will be streaming the anime.
Studio: David Production
Premiere Date: April 2025
©Atsushi Ohkubo, KODANSHA / “FIRE FORCE” Production Committee
WIND BREAKER Season 2
WIND BREAKER Season 2 is also returning in April 2025, with the anime set to continue the conflict with KEEL where Season 1 left off. Studio CloverWorks is again animating.
The anime took the 2nd place in our Spring 2024 Anime Awards. It was the Best New Anime, and it also won Best Action, Best Character Design, Best Soundtrack, and Best Voice Cast,
Studio: CloverWorks
Premiere Date: April 2025
© Satoru Nii, Kodansha / WIND BREAKER Project
The Beginning After the End
The Beginning After The End (TBATE) webtoon is one of the most popular isekai stories of today, and its anime announcement got crazy amounts of support. Crunchyroll will be streaming the anime, which will begin with ‘Season 1’ in April.
We also had the opportunity to interview Turtle Me, the creator of TBATE, and talk about his journey, the story’s development, the anime, and Crunchyroll’s support throughout the process.
Studio: A-CAT
Premiere Date: April 2025
©TBATE Anime Production Committee
DAN DA DAN Season 2
DAN DA DAN anime just finished airing its first season, but we already have Season 2 to look forward to in 2025. With Jiji’s transformation already teased in the first trailer, it’s clear that the sequel will be jumping straight into action following the rather cliffhanger-y ending we got for Season 1.
Science SARU will animating again, and we’ve already seen more than enough to know they can do justice to the source material.
Studio: Science SARU
Premiere Date: July 2025
© Yukinobu Tatsu/SHUEISHA/DANDADAN Production Committee
SANDA
Speaking of Science SARU, they will have another crazy-looking anime coming next year only a season after DAN DA DAN, SANDA. It is an adaptation of another work from Paru Itagaki, the creator of BEASTARS.
SANDA is set in a future Japan, where the birth rate is declining and children have a higher social status than adults. Santa Claus has been sealed because of a curse, with Christmas left as a legend. The main character, Sanda Kazushige, realizes he has a connection to the mythical Santa. The buff Santa was featured in the recently revealed trailer, and it definitely looks like it will be a fun watch.
Studio: Science SARU
Premiere Date: Fall 2025
© Paru Itagaki (Akita Shoten) / SANDA Production Committee
One Punch Man Season 3
One Punch Man Season 3 is also a part of the 2025 lineup, with the anime making a return 6 years after its second season. J.C. Staff will be animating again.
The anime announced its 10th anniversary project earlier this month. It consists of 10 ‘punches,’ of which 6 were announced so far. They included a special visual and trailer, free streaming of its episodes, openings and endings, as well as a special event to be held in September.
Studio: J.C. Staff
Premiere Date: 2025
© ONE, Yusuke Murata / SHUEISHA, Hero Association HQ
Kaiju No. 8 Season 2
Kaiju No. 8 will hit Japanese theaters in March 2025 with its compilation movie. Besides compiling Season 1, it will also include the Hoshina’s Day Off bonus episode. However, the real deal we are waiting for in 2025 is the Season 2 TV anime, which is set to premiere in July next year.
Studio Production I.G is animating, and Season 2 is set to properly introduce the “Japan’s Strongest Anti-Kaiju Combatant,” Gen Narumi.
Studio: Production I.G
Premiere Date: July 2025
© JAKDF 3rd Division © Naoya Matsumoto/SHUEISHA
My Hero Academia Season 8
My Hero Academia Season 8 will be the final season of the anime, which means it will end the fight between Deku and Shigaraki once and for all. The previous season ended on a huge cliffhanger, just as about the two main fights are to begin.
Studio BONES will be returning to finish the adaptation.
Studio: BONES
Premiere Date: Fall 2025
© Kohei Horikoshi / Shueisha, My Hero Academia Project
My Hero Academia: Vigilantes
Before we get to see the end of the main story, My Hero Academia will bring the anime adaptation of the Vigilantes spin-off. Studio BONES is also animating.
The story follows Koichi Haimawari, a boy who helps people despite not being able to get officially licensed as a pro hero. However, after a certain event, he ends up becoming a vigilante, aka an illegal hero who performs heroic duties disregarding the law preventing it.
