Most Anticipated Anime of 2025

2024 was an unusual year for anime. It was a year of highs and lows, with some very anticipated anime series falling flat upon release, while some unexpected shows became industry phenomena out of the blue. Truly, if there was a word to sum up the 2024 anime year, it would be unpredictable. 2025 is looking a little more stable though, with a huge line-up of sequel seasons filling up the seasonal brackets, as well as some promising original series you’ll want to watch out for.

In the aftermath of Jump Festa 2025, there’s a lot of upcoming 2025 anime to talk about – so that’s exactly what we’re going to do today! In this article, we’ll be talking about our most anticipated 2025 anime series – prior warning, there’s a lot of shonen on this list, especially in the aftermath of such an eventful Jump Festa. Without further ado, get your anime calendars ready to mark down some of these shows, and let’s get into the list!

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Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3

Image by MAPPA

Jujutsu Kaisen has undergone a strange metamorphosis amongst anime fans. When the series first hit the scene back in 2020, it was instantly a hit amongst shonen fans, but ultimately, it came under some fire for bringing little to the table in the way of originality. Then came 2023, when Jujutsu Kaisen released its second season featuring the two most beloved arcs from Gege Akutami’s manga. The season was so well-received, it skyrocketed Jujutsu Kaisen into a new plane of anime, and a new level of quality is expected from the series in the face of its third season’s premiere in 2025.

Having read Akutami’s manga, which has now concluded, I can confidently say, without spoiling anything – unless MAPPA takes some real liberties in adapting the story, it’s unlikely that Jujutsu Kaisen’s third season, or any subsequent seasons for that matter, will reach the heights of Season 2’s back to back adaptation of the ‘Hidden Inventory/Premature Death’ and ‘Shibuya Incident’ arcs. However, Season 3 will be adapting the ‘Culling Game’ arc, a rollercoaster of an arc that varies greatly in quality as it goes on. Regardless, coming off the heights of Season 2, Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated 2025 anime for many – and given MAPPA’s workload, it’s surprising we’re getting it this early at all. 

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Sakamoto Days

Image by Toei Animation

Sakamoto Days has been a highly-anticipated release for many anime fans since TMS Entertainment announced the adaptation back in May 2024, and now, its release is on the horizon. Premiering in January 2025, Sakamoto Days will be one of the first anime kicking off the 2025 year, and if the manga reception is anything to go by, we’re in good hands. TMS Entertainment are also a fairly reliable studio to be undertaking the project, making the adaptation look extremely promising.

For those unfamiliar with Yuto Suzuki’s manga, Sakamoto Days tells the story of a retired hitman who strives to live an ordinary life with his family – that is, until former colleagues of his from his days as a hitman come to town seeking revenge against him. The story may seem routine, but Sakamoto Days excels at blending action and comedy with an intriguing plot to create its own identity, an identity that it looks like TMS Entertainment understands. This is one of the first 2025 anime on our radar – be sure to check it out!

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The Apothecary Diaries Season 2

Image by Team OLM

It’s been less than a year since the first season of The Apothecary Diaries ended, and it’s already left such a void in its absence. The series premiered in the Fall 2023 season, and had to contend against the incredibly popular first season of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End (the 2nd season of which has been confirmed to be in production, but no word on a release date yet), and still, in the face of such competition, managed to stand out as one of the strongest drama anime shows in recent years.

The Apothecary Diaries has the potential for endless episodes, as we watch Maomao solve the various medical mysteries plaguing the Imperial Palace in Tang dynasty China. In a sea of shonen anime, it’s impressive to see The Apothecary Diaries garner such a fanbase with only one season. It’s equally admirable to see the rise of Maomao as a beloved protagonist in an anime industry that can often feel male-dominated. I cannot wait to see what the second season of The Apothecary Diaries brings when it premieres in January 2025.

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DAN DA DAN Season 2

Image by Science SARU

I absolutely adore DAN DA DAN – as do many other people. Debuting in Fall 2024, DAN DA DAN was undoubtedly the breakout series of 2024, charming fans with its uniquely eccentric take on shonen storytelling, and it seems like the team behind the series at Science SARU are fully aware of the gold they’ve struck with this show. The first season only concluded in late December 2024, and the second season is already slated to debut in July 2025 – Science SARU are eager to continue the magic without delay.

Personally, I’m all for a DAN DA DAN takeover – as long as the animation team are being given healthy deadlines, having a new season of the show in such short intervals like this is a great way to keep the fanbase active and engaged. We already have a trailer for the second season of DAN DA DAN, and it’s looking like our protagonists are going against some of the most sinister threats in the series yet. The show has often given off a blended vibe of horror and comedy, and it’s looking like this upcoming season will lean into the former, with Jiji at the centre of it all. If you haven’t caught up on this series, not is the time – it’s a true gem.

