This past year brought Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Infinity Castle and a Chainsaw Man movie to theaters, and anime series hit the mark, too. Titles like Solo Leveling, My Hero Academia and Spy x Family gave us something to look forward to each week.
Fans may have discovered a new favorite series, enjoyed a new season of a hit show or found a hidden gem. If you didn't, this roundup can help you catch up on some of 2025's unsung shows and best releases of the year. Cue your year-end anime binge sessions and add a few of these to your watch list.
It took a while for this horror series to come to the screen, but Netflix dropped The Summer Hikaru Died over the summer. Yoshiki and Hikaru have been friends since childhood, but something is off after Hikaru's hike up and back down a mountain. Part horror, part mystery, the story is haunting, disturbing and sometimes sad. Watch how the relationship between two longtime friends is affected when death changes things.Â
100 years after humans fled Earth for space because of a deadly pollutant, a lone hotel run by robots still stands in the Ginza district of Tokyo. Meet Yachiyo, the lead concierge at Apocalypse Hotel in this original slice-of-life anime about how a hotel goes from zero guests to welcoming alien visitors with interesting backstories. Though the guests come from all over, the return of humans shouldn't be counted out. It's a lighthearted series but you may find it to be one of your favorites of the year. Stream it on Crunchyroll.
I've raved enough about this show, but in case you missed it, Dandadan is streaming on Hulu, Crunchyroll and Netflix. Momo and Okarun have conflicting beliefs about ghosts, extraterrestrials and the paranormal, but they form an unlikely bond when they start fighting off supernatural threats. It's a truly wild ride that pretty much sticks to the manga version, so buckle in and stream two seasons.Â
Adapted from Kei Urana's manga, Gachiakuta centers on a young Rudo, an orphan wrongfully charged and convicted for the murder of his stepfather. He's thrown into the Pit, a dreadful dump where the hopeless and destitute are discarded, but he finds himself in a place where humans fight monsters while scheming to get back at the island's elite. Stream season 1 on Crunchyroll.
Kidnapped and forced to work as an indentured servant, Maomao is counting down until her two years are up. Though she wants to keep her identity hidden, her apothecary knowledge makes her indispensable after she helps cure the emperor's concubines and babies. She unintentionally gains the attention of someone in the royal court, and soon becomes a problem solver when it comes to mystery ailments. Stream two seasons on Crunchyroll, or find season 1 on Hulu and Netflix.
Season 2 of Shoshimin: How to Become Ordinary arrived this past spring, with friends Kobato and Osanai set to part ways after the events of season 1. In a show that involves high school kids, arson crimes and kidnapping, there's bound to be tension. Osanai has her ways, but does she deserve to be a suspect? Will Kobato see that he can be not just ordinary, but extraordinary? Get into the series if you like mysteries, flawed friendships and slow burns. Stream both seasons on Crunchyroll.
This anime has everything you could want: action, fantasy, comedy and a little romance. Scarlet's bad side is activated after she's been deceived, unfairly treated and wronged by her now ex-fiancé, Prince Kyle the bully. Her hands are rated E for everyone, and a royal thrashing is in order when she gets her hands on him, and maybe his crew, too.Â
Kiyoko Yoshida is extremely curious about her classmate, Tsuyoshi Yano, because he always comes to school with injuries and bruises. She's already an anxious person, but she winds up looking after him and finds herself enamored with him. For those of you into light rom-coms, you can watch season 1 on Crunchyroll (and learn what's up with those bruises).Â