The Winter 2025 anime season is getting the year started on the right note, delivering more than 40 episodes per week. While quantity and variety are selling points for the medium in general, ultimately, only a handful of seasonal series will be remembered once the snow melts away and flowers begin to bloom in Spring. Offering a nice blend of sequels and newcomers, the current lineup could produce greatness, although it remains to be seen whether that ends up being the case.

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Winter 2025 Anime Lineup: Where To Watch Every Series
The Winter 2025 anime season has many huge shows, and they are spread across Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, Netflix, Hulu, and more.
With so many shows airing at the same time, keeping track of everything is not only exhausting but also arguably unsatisfying. As such, a shortlist of the best anime of Winter 2025 can serve as a helpful guide, at least in terms of picking out a few starting points. Let’s go through the season’s highlights.
Updated on February 3, 2025, by Mark Sammut: Two more Winter 2025 anime have been added, including a series that has mostly flown under the radar.
Here are a few important details and criteria:
- The current cutoff date for episodes is February 2, 2025.
- Only anime that debuted in Winter 2025 will be considered, and this includes sequel seasons. Therefore, Fall 2024 leftovers (Shangri-La Frontier, Orb: On the Movements of the Earth, Blue Box, and Re:Zero) will not be included.
- The rankings will be expanded and updated weekly to reflect the season’s development.
- Click the anime’s title to see a preview, if the article exists.
12
Tasokare Hotel (NEW)
Caught Between The Living And The Dead

Tasokare Hotel
- Release Date
-
January 8, 2025
- Directors
-
Kōsuke Koremizu
Tasokare Hotel is shaping up to be one of Winter 2025’s nicer surprises, and it is fairly accessible due to being available on YouTube’s It’s Anime channel. Based on a game, the concept revolves around a hotel that is somewhat similar to Limbo, and its clientele are people who have recently died or are on the verge of death. When they arrive, they have no memories, so they must use clues found within their rooms to remember who they are and why they are here.
Tasokare Hotel is kind of reminiscent of Death Parade, with each episode following the staff as they handle a new visitor. Their stories are gradually revealed, and happy endings are not guaranteed. While decent from the start, the anime picks up significant steam when Masaki is introduced in episode 3, and he has been by far the best part of the show.
The Best Season Yet?

Blue Exorcist
- Release Date
-
April 17, 2011
- Directors
-
Tensai Okamura, Koichi Hatsumi, Daisuke Yoshida
- Writers
-
Ryōta Yamaguchi
Blue Exorcist seems like it should be a bigger deal, but the adaptation took a bit too long to produce sequels. Unfortunately, the hype has been relatively muted since the show’s 2024 return, despite the seasons themselves being good. Packed with reveals and led by two lovable characters, the Winter 2025 arc is well on its way to being the best entry yet; however, it is solely for fans who have been watching from the start. Newcomers will be completely lost if they try to start with The Blue Night Saga, dulling its impact in the process.
Rin goes on a trip through time, getting a first-hand view of his mother’s relationship with both Shirou and Satan. After only being shown in bursts, Yuri is pushed to the forefront during this season, and she is charming, charismatic, and just all-around endearing. Her dynamic with Shirou is cute, while she serves as a positive influence on Satan at first. As Mephisto constantly brings up, this story will end in tragedy.
10
From Bureaucrat to Villainess: Dad’s Been Reincarnated! (+/- 0)
Winter 2025’s Best New Isekai Anime

From Bureaucrat to Villainess: Dad’s Been Reincarnated!
- Release Date
-
January 10, 2025
- Network
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TBS, MBS, CBC, Tulip Television, BSN, tys, NBC, HBC, RKK, i-Television, SBS, IBC, BSS, MRO, OBS, TUF, RSK, TUY, tbc, RKB, SBC, KUTV, RBC, UTY, RCC, MRT, atv, MBC
Putting aside Re:Zero, which will restart on February 5, and Ishura, Winter 2025’s isekai content primarily revolves around new series rather than sequels. For the most part, the shows have been decent. Welcome to Japan, Ms. Elf and Zenshu are easy recommendations for anybody who loves the genre, but the season’s standout new isekai story is From Bureaucrat to Villainess: Dad’s Been Reincarnated!