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Spy x Family Season 3

Image by WIT Studio

Spy x Family is one of the most popular modern anime series out, and for good reason. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea – I’m sure some fans would like the show to take a more serious approach to its storytelling – but you can’t deny that what the series does, it does extremely well. Loud, Yor, Anya, and Bond have all come to be truly well-rounded, developed characters across the first two seasons, so much so that fans would be happy to watch them engage in all sorts of misadventures across endless more seasons – the series is just that endearing.

Now, as announced at Jump Festa 2025, the third season of Spy x Family is on the way, set to release in October 2025. It’s difficult to say where the series will go with this upcoming season. Many fans are waiting eagerly for the reveal of the truth behind the Forger family. However, WIT Studio have been adding plenty of anime-original filler content to pad out the seasons, so in all honesty, we could be in for another season of hilarious tribulations across our characters’ lives as spies, assassins, and schoolchildren, rather than solid plot progression. Regardless, we’re very excited to see what Spy x Family Season 3 brings when it arrives.

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Dr. Stone: Science Future

Image by TMS Entertainment

I haven’t had a lot of chances to really talk about Dr. Stone in articles up to this point, but let me say this now – I absolutely love this series. Despite only releasing in 2019, there’s such a nostalgic feeling to the anime, and despite the dramatic heights it can reach at times, it’s always felt like a wholesome ride compared to a lot of the other shonen series out there that love to devastate their viewers. I, like many others, was a little disappointed with how things went down in the Stone Wars season, but the rest of the show has been extremely consistent in quality, and now the end is here.

Dr. Stone: Science Future marks the end of Senku’s adventure, in a turn of events that’s somewhat surprising. It feels like his journey is just beginning, despite the show already have three seasons up until this point. However, the fourth season will be the final outing for our heroes. The series is set to premiere in January 2025, and it will be a huge season. TMS Entertainment have confirmed that the season will be split into three cours, likely spanning across the whole of 2025, if not trickling into 2026. As the last stand for Dr. Stone, we cannot wait to see what Science Future has in store next year.

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The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity

Image by CloverWorks

Let’s diversify the list a little here, by looking at a much-anticipated romance anime! Romance is often blended into other anime series – for example, The Apothecary Diaries makes use of romance tropes, but is a drama/mystery series more than anything else. Blue Box was a huge hit in 2024, but the sports/shonen genres somewhat overshadowed the outright romance elements. However, The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity is a straight-up, unfiltered romance story based on the manga by Saka Mikami, and based on the manga’s reception, romance anime fans are in for a treat.

The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity (I hope they shorten that name soon) is a new-age take on a reliable old classic – the story follows Rintarō and Kaoruko, two students from vastly different backgrounds who find themselves wrapped up in a budding romance. If this sounds like another take on Romeo & Juliet, that’s because it is – Rintarō attends a boys’ school known for its delinquency, while Kaoruko attends a girls’ school known for its prestige. However, why fix something that isn’t broken? The Romeo & Juliet trope can work very well when done right, and Mikami’s manga has been very well-received over the years since it began publication. The series is set to premiere in 2025, and we’ll definitely be checking it out.

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One-Punch Man Season 3

Image by Madhouse

Ah, One-Punch Man – what a disaster. This character has become somewhat synonymous with anime itself for some people, which has always felt strange to me given what a rocky history the series has. The first season premiered in 2015, animated by Madhouse, to universal acclaim. The series played like a respectful parody to the anime that came before it, complemented by incredible animation, voice-acting, and overall direction. The world loved One-Punch Man, and it deserved the admiration. Then came the second season, and with it, a change in studio from Madhouse to J.C. Staff. Here’s where things went downhill.

The second season was fairly slated by fans for the downfall in animation and storytelling quality, paling in comparison to the great season that preceded it. After this fairly disastrous reception, One-Punch Man fell off the map a little, fading away from the glory of its early days. However, after a long wait, filled with updates, cancellations, studio changes, and more, the third season of One-Punch Man is finally confirmed to be coming, and it’s scheduled for 2025. However, some fans are still on the fence about the whole thing. Rumours had circulated for a while that MAPPA would be taking on the third season. However, it’s now been confirmed that J.C. Staff are returning to animate this season. Worry may be in the air, but all we can do is wait, and regardless of how confident we are in J.C. Staff, the return of this show is a big deal.

