Top 10 Anime of 2025 — Full Breakdown & Transcript

[00:00] 2024. The year of, well, bad stuff. Mainly, the world is on fire, metaphorically speaking, and everything kinda sucks. But hey, at least we had anime. Lots and lots and lots and lots of anime.

[00:13] 2025 was a solid year as far as anime is concerned. We had mainstream shows and we had mainstreamer shows. We had underappreciated classics and we had highly anticipated disappointments. We had visual powerhouses and we had production collapses.

[00:27] it was an eventful year to say the least, a significant step up from 2024. As such, here's a list of my top 10 anime of 2025. As per usual, I've seen around a hundred new shows this year, so I believe I'm more than qualified to make this list. I'm not one of those

[00:43] people who watches a grand total of five main screen shows and slaps the anime of the year title onto one of them. I've been down in the anime trenches, I've seen the good, the bad, than the ugly. Trust me. Anyway, the rules are simple. Anything that adds this year is eligible.

[00:58] I don't care about formats. Movies, TV shows, ONAs, zip files uploaded on the dark web. I don't care if it adds this year. It's eligible. Simple enough, right? Let's jump right into it. Let's not waste time. Make sure to subscribe. That's a really top 10 thing to do. That definitely will make sense.

[01:14] I'm no longer funny, I'm afraid. Just subscribe, please. You can also become a member of this channel members get at least two exclusive videos per month custom badges and emojis shoutouts and more just go down there and press the join button at number 10 we have mono what

[01:31] is mono you may ask it's 12 episodes of pure unadulterated wholesome fun at face value this show appears to be your typical goofy cute girls to cute things it but if you really pay attention

[01:43] if you really dive deep into every nook and cranny of the show you'll see that it is just your typical goofy cute girls do cute things IP, that's what it is. It is, however, that formula done right,

[01:55] which to be fair isn't saying much, it's hard to go wrong with those shows, but you get the idea. Mono is pure fun, it appeals to the I like to watch cute anime girls cland in your brain, which is a real thing by the way, it's located just above the amygdala. It's wholesome,

[02:09] the characters are incredibly likeable, their interactions are entertaining to watch, their personalities are endearing, it's just good rides all around. It's the kind of show you watch with a stupid f***ing grin on your face.

[02:21] Also worth mentioning, Mono looks fantastic. It's a high-profile production in every sense of the word. The show is directed by Ryota Aike, who has plenty of high-profile gigs under his belt. Takes like Jujutsu Kaisen season 2 and Attack on Titan,

[02:35] and it features tons of animation highlights. Be it some of the coolest skateboarding animation you'll ever see, be it some exaggerated, gone-out-of-school drawings, be it tons of loose but meticulously animated character acting,

[02:47] directing, be it fun, complicated layouts, it was amazing. Overall, an incredibly enjoyable show, one that won't necessarily change your worldview or give you material to quote in philosophical debates, but one that will absolutely make your day better and put a smile on your face.

[03:03] At number 9, we have Dr. Stone Season 4 Part 2. Dr. Stone is a show I've loved for nearly as long as I've been an Animus fan, which I guess says more about how short my tenure as an Animus fan and how highly I think of this IP now that I think about it.

[03:17] Eh, chances are I've seen and read a lot more than you, so shut up. I'm the elitist here, shut the f**k up. Anyway, jokes aside, Doctor Stone is brilliant, but prior to season 4 part 2, I felt like it was failing to capture that same magic season 1 had.

[03:30] It got close on a couple of occasions but by and large it wasn as memorable This part however was different It was Doctor Stone at its best The heightened stakes near the start demanding your undivided attention coupled with the two formwork on characteristic

[03:46] unpredictability and characteristic heart-frenching displays of human tenacity made this one of the best story arcs Dr. Stone has to offer. Absolutely incredible. At number 8 we have Star Wars Visions, Volume 3.

[04:00] Star Wars Visions, in my opinion, is a brilliant idea, just conceptually speaking. I've talked about this before in a members-only video. The Star Wars universe is vast and full of possibilities, and as such, an IP like Visions existing just makes sense.

[04:14] An IP filled with short stories set in various corners of this universe with a wide range of stakes, tones, and proximities to that main Empire vs. Rebels storyline. Also, the animated anthology's format allows a wide range of artists and creative units

[04:29] to give each episode its own unique visual style, even the ones made by the same studio, just good stuff all around. Of course, the highlight of Volume 3 was the final episode, Black, which was head and shoulders above the rest.

