The fall 2024 anime season is officially over, and with it, the winter 2025 anime season can finally begin. As the first anime season of the year, the winter season always sets the tone for how good a year anime fans are in for, so more often than not, it’s the most important season to watch.

The winter anime season almost always needs to be big, and fortunately, 2025 will be no different. Between the return of established hits and the premieres of new anime that are sure to make names for themselves, the winter 2025 anime season will be another season filled with great anime for old and new fans alike. A few anime, in particular, are especially worth highlighting, as each one is sure to be among the best anime to watch in 2025, as a whole.

10 From Bureaucrat To Villainess: Dad's Been Reincarnated!

Anime Series By Ajia-do Animation Works; Based On The Manga By Michiro Ueyama

Ajia-do Animation Works’ From Bureaucrat to Villainess: Dad’s Been Reincarnated! stars Kenzaburo Tondabayashi, a salaryman who, after getting into a car accident, reincarnates as Grace Auvergne, the villainess of his daughter’s favorite otome game, Magical Academy: Love & Beast. Kenzaburo tries to commit to his role as the villainess and let the story play out as smoothly as possible, but unfortunately, his experience as an adult and a loving parent causes things to derail more often than not.

Villainess isekai anime have become increasingly common over the years, but fortunately, From Bureaucrat to Villainess: Dad’s Been Reincarnated!’s clever comedy writing and fun character interactions make it a great parody of the genre. Old and new fans alike will surely get a lot out of it, and it’s sure to be a fun series to watch from start to finish.

9 Medalist

Anime Series By ENGI; Based On The Manga By Tsurumaikada

ENGI’s Medalist stars Inori Yuitsuka, a young girl whose dreams of becoming an Olympic figure skater are hampered both by her mother not wanting her to fail like her sister did and how even at 11, she’s considered too old for serious training. One day, however, Inori meets Tsukasa Akeuraji, a former ice dancer on the brink of giving up skating, and when Tsukasa agrees to become Inori’s coach, they both begin to show the world just how talented they are.

As niche as the appeal of figure skating may be, the engaging character writing of Medalist gives it all the appeal of the best sports anime, all of which is further emphasized by the great direction and music showcased in the trailers. Medalist is bound to be a great anime to watch, and that should be true for people who don’t even normally watch sports anime.

8 The Red Ranger Becomes An Adventurer In Another World

Anime Series By Satelight; Based On The Manga By Koyoshi Nakayoshi

Satelight’s The Red Ranger Becomes an Adventurer in Another World stars Togo Asagaki i.e. Kizuna Red, the Red Ranger of a Super Sentai team who’s suddenly transported to a fantasy world. Said fantasy world is currently being plagued by demonic threats, and Togo, being the hero he is, decides to lend a hand in saving the world, even if his new friends find his methods utterly bizarre.

Not only does the anime look to have a highly pleasing art and animation style, but The Red Ranger Becomes and Adventurer in Another World takes full advantage of its parody stylings with how much it leans into the most absurd tropes of both isekai and Super Sentai, making for one of the most unique takes on both genres in years. There’s plenty of appeal for fans of both genres, and overall, it’s a great one to look out for.

7 Kinnikuman: Perfect Origin Arc Season 2

Anime Series By Production I.G; Based On The Manga By Yudetamago

Production I.G’s Kinnikuman: Perfect Origin Arc is a sequel to the legendary Shonen Jump anime Kinnikuman. Shortly after the events of the original anime, the world falls under the threat of the Perfect Large Numbers, the true of the villainous Perfect Chojin faction, and Kinnikuman must come out of retirement and team up with old allies and enemies alike to save the world once more.

While season 1 was notably underrated, it was still great to watch thanks to the fun story and incredible fight scenes, and based on the trailer, Kinnikuman: Perfect Origin Arc season 2 will be a perfect continuation of season 1 with its great animation and even greater story beats. The series hasn’t been the best introduction to Kinnikuman for Western fans, but anyone who has been enjoying it will continue to find a lot to love.

6 Solo Leveling: Arise From The Shadow

Anime Series By A-1 Pictures; Based On The Novel By Chugong

In the world of A-1 Pictures’ Solo Leveling, people can awaken to supernatural abilities and work as “Hunters” who earn a living fighting monsters in dungeons. Jinwoo Sung is regarded as the world’s weakest Hunter for being an E-Rank Hunter, but when a near-death experience leaves him with video game-like powers, Jinwoo will use them to become stronger than anyone and earn enough money to his family, regardless of how he might change in the process.