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As suggested by the title, this anime is effectively a parody of the villainess trope, with a middle-aged dad finding himself stuck in a world based on an otome game. While no stranger to otaku culture, Kenzaburou is not particularly familiar with this game, so he mostly sticks to making educated decisions that rely on his fatherly instincts.
From Bureaucrat to Villainess is simply delightful. As Grace, Kenzaburou ends up acting as a matchmaker for the heroine and her male suitors, all the while unknowingly building himself an accidental harem. The humor is on-point and wholesome, while also not opting to constantly mock isekai or villainess tropes.
A Winter 2025 Sequel That Delivers Romance, Character Growth, And (Some) Action
My Happy Marriage was among 2023’s stand-out romance anime, but season 1 had room for improvement. While still too early to definitively say, the sequel is shaping up to be a minor step up, largely thanks to the introduction of antagonists who (so far) seem less one-note than Miyo’s abusive family.
Season 2 shines a brighter light on this world’s more fantastical elements, with both Kiyoka and Miyo having to use their gifts during encounters with members of an organization that seems to have noble intentions on the surface. Although shrouded in mystery, the Gifted Communion proclaims to be interested in true equality by bestowing gifts to everyone, not just the elite families.
If somebody enjoyed season 1, they are likely to love its successor. Miyo and Kiyoka’s relationship grows stronger with each passing episode, as is their willingness to display their love for each other. The former’s gradual rise in self-confidence and self-love is also a sight to behold, adding an extra layer of emotion that complements the romance and action well.
A Lighthearted Start To, Hopefully, An Epic Expedition
In its fourth season, Dr. Stone is a known quantity by this point. Consequently, the enthusiasm surrounding the series has become somewhat muted, especially since it is unlikely to attract new viewers this late in its run. Still, Dr. Stone is reliably entertaining, offering a well-done shonen blend that combines comedy, drama, and adventure.

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Science Future finds the Kingdom of Science heading to the United States, starting things off with a perilous and lengthy trip across the ocean. The first two episodes are dedicated solely to this journey, essentially serving as a precursor to this saga’s main arcs. While perfectly enjoyable, Science Future has leaned into humor heavily so far, including starting things off with an episode revolving almost entirely around Poker. However, things have started to pick up now that Senku and company are in the United States, and they have not received a warm welcome.
A Hauntingly Good Time
Everyone’s favorite mischievous anime spirit is back after a 5-year hiatus, and Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun has not lost a step. Similar to the 2020 season, the Winter 2025 sequel has an eye-catching art style that is consistently beautiful and periodically unsettling for those moments when the show decides to sprinkle in a touch of horror. Kamome Academy’s seventh mystery, Hanako, has to continue investigating supernatural cases happening within the school grounds, and the ghost is accompanied by Yashiro and Kou.
While characters like Aoi have their part to play, Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun shines due to the chemistry between its three main characters, all of whom are well-defined, endearing, and foster natural conflict between themselves. Season 2 got things started with a two-part mystery revolving around The Clock Keepers, three spirits who influence the passage of time. This storyline not only had a fun mystery but also included a fascinating reveal that should be a major plot point moving forward.
A Decent Start With Some Rough Edges
Putting aside sequels, Sakamoto Days was the most hyped anime of Winter 2025, solely thanks to the quality of Yuto Suzuki’s source material. However, the adaptation’s promotional material undermined its original momentum, garnering criticism for lackluster animation that seemed to fail to replicate the manga’s kinetic energy.

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Sakamoto Days is an action-comedy about a legendary hitman who decides to settle down after falling in love. Nowadays, he runs a convenience store and spends his days with his loving wife and adorable child. Unfortunately, retirement is not an option, and Sakamoto will have to protect his new life from his old one. Also, he hires a gunman who was originally sent to kill him.
At this point, the Sakamoto Days anime is still a bit of an unknown. While mostly entertaining, the opening two episodes did not put to bed all the fears born from the initial trailers, incorporating animation that fluctuated between “pretty good” and “pretty stiff.” Still, the anime has seemingly managed to preserve the manga’s charm, lovable characters, and humor.
5
Medalist (+/- 0)
A Fantastic Sports Anime With Two Very Likable Protagonists

Medalist
- Release Date
-
January 5, 2025
- Network
-
tv asahi, ABC TV, Nagoya TV, HTB, Kyushu Asahi Broadcasting, NCC, Niigata Television Network 21, khb, KFB, HOME, KSB, Kagoshima Broadcasting, Oita Asahi Broadcasting, Asahi Broadcasting Aomori, Iwate Asahi TV, Akita Asahi Broadcasting, Yamagata Television System, Shizuoka Asahi TV, Asahi Broadcasting Nagano, Hokuriku Asahi Broadcasting, Ehime Asahi TV, Yamaguchi Asahi Broadcasting, Kumamoto Asahi Broadcasting, Ryu-Q Asahi Broadcasting
- Directors
-
Takahiro Hirata
Winter 2025 is shaping up to be a great season for sports anime, and its shows provide fairly different takes on the genre. Fall 2024’s Blue Box focuses on romance, while Sorairo Utility is a cute girls doing cute things slice of life series. Meanwhile, Kinnikuman: Perfect Origin Arc is a straight-up battle shonen featuring wrestlers. Finally, there is Medalist, which follows an 11-year-old girl who dreams of competing in the Olympics as a figure skater. As she started her training years later than everyone else, Inori is fighting an uphill battle and is fully aware that making up for lost time is very difficult. Fortunately, she has a coach, Tsukasa, who believes in her.