Studio: BONES
Premiere Date: April 2025
©Hideyuki Furuhashi, Betten Court, Kohei Horikoshi/Shueisha, Vigilante Production Committee
Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus
Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus is bring back bunny-girl senpai, with studio CloverWorks again animating. The new TV anime will enter the University Arc, and Reina Ueda was recently added to the voice cast as mini-skirt Santa.
This will be the first TV anime since the first one, Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai. Considering the theme, we may expect a fall premiere to greet the next year’s holidays.
Studio: CloverWorks
Premiere Date: 2025
©2022 HAJIME KAMOSHIDA/KADOKAWA / AOBUTA Project
Witch Hat Atelier
Another promising new anime coming in 2025, Witch Hat Atelier is definitely a show to keep your eyes on as we head into next year. Studio BUG FILMS (Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead) is animating, with Ayumu Watanabe (Summer Time Rendering) as the director. The anime also has music by Yuka Kitamura (Elden Ring, Dark Souls).
We had a chance to interview the author Kamone Shirahama, as well as Ayumu Watanabe (director) and Hiroaki Kojima (producer).
Studio: BUG FILMS
Premiere Date: 2025
©Kamome Shirahama/KODANSHA/ Witch Hat Atelier Committee
The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity
The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity is the next anime joining our top upcoming shows of 2025. This is another CloverWorks production, with the animation from the first trailer already making us hopeful for another beautiful romance (and the look slightly reminding us of Akebi’s Sailor Uniform).
The shonen manga tells a story of a kind boy from an all-boy school which “takes in the dregs of society with the lowest grades” who meets a girl from a prestigious all-girl school and begins getting closer to her.
Studio: CloverWorks
Premiere Date: 2025
© Saka Mikami / Kodansha / The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity Production Committee
Gintama: 3-Z Ginpachi Sensei
The Gintama spin-off anime, Class 3-Z’s Ginpachi-sensei, is also coming in 2025. It’s time to finally see the Yorozuya again, with the anime adapting the spin-off novel by Tomohito Osaki. It reimagines the characters from Gintama in a high school setting, with the protagonist Gintoki Sakata serving as the homeroom teacher of Class 3-Z.
Studio: Bandai Namco Pictures
Premiere Date: October 2025
© Hideaki Sorachi/Shueisha/TV Tokyo/Dentsu/BNP/Aniplex
YAIBA
The new YAIBA anime will be animated by WIT Studio and premiere in 2025. It was also announced as a full adaptation. It is adapting another work from legendary Gosho Aoyama, who is known as the creator of Magic Kaito and Case Closed/Detective Conan.
The original anime adaptation was animated by studio Pastel and ran for 52 episodes from April 1993 to April 1994.
Studio: WIT Studio
Premiere Date: April 2025
© Gosho Aoyama / Shogakukan / New Samurai Legend YAIBA Production Committee
Lazarus
Lazarus is the upcoming original anime from Shinichiro Watanabe, the renowned anime director known for shows like Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Space Dandy, Carol & Tuesday, among others. Studio MAPPA will be animating, with Adult Swim streaming it.
The story is set in 2052, where humanity lives in an era of peace thanks to Hapuna, a miracle drug created by Nobel Prize-winning neuroscientist Dr. Skinner, which eliminates sickness and pain. However, after disappearing for three years, Skinner returns to reveal that Hapuna has a fatal flaw: everyone who has taken it will die in three years. To prevent mass extinction, a global task force called “Lazarus” is assembled to stop Skinner and develop a cure before time runs out.
Studio: MAPPA
Premiere Date: 2025
©2024 The Cartoon Network, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Gachiakuta
Another highly anticipated adaptation, GACHIAKUTA is also one of the top anime titles coming in 2025. Atsushi Ohkubo, the creator of Soul Eater and Fire Force, called the creator Kei Urana his ‘legitimate successor’ who would surpass him. Urana had worked as Ohkubo’s assistant while Fire Force was serialized, and the inspiration can be seen in the artstyle.
With BONES animating, we can expect an adaptation which the source deserves, and it’s a fun coincidence that Fire Force Season 3 is also coming in the same year.
Studio: BONES
Premiere Date: 2025
©Kei Urana, Hideyoshi Andou and KODANSHA / “GACHIAKUTA” Production Committee
The Summer Hikaru Died
One of the most interesting upcoming new anime for 2025 is The Summer Hikaru Died. The horror manga topped the 2023 edition of Kono Manga ga Sugoi! (This Manga Is Amazing!) list of best manga for male readers.
