The best anime shows and movies of 2025, ranked

2025 delivered the goods, both in terms of new series and of continuations of previous hits. It looks like China is beginning to shake up the market, too, with To Be Hero X and The Lord of Mysteries dazzling fans worldwide. Meanwhile, the Japanese-Korean production of Solo Leveling confirmed the success of the first season with a follow-up that solidified the franchise as one of the leaders in the industry. Japan seems to finally have some competition, but don't worry, the old masters haven't lost their craft.

New shows like The Summer Hikaru Died prove the Japanese anime industry still has plenty of new and compelling stories to tell. Meanwhile, current hits like The Apothecary Diaries and Spy x Family keep entertaining fans with high production values and meaningful narratives. However, 2025 will perhaps be remembered as the year that one of the biggest series of the last decade, My Hero Academia, came to an end, and what an amazing conclusion it was.

Finally, 2025 also saw the release of several anime movies: Demon Slayer broke the box office record (again), while Chainsaw Man made everyone remember why this series was the talk of the anime world when it debuted in 2022. So without further ado, here is a ranked list of the best anime shows and movies that came out this year, curated by Polygon's staff.

25 Sakamoto Days part 2

Where to Watch: Netflix

Sakamoto Days follows Taro Sakamoto, a legendary hitman turned gentle convenience-store owner, who’s forced back into action when his peaceful life is threatened. Balancing dad humor with razor-sharp fights, the series was hotly anticipated when it debuted, but landed a bit lukewarm and failed to become the hit many expected.

Part 2, however, amps up the chaos with bigger assassins, deeper Agency secrets, and flashier adaptations of the manga’s most explosive arcs. Once the core cast members all finally get together, they’re chemistry is undeniable. Sakamoto Days' clandestine world of hitmen and the antagonist's mission in Slur are also intriguing plot threads. —Isaac Rouse

24 Wind Breaker season 2

Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

Haruka Sakura is a lone wolf fighter who joins the delinquent-run school, Furin High, where students protect their town through raw strength and unshakable loyalty. (It’s like YuYu Hakusho if Yusuke and Kuwabara never got into the spirit detective business and just focused on beating up rival schools.)

Season 2 continues this mix of high-impact brawls and character-driven drama, diving deeper into rival crews and expanding the emotional stakes behind each clash. Although season 2 wasn’t quite as gripping as the first, it jumps right into the action and lets us spend more time with our favorite characters, including our tsundere male lead. —IR

23 Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider

Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

Earnest Kamen Rider fanboy (and 40-year-old man) Tojima is determined to become a real-life hero despite having zero powers. Right as he's about to abandon his dreams and accept that there are no monsters or evil organizations to fight in the real world, Tojima learns that, not only are there several people in town obsessed with Kamen Rider, but the evil organization Shocker actually exists, and they have monsters too!

Some characters hit more than others, but the seriousness with which the “heroes” take their roles is hilarious every time. The series blends absurd comedy, tokusatsu parody, and heartfelt charm as Tojima inches closer to his dream: costume malfunctions, dramatic poses, and all. —IR

22 Ranma 1/2 season 2

Where to watch: Netflix

The second season of the remake of the classic anime based on the groundbreaking manga by Rumiko Takahashi delivers more comedy, silly martial arts action, and glimpses of heartfelt romance between the heirs of the Saotome and Tendo schools. Mappa maintains the delicate, slightly retro animation style that made the first season stand out, but the pacing here suffers a bit from the episodic nature of the story.

It's hard to create a remake that, almost 40 years later, manages to maintain the spirit of the original while improving it considerably, so Mappa deserves its flowers here. Whether you've watched the original or not, Ranma 1/2 is worthy of your time as an entertaining and relaxing show that touches on important themes of gender and identity. —Francesco Cacciatore

21 Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus

Where to watch: Crunchyroll

Essentially Rascal Does Not Dream season 2 (with three movies in between), Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus follows Sakuta Azusagawa as he begins college and navigates dating the famous actress Mai Sakurajima. As always, Sakuta finds himself encountering and investigating cases of “Puberty Syndrome,” where anxieties related to adolescence manifest as supernatural events.

Largely a flirty little mumblecore series that, at times, feels like a harem anime, Rascal Does Not Dream at its best expertly blends grounded emotional drama with supernatural metaphor. Season 2 sees Sakuta encounter a girl dressed in a miniskirt Santa Claus costume who claims she’s “gifted” tons of people with Puberty Syndrome. Much of the season is spent resolving various cases while also investigating this core mystery.