[04:43] The Shinya Ohira-led episode was one of the highest peaks of 2D animation ever, really, and it blended its visual prowess with the narrative themes and ideas it was trying to convey in a manner so seamless it can only be the work of the legendary Shinya Ohira.

[04:57] It's abstract, psychedelic, audiovisually dissonant portrayal of the horrors of warfare was one for the history books. The rest of the episodes were great too, don't get me wrong, but this was something else.

[05:09] At number 7 we have My Hero Academia Vigilantes. Out of all the shows in this list, Vigilantes surprised me the most. As someone who isn't the biggest NHK fan and doesn't think too highly of unnecessary

[05:21] spin-offs, I wasn't expecting much from it, but like I said, I was pleasantly surprised. conceptually it addressed some of my biggest gripes with the main series. The idea that in it I was basically expected to root for law enforcement, for example, it was negated

[05:36] by the vigilante aspect of this title. Besides all that, I find the vigilante's cost to be a lot more interesting, practical and nuanced than the hunks of bland, too-good heroism and needlessly unbending ideals that is the main cost. They're more human, if that makes

[05:51] sense, plus in my opinion the narrative is more engaging. Comparisons that'll undoubtedly angle some of you aside, Vigilantes is just fun. The characters are endearing, the plot is well constructed, the visuals are really solid, an amazing project all around.

[06:07] At number 6, we have Demon Slayer Infinity Castle. Before you folks, with your bizarre hate bonus for this series, click off and discuss, let me put your minds at ease, Infinity Castle is on this list because of its visual prowess, not its narrative competency. Happy?

[06:21] keep watching. In my opinion, Infinity Castle is the best situation of the Demon's Lair IP when it comes to visuals and it's the peak of studio-euphorable and therefore the anime industry as a whole when it comes to all things digital. The grand Infinity Castle set piece that steamrolled

[06:37] past many of the limitations that plague 3D use in anime coupled with the flawless compositing, the impressive 2D animation and the inconsistent but ultimately decent direction made this movie a visual treat. Over on the narrative front, I wasn't terribly impressed.

[06:51] I felt like the movie was riddled with unnecessary flashbacks and less than stellar pacing. There wasn't anything explicitly bad about it, plus the Akasha stuff was quite well written, the story was fine, it was just presented in a somewhat obnoxious manner.

[07:06] Ultimately, this movie was what I'd call a true blockbuster in that it was a visual spectacle in larger happening that didn let the story get in the way if that makes sense It outcrossed Superman for s sake Of course it was as approachable as humanly possible At number 5 we have Call of the Night season 2

[07:25] The first season of Call of the Night was an entertaining watch, but ultimately, it wasn't particularly substantial, relying instead on its overall aesthetic. An effective formula, given the show's audiovisual novelty,

[07:37] but one that would get old if season 2 also relied on it, The Law of Diminishing Returns, I believe it's called. Thankfully, that wasn't the case. Season 2 used the visually captivating aesthetic this IP posed as a stepping stone and told

[07:50] an incredibly compelling story all while making sure not to overestimate itself and veer too far into the self-seriousness rabbit hole. It was fun, it was entertaining, it was emotional where it needed to be, it was damn near perfect.

[08:03] Also, of course, the visuals slash direction was stellar, albeit not particularly friendly to those who suffer from photosensitive epilepsy, like seriously they added every single light leak overlay they could find.

[08:15] Overall, a very fun watch, a significant step up from the first season. At number 4 we have Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai Season 2. The second season of Bunny Girl Senpai was a joy to watch in a way only Bunny Girl Senpai

[08:30] can be. As per usual, every single character interaction and line of dialogue was perfectly crafted, witty and meaningful with simple exchanges having tons of weight and entertainment value. I felt like this season tried to be a bit too dramatic near the end,

[08:45] something I'll have to deduct a few points for, but overall the story was really well crafted. I loved that whole quote-unquote Santa storyline and the way it tied the various mini arcs together making this season feel more cohesive writing-wise.

[08:58] Again, an extremely enjoyable watch. At number 3 we have Solo Leveling Season 2. I'm sure some of you are upset at me for putting solo leveling this high up on this list, but

[09:10] hang out, I don't care. Like, I don't at all. I have said this before, solo leveling is a show that knows exactly what it is, it knows exactly what the fans want, and it gives it to them without being overly indulgent or

[09:23] needlessly self-serious, it's the perfect formula. It is fast food, sure, it's not a gourmet meal, it won't change your life or leave you with philosophical questions, but it doesn't need to. All it needs to do is be fun and that's exactly what it does.