Cygames Pictures, which animated the Uma Musume anime (and is reportedly going to animate Kagurabachi), will be animating, with Ryohei Takeshita as the director. The story follows Yoshiki, who discovers that his friend Hikaru has been replaced by something that looks, sounds, and acts like him. As Yoshiki struggles with the realization that this is not the Hikaru he knew, he must deal with the unsettling truth of what came down from the mountains 6 months ago.
Studio: CygamesPictures
Premiere Date: Summer 2025
©Mokumokuren/KADOKAWA/The Summer Hikaru Died Partners
TOUGEN ANKI: Legend of the Cursed Blood
Another reason to believe 2025 will be a good year for anime is the upcoming adaptation of a new dark fantasy story, TOUGEN ANKI: Legend of the Cursed Blood. While there are no details on the studio yet, the teaser trailer, strong main voice cast and interesting story are enough to have big expectations.
The story follows Shiki Ichinose, the protagonist who inherits the blood of an Oni and has his life turned upside down when he is suddenly attacked by a “Momotaro,” leading him to discover his true Oni heritage. Following this revelation, he enrolls in Rasetsu Academy, a training school for Oni.
Studio: TBA
Premiere Date: 2025
© Yura Urushibara (AKITASHOTEN) /TOUGEN ANKI PROJECT
Kowloon Generic Romance
Continuing with interesting new anime coming in 2025, we have Kowloon Generic Romance. With its retro 90s artstyle and seemingly an eerie vibe from the trailer, this is also one to keep your eyes on.
This is another work from Jun Mayuzuki, who is also known as the creator of After the Rain. The romantic story follows a couple in “a dystopian townscape where the people are brimming with nostalgia, and where the past, present, and future converge.”
Studio: Arvo Production
Premiere Date: April 2025
©Jun Mayuzuki, Shueisha / “Kowloon Generic Romance” Production Committee
CITY THE ANIMATION
Adapting Keiichi Arawi’s CITY manga, CITY THE ANIMATION will be the first new project from Kyoto Animation in 6 years. Arawi is also known as the creator of Nichijo: My Ordinary Life. CITY is regarded as Nichijo’s successor.
Directing the anime will be Taichi Ishidate, whose previous work includes Beyond the Boundary (director), A Silent Voice (episode director), and Violet Evergarden (director).
The story follows Midori, a carefree city girl in debt, dodging her landlady’s demands for unpaid rent and her best friend’s refusal to lend her more money. As petty schemes and theft fail her, Midori faces a tough decision: get a job and sacrifice her adventures in the big city, or find another way to keep the fun going.
Studio: Kyoto Animation
Premiere Date: 2025
©Keiichi Arawi, Kodansha/CITY THE ANIMATION Production Committee
My Dress-Up Darling Sequel
Coming over 2 years since the first anime, My Dress-Up Darling sequel will also be looking to make 2025 a great year. In our Winter 2022 Anime Awards, the first season was voted Best New Anime, while Marin and Gojo were voted Best Girl and Best Boy of the season, respectively. Hina Suguta also won Best Female Seiyuu for her role as Marin.
Studio CloverWorks will be returning to animate with the same key staff. The format has not yet been confirmed, and only the visual has been released so far.
Studio: CloverWorks
Premiere Date: 2025
©Kisekoi Committee. MBS
SPY x FAMILY Season 3
The Forger family will also make 2025 a great year for anime fans as SPY x FAMILY Season 3 is scheduled to return in October. The first season aired over two parts in 2022 for a total of 25 episodes. The second one had 12 episodes and was released in Fall 2023. Season 3 was announced in June this year.
There is also the SPY x FAMILY Code: WHITE original movie, which was released in Japan in December 2023 and internationally in April 2024. Crunchyroll streams the first two TV anime seasons, as well as the movie. You can watch the digest video of the first two seasons below.
Studio: TBA (Previous seasons and movie animated by WIT Studio and CloverWorks)
Premiere Date: October 2025
© Tatsuya Endo, Shueisha / Spy x Family Project
Virgin Punk: Clockwork Girl
Moving on to the anime movies coming in 2025, Virgin Punk is an upcoming movie series by Yasuomi Umetsu and studio SHAFT. Clockwork Girl is the title of the first installment in the series. Umetsu is known as the creator and director of Kite, MEZZO FORTE, and Wizard Barristers, while Virgin Punk will be his first directorial work in 10 years.
Umetsu and SHAFT collaborated in the past as well, with some titles including Pretty Boy Detective Club, And Yet the Town Moves, and The Quintessential Quintuplets~ special.