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LAZARUS

Image by MAPPA

It’s always difficult to gauge whether or not an original anime series is going to be worth watching or not. With manga adaptations, you’ve got the source material to look back on, as well as its reputation. However, original anime series are always a risk – that is, except for when you have Shinichirō Watanabe at the helm. Watanabe is the genius behind one of the greatest original anime series of all time, Cowboy Bebop, and based on first looks at LAZARUS, it looks like this series has all that same style and flair that Cowboy Bebop became beloved for.

With MAPPA on animation, LAZARUS looks like an anime with all the best minds behind it – look, MAPPA is a controversial studio for sure, but you can’t deny the quality of their output. The story follows the conception of a miracle drug that has adverse medical effects on anyone who took it. As a result, a task force of five agents in the year 2055 must chase down the doctor behind the drug in the hopes of creating a vaccine named ‘Lazarus’. In many ways, the series reminds me of Banana Fish, another incredible project helmed by MAPPA. If LAZARUS is truly what it’s shaping up to be, a combination of Banana Fish and Cowboy Bebop, then we could be looking at an anime of the year contender for 2025.

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Solo Leveling: Arise from the Shadow

Image by A-1 Pictures

Just to clear things up before I continue on with this anime – I’m not the biggest fan of Solo Leveling. Personally, for a show that was so lauded pre-release for being a game-changer, it did very little to separate itself from the pack. That being said, the final episode of the series’ first season did hook me at the very last second, and so, Season 2 might really ramp up the quality of the show for me.

We won’t have to wait long to find out, because like many of the other entries on this list, Solo Leveling’s second season, Arise from the Shadow, is scheduled to release beginning January 2025. The Winter 2025 line-up is looking absolutely incredible, with this show actually spearheading the hype for many anime fans. Regardless of my own dissatisfaction with the show’s first season, it would feel wrong to not include it here. It’s become a phenomenon, and the second season isn’t looking to slow down the hype train any time soon.

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Gachiakuta

Image by Bones

Bones have got a big year coming up in 2025, what with this anime and the next entry on the list, a new anime on the scene based on the hit manga of the same name by Kei Urana. Little promotional material has been released for Gachiakuta, but the series has drawn me in based on the premise alone. The plot follows a young boy who lives in the slums of a wealthy society, alongside other dwellers who descend from exiled criminals. After being falsely charged with a crime he didn’t commit, the boy swears revenge against the wealthy society that scorned him, with the help of a rebel army. Oh, and there’s beasts made of trash that regularly throw spanners in the works.

As far as fan reception goes, Gachiakuta has built quite the fanbase. Alongside the aforementioned Sakamoto Days and DAN DA DAN, Gachiakuta has forged a sort of new-age trilogy with the two. If there’s one thing anime and manga fans love to do, it’s take new projects and group them into trios. While I’m unsure what exactly binds Sakamoto Days and DAN DA DAN to this project, Gachiakuta is in good company with those two, and we can’t wait to see all the action unfold. The series is set to premiere in 2025, with no word on which seasonal schedule it will be joining just yet.

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My Hero Academia Season 8

Image by Bones

And now, we have the true test for Bones this year – the conclusive season of My Hero Academia, the superhero shonen that has dominated the scene for years since its debut in 2016. The final season will be the series’ eighth, and considering it began in 2016, that makes for about a season a year – and My Hero Academia seasons are far from short. You can’t fault Bones’ commitment to this story and world. Now, as controversial as the show has been over the years, there’s still a certain respect that has to be awarded to My Hero Academia. Yes, it has had some absolutely terrible arcs, and as a result, seasons. However, it’s been a consistent, major player in the shonen scene for almost a decade, and now it’s time for the curtain call.

However, it seems like though My Hero Academia is coming to an end, Bones are far from finished with the world behind the series. My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, a spin-off series, was announced at the recent Jump Festa, and much to my surprise, Vigilantes is also set for a 2025 release date. Even more surprising is that Vigilantes is actually set to premiere in April 2025, while My Hero Academia’s eighth season is scheduled for Fall 2025 – so we’re getting Vigilantes first! Regardless of the order though, fans are in for a lot of My Hero Academia content in 2025. That will be a cause for celebration for some, and for others, they’ll simply be relieved that they don’t have to hear about this series anymore. Regardless of your stance, it’ll likely be one of the most discussed anime moments of 2025.

See also: Best Anime of 2024

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Conclusion

2025 is shaping up to be a huge year in anime, and with some of these shows kicking off in January, there’s very little time to prepare before we kick off the cycle! What did you think of our list? Did we miss any major 2025 anime that you’re the most excited for? Be sure to let us know in the comments, and thanks for reading!

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