[09:38] Out of all the shows in this list, this is the one I've had the most fun watching and that's fine. It's fine if a show is specifically created with entertainment in mind and it's fine to like those shows.

[09:50] That doesn't make you or your taste any lesser, trust me. More about the show, season 2 of Solo Leveling was a lot more large scale compared to season 1 with grand battles and massive quantities of action. Unlike season 1, it focused less on character development, but it more than made up for that by dialing the entertainment factor up to 11.

[10:09] If anything, it used the foundation laid by the first season to the fullest. Of course, none of this would have been possible without the production team holding up their end of the bargain. The high-octane, blood-pumping action animation and Hiroyuki Sawano's outstanding music allowed this action-centric plot to breathe and spread its wings,

[10:26] it rings, bringing out the best of the admittedly one-note source material. Fantastic stuff. At number 2, we have Chainsaw Man Reze arc. As someone who isn't the biggest Chainsaw Man fan,

[10:39] Reze was a pleasant surprise. Of course, I had read the manga prior to watching the movie and I did think highly of this arc, but I didn't expect it to be this good. The movie was a crisp, tightly paced and outstandingly well project It came in it got to the point and it left without overstaying its welcome something I wished certain other mainstream action movies would learn from Writing I found Rez to be quite endearing and her dynamic with Benji to be quite well done

[11:06] plus the arc did a fantastic job of highlighting just how sinister and morbid the Saints-O-Man universe is. Sure, I wasn't fond of some of the comedy and I never will be, that shit has long since failed, but it was fine overall, I'd say it was very well written.

[11:20] Of course, we also had the production value which in my opinion was the star of the movie. The utterly mind-blowing direction and animation and Ken Skaushio's phenomenal soundtrack were the real highlights of the movie in my opinion.

[11:34] Production wise, Reve was absolutely, completely and utterly mind-blowing and overall it was a great watch. Before we get to my number one pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Something Something Watch Mojo City the animation was a charming watch,

[11:49] perfectly encapsulated texture to animation magic. Despite the humor being a bit too ingrained into Japanese culture for me, it was fun and the visuals were breathtaking. My Dress Up Darling season 2 was a pleasant upgrade from the previous season in every way imaginable. It leaned into

[12:05] more mature themes and ideas, it did so well and it looked incredible while doing so. Okitsura, I fell in love with an Okinawan girl but I just wish I knew what she's saying, Jesus took some Mouthful was a hidden gem this year.

[12:18] The show had this rough take-home-ly feel with endearing characters and entertaining character interactions. Really fun stuff. And with those titles out of the way, let's finally wrap this list up. At number 1, we have Takopi's Original Sin.

[12:33] Takopi's Original Sin is a short anime clocking in at a mere 6 episodes, but in that short duration, it manages to tell a story more devastating, more gut-wrenching, more captivating, more powerful than many of its longer contemporaries.

[12:47] The show started with an eerily true-to-life depiction of bullying and its consequences, presenting a sickening series of soul-crushing events that can only be described as, well, soul-crushing. It then takes a supernatural sci-fi turn, but it does so without ruining the authenticity

[13:03] and the hopelessness that made the previous part special. Takopi and his magical gadgets didn't immediately fix all of Shizuka's woes a la Doraemon, the show Papoki's original sin is a twisted homage to, it didn't magically bring the characters

[13:18] together because that's not how the real world works. The story also focused on characters like Marina and Azuma and did a fantastic job of portraying them as products of their circumstances, which in turn made the conclusion of them trying to grow past said circumstances,

[13:33] past the cost dealt to them by life, so much more effective. And speaking of the conclusion, that's the one area in which the show dropped the ball in my opinion. It wasn't bad, but it could have been fleshed out a lot more.

[13:45] The idea of pain being a chain that gets passed on from one person to another doesn't really work when that chain finally breaking doesn't get the time or the gravity it deserves. I've talked about this before, but long story short,

[13:57] I feel like that final conversation could use a lot of work. Besides all that, the show was a visual powerhouse. Directed by Shinya Ino and featuring a who-so of industry-leading talent, this was one of the best directed and animated shows 2025 had to offer, which definitely added the storytelling aspect.

[14:15] A memorable watch overall. I can't really call it fun, can I? I'll go with memorable. A memorable watch overall. And that's it. That's my list. Let me know if you guys agree down in the comments.

[14:27] And while you're at it, let me know which shows you liked the best from this year. this year. That's about it. A special thanks to Note03, Amir, and the Gallus90 for becoming Tier 3 members, and until next time.