Top 10 Anime of Winter 2025

We all know that the isekai genre is beyond saturated by this point, so it takes something a little extra to stand out. A Red Power Ranger being transported to a medieval fantasy world and going onto defeat monsters and magic-users with ludicrous sentai logic? Now that we can get behind! A loving satire to all things Super Sentai, watching a Red Ranger embark on a D&D campaign, fuelled by the power of friendship and explosions never stops being hilarious. Who needs a natural twenty when you can summon a mecha at the drop of a hat.

Well, this was long overdue. After years of waiting, the ghost boy lurking in the lavatory has finally returned to continue his antics, and so far, it’s been a delight to watch. Between battles with timekeepers, the blooming romance with Nene and Hanako, as well as the Seventh Wonder’s past as a human, it’s nice to see the story continue to unfold along with its signature vibrant visuals. Hopefully we won’t have to wait nearly as long before it wraps up its long-suffering story!

Whether you’ve been a die-hard Kinnikuman fan your entire life, or you just love watching anime wrestling, then you’re in for a treat. Continuing the battle against the Perfect Large Numbers, this season has been nothing but hands! Watching the Mountain get crushed over the Grand Canyon, all the Chojin factions getting into a death match, Broken Jr laying down a Berlin beating – the cheesiness doth overflow and we are here for it. They even turn the world’s oldest pyramid into a wrestling ring. You’ve got to love the madness!

It just goes to show that MAPPA aren’t only gods when it comes to adapting beloved manga – but also can cook up a storm when it comes to original works. And while far more low key, we dare say Zenshu is one of their best to date! After a rotten clam cuts her life short, Natsuko, a prodigal animator going through a slump, awakens in her favourite animated movie, where she becomes intrinsically embroiled in the plot. What follows is a whimsical, hilarious and honestly beautiful take on an isekai as Natsuko, despite being stuck in a world of fantasy, starts to make true human connections for the first time. And yes, the irony is not lost on us that MAPPA of all people have made an anime that deals with the mental welfare of an overworked animator.

The pinnacle of harem anime is back, and oh how we have missed it. After essentially putting all others in its genre on blast, gigachad Rentaro and his ever-expanding collective of true loves have returned to the fold, bringing with them unfiltered hilarity that continues to somehow be equal parts degenerate and endearing. When he’s not adding new love interests to the roster, you can bet that Rentaro and company will find new ways to break the fourth wall in the most ludicrous ways possible – while also parodying everything under the sun. And yes, that includes Dragon Ball.

If past successes are anything to go by – anime and figure skating are a winning combination, and that’s certainly continued to prove itself true in the form of medalist. United by their fear of being too old to enter the completive scene, former ice dancer Tsukasa takes the spirited Inori under his wing, where they endeavour to take the sport by storm. And the results are stunning. The performances, the animation, the heartfelt connection between teacher and student – this is a stirring show that’s sure to amaze as well as strike you right in the feels. Yuri walked so Medalist could skate!

You can take the hitman out of the game, but not the game out of the hitman. Despite retiring, settling down and putting on a few pounds, Sakamoto remains the deadliest assassin out there – which comes in handy when killers start coming out of the woodwork to threaten him and his family. A raucous blend of comedy and action, the beloved source material has finally been granted a respectable adaptation that’s continued to showcase that, no matter what, you do not mess with Sakamoto.

Science never sleeps, and neither does Senku. Having finally arrived in the US of A, Senku and his gang of would-be scientists are on track to discover the root cause of the phenomenon that turned all of civilisation to stone…except now they have a huge roadblock in the form of Dr Xeno and his cabaret of mercs, who are more than content with the way the world currently operates. Outgunned and outmanned, watching Senku brain blast his way out of one perilous situation at a time will never not make for peak anime viewing!

Mystery, medicine, and political machinations amongst hundreds of the Emperor’s concubines. That’s right, Maomao is back, baby, and it's just as entrancing as when we last left her. With the Rear Palace shaken up with the influx of new concubines, as well as shady circumstances surrounding Jinshi’s true identity, there’s no shortage of problems for Maomao to solve in her typical unorthodox manner. Even in a forest of scheming beauties, none shine more than her…though maybe that’s just because her put-downs are legendary.

Jinwoo’s debut turned out to be an unexpected knock-out given the high quality of animation and blistering fight scenes. Season Two said, hold my sake, and showed us what a Shadow Monarch could really do. As his power continues to swell, Jinwoo not only has to contend with far greater threats emerging from the gates, but also the strongest Hunters the world has to offer. By this point, it’s not a case of worrying if Jinwoo can win, it's wondering who among his foes he’s going to turn into his next shadow minion.
Which of these anime do you think kicked off the new year in style? Let us know in the comments!