The summer anime season for 2025 is in full swing with premiere episodes out and ready to enjoy. As we caught up with anime from the spring season, I asked the Anime Corner News team about their favorite release from the last few months and to share their personal thoughts.

Keep in mind that this list is only the opinions of our Anime Corner writers and does not represent hard facts. The list is in no particular order, so let’s jump into the anime that kept us engaged throughout the Spring 2025 season!

Wind Breaker Season 2 – Eric Himmelheber

This was such a tough decision, with my other candidates being To Be Hero X, Apocalypse Hotel, and Rock Is a Lady’s Modesty. But, ultimately, I went with Wind Breaker Season 2. The story and its characters had me excited to see what would happen every single week more than any others. Animation was great, just like the first season, and Sakura’s character development was arguably the best of any main character from last season’s anime lineup. Pairing that with a fantastic new character in Tsubaki just made Season 2 all the better.

SHOSHIMIN: How to Become Ordinary Season 2 – Ken Pueyo

Disclaimer: Osanai definitely didn’t manipulate me into choosing this as my favorite anime of the season. I will admit, though, that she is a big part of why I love Shoshimin. But this series isn’t just great because of how brilliant and cunning her character is; it’s because everything about it is just simply that amazing. 

Without a doubt, this is one of the strongest examples of storytelling this season. The animation and music create a perfect atmosphere for what might seem like a simple mystery series on the surface. However, the subtleties are where the series really shines. If you catch these details and follow the trail, the eventual payoff feels so surreal when everything gets unraveled. Shoshimin also kept the cinematic aspect ratio to further prove that when done right, the ordinary can become something truly extraordinary.

ALSO READ:
Shoshomin: How to Become Ordinary Season 2 – Review

Rock Is a Lady’s Modesty – Dali

Rock Is a Lady’s Modesty is an anime about two students at Oushin Girls’ Academy, an elite institution for upper-class young ladies, who accidentally discover that they both secretly play rock music and are good at it. It is a story of how they figured out they enjoy playing with each other, found two more members who fit their style, and formed a band.

At the same time, it is also the story of how these upper-class ladies slowly break the masks that they have developed to fit in socially and increasingly get more free-spirited and sometimes unhinged. This internal exploration, the gap moe of the characters, the rock band theme of the story, the great humor, as well as the amazing animation (especially during concert scenes) made Rock Is a Lady’s Modesty a treat to watch and my pick for anime of the season.

ALSO READ:
Why Rock Is a Lady’s Modesty Is the Hidden Gem of the Season

Zatsu Tabi: That’s Journey – Kiira Fox

From the first five minutes of the premiere episode, I knew Zatsu Tabi: That’s Journey was made for me. A struggling artist going on random journeys by train all over Japan wrapped inside the coziest iyashikei box—there’s nothing more I could ask for! I was especially hooked when I saw the main character, Chika, go to Matsushima in Miyagi, Japan—a place near and dear to my heart.

The anime does a stellar job at portraying each location Chika journeys to, and there are even mini history lessons thrown into the narration. If you’re looking for a relaxing travel anime, Zatsu Tabi needs to be your next watch, especially if you are a fan of slow, nature-focused shows such as Laid-Back Camp and Non Non Biyori. I’m gonna miss this show so much, but at least there’s more content in the manga, so I’ll be sure to jump on that.

Makina-san’s a Love Bot?!:  – JP

It’s always surprising how a simple, inconspicuous decision can drastically alter your life. A few years ago, I was on a fast track to ruining not only my own life but also the lives of others. One day, on a whim, I decided to check out D-Frag!, Kiss x Sis, and Heaven’s Lost Property. That decision not only changed the course of my life but also made it significantly better. 

I’ll always have a deep love for ecchi anime, especially those as absurd as Makina-san a Love Bot?!. Even though this show was short, I excitedly looked forward to it every week. No matter how stressed or down I felt, it always managed to brighten my day. It’s silly, erotically charged, and most importantly, comforting. For me, it was the clear winner of the season.

Umamusume: Cinderella Gray – Cdecasa

This is a spin-off of the Umamusume franchise, with Oguri Cap as the protagonist. The story tells us the origins of Oguri Cap, all the way up to her competitions in the main Japanese races. I already found the Umamusume franchise inspiring. Despite not liking gacha or anime based on gacha games, I was amazed by the evolving narrative of Umamusume.

In particular, Cinderella Gray makes me (and a lot more people for sure) want to fight for my dreams again. The opening, the unconventional way to tell Oguri Cap’s story (breaking Umamusume traditions), and how real it feels (in a way many people felt identified with their topics) made me cry on many occasions. As for many, my favorite moments are from the races. But maybe the best scene for me is when she narrates how her mother took care of her since she had a problem in her knees. Surreal!

Why should it be considered the best? The combination of maturity and good pacing, for a franchise originally based on cute horse girls, is epic.

ALSO READ:
Oguri Cap Completes Shocking Cinderella Run as Umamusume Wins Spring 2025 Anime of the Season Title

Apocalypse Hotel – Marko

Umamusume: Cinderella Gray ended up successfully rising out of the hidden gem status and breaking out alongside the global version of Umamusume: Pretty Derby, but its studio, CygamesPictures, delivered another anime I enjoyed even more in the very same season. Apocalypse Hotel, as the name implies, is set in a post-apocalyptic setting and follows a hotel left on Earth to await the return of humanity.

From ridiculous gags that are genuinely funny and unexpected to emotional hits that make you question the fleeting life you live, this anime packs it all beautifully, with a colorful cast, pretty visuals, and a satisfying soundtrack. It’s really a shame that a lot of people seem to have shied away from it due to the art style and title, but I wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone who finds themselves looking for new anime to watch. It’s available on Crunchyroll and is only 12 episodes long.

ALSO READ:
Top 10 Anime Openings of the Spring 2025 Season – Ranked
Spring 2025 Anime of the Season Rankings

That’s all for our Spring 2025 picks! You can look forward to our Summer 2025 picks in a few months. Meanwhile, cast your vote in our weekly polls for your favorite anime of the current season. You can also read up on the team’s seasonal reviews of Summer 2025 anime. Anime Corner thanks you for your continued support!

Featured image: ©APOCALYPSEHOTEL Partners ©Hiroshi Fukuda,HAKUSENSHA/Rock Lady © Satoru Nii, Kodansha / WIND BREAKER Project