The story will follow Ubu, a girl who has decided to live as a bounty hunter. The story will revolve around her desires, sorrow, and the chaos surrounding her.
Studio: SHAFT
Premiere Date: Early Summer 2025
©Yasuomi Umetsu, SHAFT/Aniplex
Scarlet
Probably the anime on which we have the least information, but the fact that Scarlet is directed by Mamoru Hosoda is enough to have it on the list of anime to look forward to in 2025.
Hosoda gave plenty of hints regarding the new movie when it got announced. It will star Scarlet, a ‘strong princess who transcends time and space,’ and another important character. It will tackle the theme of life and death, and he spoke of it as one of his most ambitious projects yet. Like some of his previous works, it also draws inspiration from a well-known classic.
Hosoda previously directed numerous hit movies, such as The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006), Summer Wars (2009), and Belle (2021).
Studio: Studio CHIZU
Premiere Date: Winter 2025 (Late 2025)
©2025 STUDIO CHIZU
Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid: A Lonely Dragon Wants to be Loved
The second anime from Kyoto Animation coming next year, and the second anime from Kyoto Animation to enter our list of top 2025 upcoming shows – Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid: A Lonely Dragon Wants to be Loved.
The anime is returning with a movie after over 3 years. Not much has been revealed, but it seems that it will adapt Kanna’s arc from the manga. Tatsuya Ishihara (Season 2 director) is returning to direct the movie.
Studio: Kyoto Animation
Premiere Date: 2025
©coolkyousinnjya, Futabasha / Dragon Maid Committee
Chainsaw Man: The Movie – Reze Arc
And we’re to the last two, with both being the blockbusters that are looking to set some new records (and are featured in the thumbnail of the article). The anime movie on this list that will certainly mark 2025 as one of the top shows to release is Chainsaw Man: The Movie – Reze Arc.
Adapting a canon arc of the manga, the Bomb Girl arc, this movie will introduce Reina Ueda’s Reze and show what MAPPA can do with a movie’s schedule and dration. The movie was announced in December 2023.
The first actual trailer was released earlier this month at Jump Festa, and it definitely looks like MAPPA is preparing something incredible. Tatsuya Yoshihara is taking over as director from Season 1’s Ryu Nakayama, and the artstyle looks more faithful to Tatsuki Fujimoto’s source manga.
The trailer already has over 25 million views across MAPPA’s social profiles.
Studio: MAPPA
Premiere Date: 2025
©Tatsuki Fujimoto/SHUEISHA, MAPPA
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
And leaving the definitely most hyped anime of 2025 for last, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle. Studio ufotable arguably started the whole anime movie revolution with the Infinity Train movie adapting a canon part of the manga. Since then, they’ve had most seasons premiere theatrically, featuring the final episodes of previous seasons with small pieces of the new one.
However, now they are fully going into the canon territory again, and the story is headed into the final arc of Koyoharu Gotoge’s manga. There are the 3 main Upper Moon demons left with some additions and Muzan, with 7 active Hashiras remaining to help the main cast. Not to forget Tamayo who is also featured in the visual for the movie.
With an entire trilogy already confirmed for these huge fights, the franchise may just start setting new records if (or rather when) ufotable delivers on the huge expectations of showing the stronger Hashira get serious against serious opponents.
The first movie will premiere in 2025, with Crunchyroll and Sony already announcing a worldwide release.
Studio: ufotable
Premiere Date: 2025
©Koyoharu Gotoge / SHUEISHA / Aniplex / ufotable
Honorable Mentions
- ONE PIECE
- Campfire Cooking in Another World Season 2
- Undead Unluck Special
- Chitose Is in the Ramune Bottle
- The Dinner Table Detective
- From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman
- Rock Lady is a Lady’s Modesty
- Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 3
And that is our top 30 anime series and movies releasing in 2025! There will be MANY more shows coming next year, with the majority of non-winter titles yet to reveal their release dates or more information. Feel free to let us know what you’re most excited for in the new year!
Featured image:
Chainsaw Man ©Tatsuki Fujimoto/SHUEISHA, MAPPA
Witch Hat Atelier ©Kamome Shirahama/KODANSHA/ Witch Hat Atelier Committee
The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity © Saka Mikami / Kodansha / The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity Production Committee
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba ©Koyoharu Gotoge / SHUEISHA / Aniplex / ufotable
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