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Medalist is arguably Winter 2025’s most traditional sports anime. Inori is an underdog who only feels comfortable while skating, and she is written off by nearly everyone due to her age. Tsukasa related to her struggle as he also started skating much later than he should have, a regret he still lives with. Together, they are determined to overcome nearly insurmountable odds.
On paper, that is a fairly typical setup for a sports anime, but Medalist elevates this familiarity through the personalities of its characters. Inori is nearly impossible to not love, and Tsukasa’s positive energy is infectious. Medalist is also surprisingly funny, with Inori having some of the weirdest facial expressions of the season.
The Ultimate Harem Comedy Anime Is Back, And Now With Even More Girls

The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You
- Release Date
-
October 8, 2023
- Network
-
Tokyo MX
- Directors
-
Youichirou Aoki, Masato Jimbo, Mitsutaka Noshitani
Harem anime are an acquired taste, and they do not tend to get mainstream attention. While still niche, The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You is more accessible than most of the genre’s offerings due to primarily being a comedy, albeit one that is entirely driven by harem silliness and tropes. The first season established the anime’s style of parody humor, all the while showcasing Rentarou’s brilliance as a worthy MC and the girls’ uniqueness beyond just a defining personality trait.

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Season 2 should ramp up the absurdity as more and more soulmates are added to the mix, continuing the story’s relentless march toward actualizing its title’s promise. Episode 1 instantly set the pace by having the girls swap bodies for a few episodes, allowing them all to exhibit emotional reactions that go against their archetypes. The subsequent episodes have also been laugh-riots that also manage to include the occasional sweet moment.
3
Ave Mujica: The Die is Cast (+1)
Drama On The Stage (And Off It)
A sequel to 2023’s BanG Dream! It’s MyGO!!!!!, Ave Mujica: The Die is Cast delivered perhaps the heaviest first episode out of any Winter 2025 anime, and if its follow-ups were anything to go by, that will continue to be the case for the rest of the season. As suggested by the title, the sequel pushes Ave Mujica to the forefront rather than MyGO!!!!!, and the dysfunctional girl band seems on the verge of collapse despite only recently debuting.
Ave Mujica: The Die is Cast is more character than music-driven. The episodes emphasize different girls, diving surprisingly deep into their struggles and psyches. Touching upon themes like alcoholism, abandonment, and anxiety, the anime is willing to go to real places as it explores just what drives these characters toward each other and onto the stage. The CG animation can take some getting used to, but it is high-quality. The music is also fantastic, even if it has taken a backseat so far.
The Biggest Winter 2025 Anime, And By A Substantial Margin

Solo Leveling
- Release Date
-
January 7, 2024
- Directors
-
Shunsuke Nakashige
- Writers
-
Noboru Kimura
Arguably the most well-known manhwa of all time, Solo Leveling was destined to receive an anime sooner or later, but quality was far from guaranteed. Fortunately, the responsibility fell on A-1 Pictures, and the dependable studio went on to produce a polished first season in 2024. While the story was nothing too special, the action sequences were fantastic, delivering smooth and fast-paced animation that veered into cinematic territory.

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Season 2 is shaping up to be more of the same, which is far from a criticism. Sung Jin-woo tags along on a seemingly easy hunt, only for things to quickly spiral out of control. Consequently, a bunch of hunters are trapped in a dungeon containing enemies well beyond most of their abilities, with Sung being the exception. As fun as dungeon crawling is, Solo Leveling‘s hunter culture and the mechanics behind Sung’s power and the gates are more fascinating, and they take center stage. Sung is also finally stepping out in the public eye, which should shake up the status quo.
Maomao Is Still A Flawless Protagonist

The Apothecary Diaries
- Release Date
-
October 22, 2023
- Directors
-
Norihiro Naganuma, Akinori Fudesaka
- Writers
-
Norihiro Naganuma
Setting the bar extremely high with its first season, The Apothecary Diaries is back for another 24 episodes, and there is nothing to suggest the sequel will fail to live up to its predecessor’s high standards. While still early days, the Winter 2025 anime has not missed a beat so far, carefully and seamlessly blending humor, drama, historical inspirations, and world-building.
With her sly wit, effortless charm, and resilience to romance checkpoints, Maomao is the main reason to watch The Apothecary Diaries. Obsessed with investigating medicine and poison, Maomao’s peculiar talents prove to be surprisingly useful for investigating strange cases that transpire within the Imperial Palace’s grounds.
Season 2 got things going with a pretty lighthearted episode that mostly revolved around a cat. However, this seemingly silly plot thread was used to showcase different sides of a couple of key characters, all the while sprinkling in a few historical factoids. The Apothecary Diaries has been constantly brilliant at using “episodic” stories to peel back not only the characters’ layers but also the larger society they live in. The subsequent episodes introduced a compelling mystery that had a clever solution, while also presenting plenty of opportunities for humor.

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