Solo Leveling’s gorgeous animation and fight scenes helped it take the world by storm in 2024, season 2, Solo Leveling: Arise from the Shadow, will be just as gorgeous to watch and make the story even better by fully showcasing Jinwoo’s new powers as the Shadow Monarch. Solo Leveling’s second season is when the anime will truly come into its own, and that will be great to see.

5 Zenshu

Anime Series By MAPPA; Directed By Mitsue Yamazaki

Zenshu stars Natsuko Hirose, a brilliant, yet antisocial animator who’s put under so much pressure to succeed that she ends up working herself to death. After dying, however, Natsuko finds herself in the world of A Tale of Perishing, the anime that inspired her to become an animator, and while the story is supposed to end in tragedy, she takes it upon herself to try and give it a happy ending.

Isekai anime have long become contentious with fans and critics alike, but between the meta-narrative on the struggles of being in a creative field and the gorgeous visuals of a MAPPA production, Zenshu is set to be far better than the average isekai anime thanks to its stellar visuals and clever writing. MAPPA tends to put out great work more often than not, and hopefully, Zenshu will be no different.

4 Sakamoto Days

Anime Series By TMS Entertainment; Based On The Manga By Yuto Suzuki

TMS Entertainment’s Sakamoto Days stars Taro Sakamoto, a man who was once the world’s greatest assassin until he abruptly retired, started a family, and put on a lot of weight. Sakamoto would prefer to spend his days with his wife and child running the family convenience store, but circumstances beyond his control force him back into action, most notably those behind his mysterious retirement, in the first place.

The Sakamoto Days manga has been a hit for years thanks to its great comedy and intense action scenes reminiscent of John Wick, and based on promotional material, the Sakamoto Days anime is going to do a great job of translating the writing and action of the manga into animation. Sakamoto Days’ anime has been hotly anticipated for years, and fortunately, it doesn’t look like it will disappoint, in the slightest.

3 Re:Zero — Starting Life In Another World Season 3, Part 2

Anime Series By White Fox; Based On The Light Novel By Tappei Nagatsuki

White Fox’s Re:Zero — Starting Life in Another World stars Subaru Natsuki, an ordinary boy who suddenly finds himself transported to a fantasy world. Rather than receive any overpowered abilities, however, Subaru finds himself with the power to return to specific points in time whenever he dies, and the series often uses that to have him die in increasingly horrific ways as he slowly gets involved in the darker elements of his new reality.

2024 saw the long-awaited premiere of Re:Zero season 3, and while the first half was notably on the short side, Re:Zero — Starting Life in Another World season 3 has been a great return with its stellar animation and consistently dramatic storytelling. The second half has a notably late premiere window in February, but even so, it’s sure to be another great continuation of the legendary anime.

2 The Apothecary Diaries Season 2

Anime Series By Toho Animation & OLM, Inc.; Based On The Light Novel By Natsu Hyuga

Toho Animation Studio and OLM, Inc.'s The Apothecary Diaries takes place in an Imperial China-esque setting and follows Maomao, a sharp-witted apothecary abducted and sold into the emperor's palace. Using her extensive medicinal knowledge and keen observation skills, she demonstrates her value beyond just being a worker, and her talents soon attract the attention of the enigmatic eunuch Jinshi, leading to a deeper and more dangerous involvement in court affairs.

The Apothecary Diaries was one of the breakout hits of late 2023 and early 2024 thanks to its great visuals and incredibly clever character writing, and if the trailers are anything to go on, season 2 will have everything great about season 1 while simultaneously taking things to an even higher degree. The Apothecary Diaries has done a great job of making a name for itself in mainstream anime, and hopefully, season 2 won’t disappoint.

1 The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You Season 2

Anime Series By Bibury Animation Studios; Based On The Manga By Rikito Nakamura & Yukiko Nozawa

Bibury Animation Studios’ The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You stars Rentaro Aijou, an eccentric young boy who’s fallen in love 100 times and been rejected every time. One day, however, the God of Love tells Rentaro that he will gain 100 soulmates during his time in high school, all of whom he must love equally or else risk killing them for depriving them of a soulmate.

100 Girlfriends season 1 became a hit for how well it parodied the harem genre, and based on what little promotional material has been shown, The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You season 2 will be even more absurd than season 1 was in all the best of ways. There’s no anime quite like 100 Girlfriends, and that’s why season 2 is the best anime to watch in winter 2025, by far.