As always, these stories explore the vulnerabilities of growing up, the weight of unresolved feelings, and the awkward tenderness of juvenile relationships. While sometimes relatable, Rascal Does Not Dream does lean heavily on the melodrama, but the charming dynamics between characters you’ve grown fond of make the latest season a satisfying watch. It’s understated and sincere, but you definitely don’t want to jump right in without watching the previous season and three movies first. —Corey Plante

20 Zenshu

Where to watch: Crunchyroll

One of the surprises of 2025, Zenshu is an original anime that tells a beautiful story about the power behind one's passion for their craft. After dying, famous anime artist Natsuko Hirose wakes up in the world of her favorite animated film, A Tale of Perishing. As a kid, its story enchanted her and sparked her interest in drawing and animation. In this new world, Hirose finds out she can be a heroine with the most powerful weapon: imagination.

It might sound cheesy, but Zenshu makes it work. As Hirose creates new animations that gain life and fight her enemies in the magical world, she reflects on everything that has driven her to become who she is, while also trying to get rid of the unhealthy obsessions that saddled her previous life. Zenshu also has one of the most breathtaking transformation sequences among this year's anime, shown when Natsuko invokes her drawing desk. —Paulo Kawanishi

19 Lazarus

Where to watch: HBO Max, Prime Video

Lazarus is a futuristic sci-fi anime in which a group of criminals is forced to work as a secret task force with the mission of finding Deniz Skinner, a scientist who created a drug that takes pain and discomfort away. When Skinner announces that everyone who took the drug is going to die in a few months, a manhunt begins. Skinner has the antidote, and he invites whoever can find him to come and get the formula to save the world. Despite the heroic tone the premise suggests, Lazarus is actually a somber meditation about humanity.

As Shinichirou Watanabe's newest project, Lazarus faced a lot of pressure (just like Carole & Tuesday had some years ago) to become the next Cowboy Bebop. It isn't. Even so, it has as much personality and style as Bebop, with poetic scenes that communicate its themes as clearly and emotionally as any dialogue. While you can see the connection between the two works, Lazarus tackles broader themes, like the loss of emotion and escapism. And don’t worry, despite the seriousness of its narrative and visuals, Lazarus is also an entertaining sci-fi story. —PK

18 Gachiakuta

Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

Gachiakuta follows Rudo, a discarded outcast fighting to survive in a brutal trash-filled underworld ruled by mysterious powers and deadly enemies. The series is gritty shonen action with themes and aesthetics reminiscent of Attack on Titan’s oppressive, monstrous threats and Battle Angel Alita’s cyberpunk-style scrapyard brutality.

It’s a familiar set-up, with enough unique ideas to be entertaining. There’s also a lot of Black representation in the show, not just in complexion but also in voice work. It’s nice to see, especially in a climate where fans are still arguing over whether Yoroichi in Bleach is Black. —IR

17 Witch Watch

Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

Witch Watch follows Nico, a young witch-in-training, and Morihito, her ogre-bodied childhood friend, as they navigate magical mishaps and everyday life under one chaotic roof. The setup is excellent, but it gets even better once the series introduces more characters, and we get to see how they clash with Nico and Morihito.

One of my favorite interactions is between an aspiring manga artist student and her high school teacher, who is a massive fan of the student anonymously online. Another great one is a witch who can transform into a black cat and tries to spy on Morihito and Nico, but falls so deeply into the cat persona that she overstays her welcome. It’s a cozy comedy, supernatural slice-of-life; and a lighthearted fantasy with an ever-growing cast of quirky magical beings. —IR

16 Kaiju No. 8 season 2

Where to watch: Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll is fond of pushing Kaiju No. 8 as one of the most popular serialized manga on Shonen Jump Plus in recent years, and it’s easy to see why. The anime offers a blend of high-octane action, heartfelt character work, and giant-monster spectacle that’s helped it roar into mainstream fandom.

Once an overlooked cleanup worker in a world beset by kaiju, Kafka Hibino becomes the unlikely host of Kaiju number 8, allowing him to transform into a powerful monster — and humanity’s greatest asset. By season 2, the Defense Force knows his secret, and rather than kill him, Kafka’s placed in a new unit. The threats keep coming as just about everybody in the ensemble cast levels up in some capacity, acquiring new gear or gaining new abilities.

The appeal of Kaiju No. 8 lies in its heart. When we see Kafka grapple with failure, duty, and the weight of his dream, the series is at its best. Season 2 delivers even bigger set pieces than the first, with cleaner, more ambitious action. If season 1 hooked you with its underdog charm and hype battles, season 2 is where the series truly starts flexing its world-building and dramatic stakes — even if the season finale might have you screaming with frustration considering its cliffhanger ending. —CP