As the Summer 2025 season comes to a close, the ACN team takes a look back at what was arguably the strongest anime lineup of the year, packed with standout storytelling, unforgettable characters, and stunning animations. Together, we’ve compiled the shows that left the biggest mark on us, and as always, this list reflects our personal favorites. In no particular order, here are the ACN team’s top anime picks for Summer 2025.
Ruri Rocks — JP
Anime and the outdoors are my greatest passions. I’m one of those rare weebs who actually touches grass and genuinely enjoys it. While I’ve enjoyed most of the outdoor-themed anime I’ve watched, their adaptations never quite capture the true essence of the outdoors. The sense of wonder that draws people to nature is something that’s honestly difficult to convey. How do you animate something so spiritually intimate? I don’t have the answer, but Studio Bind certainly does.
Ruri Rocks cultivates a love and reverence for the outdoors that surpasses most backcountry media. From its stunning visuals to the way the scenery moves the characters, this anime is nothing short of perfection. Ruri Rocks should set the new standard for outdoor anime.
There’s No Freaking Way I’ll be Your Lover! Unless… – Dali
Yuri anime tends to be written in a very muted way, where the romance takes forever to get started, you have to wait 10 episodes for the characters to even begin realizing their feelings, and the payoff is not really rewarding. There’s No Freaking Way I’ll be Your Lover! Unless…, on the other hand, is completely unapologetic in its romance. The characters involved know what they want and are not afraid to go get it. Even Renako, the main character, who suffers from the indecisive harem protagonist syndrome, has that trait balanced by her lovable dorkiness and her charisma. The romance between her and the different characters is also very well written, with each ship getting the necessary airtime to go in-depth and the particularities and complexities of each relation well-explored. Aside from that, let’s not forget to mention MURI MURI EVOLUTION, the absolute banger of an opening that you will find yourself singing along to every episode. This has been one of the best romance anime of the year, and probably my favorite yuri anime to date.
Takopi’s Original Sin – Jay
Every so often I’ll consume a piece of media that makes me think I may never see something quite like it ever again. Takopi’s Original Sin falls neatly into that category. At its core, the anime asks the viewer to ponder questions of what it means to be happy, weaving together the seeming futility of seeking that emotional state with the naive desire to find it permanently. At every turn, the anime hits hard, delivering expertly crafted displays of emotions (both positive and negative ones) and showing the different ways people react to their conditions to try to survive and deal with them. It falls into the category of shows that are without question much more childlike in appearance than they are in presentation; this show is absolutely not for kids, but the art style contrasts with its serious themes to add yet another layer to its presentation. Overall, it’s an emotional rollercoaster, but not one that thrusts the reader around lazily. Rather, the story is a well crafted sampling of twists and turns and a well directed example of showcasing how every facet of humanity can be found in an ostensibly mundane setting.
Dr. Stone: Science Future Part 2 – Eric Himmelheber
Dr. Stone has never been better from a production standpoint. There are a million reasons why the season’s episodes rated higher than most on IMDb as well. The love and care poured into Part 2 was jaw-dropping on every level and was a perfect adaptation of the manga.
I couldn’t be happier for Dr. Stone fans everywhere. They deserve an adaptation like this and everyone who worked on it deserves all the praise in the world. I didn’t even get this choked up reading the manga, but the anime hit a lot harder. There were many great anime this season, but Dr. Stone really made a statement.
City The Animation – Cdecasa
I often hear people complain about how anime is all the same these days. To those people I recommend City The Animation, an anime adaptation of the creator of Nichijou. Even if you don’t like the surreal comedy, City has earned its place in the history of anime. Kyoto Animation put an incredible effort into the animation quality, while paying attention to the tiny details. This isn’t about a grandiose story with intense plot twists. City is an experience that won’t leave you indifferent. Definitely a case of study for animators in the future.
I’d call City The Animation the anime of the year because you can feel the love and care put in it. As an adaptation, they found creative ways to convey the same feelings from the manga, cutting or rearranging the manga chapters when necessary. Give it a try and you would be surprised.
There’s No Freaking Way I’ll be Your Lover! Unless… – Ken
As someone who lives and breathes romance anime, the Summer 2025 season felt like it was tailor-made for me. From CloverWorks blessing us with three beautifully produced series (Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus, My Dress-Up Darling Season 2, and The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity), to the harem lineup (A Couple of Cuckoos Season 2, Rent-a-Girlfriend Season 4, Dealing with Mikadono Sisters Is a Breeze), and even a couple of hidden gems (April Showers Bring May Flowers and Betrothed to My Sister’s Ex), this entire season felt like a buffet designed to make my heart full.
But among all of these, one show stood out as my personal favorite and what it feels like a perfect mix of everything I love and I mentioned before. It has the high-quality CloverWorks production polish, the harem setup’s chaotic fun, and the hidden gem’s charm that deserves more attention. I’m talking about There’s No Freaking Way I’ll Be Your Lover! Unless…It’s sweet, it’s endearing, it’s funny, it’s quirky, and yes, it has all the best girls. What more could you ask for in a romance anime?
And that wraps up our top anime of the Summer 2025 season! If you enjoyed this list, be sure to check out our top picks from previous seasons:
- ACN Team Picks Top Anime of the Winter 2025 Season
- ACN Team Picks Top Anime of Spring 2025 Season
- ACN Team Picks Top Anime of the Fall 2024 Season
- ACN Team Picks Top Anime of the Summer 2024 Season
- ACN Team Picks Anime of the Year – 2024
Also, if you’d like to read a more in-depth take from some of these series, be sure to check out the teams’ seasonal reviews. See you next season and don’t forget to vote in our seasonal polls!
Featured thumbnail credits: ©Keiichiro Shibuya/KADOKAWA/”Ruri’s Jewels” Production Committee, © Taizan 5 / Shueisha / “Takopi’s Original Sin” Production Committee, ©Keiichi Arawi, Kodansha/CITY THE ANIMATION Production Committee
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