2025 promises to be a thrilling year for anime fans! Discover the top 10 new and returning anime series that should be on your watchlist.

Zenshu

Genre: Isekai | Platform: Crunchyroll | Release: Weekly starting January 5, 2025

Zenshu is an isekai series that premiered on Crunchyroll in early January. A new episode will air every Sunday, with a total of 12 episodes.

The story follows Natsuko Hirose, a rising animation artist whose first TV series became a massive hit. However, as her next big project looms, she falls victim to food poisoning.

That would be a tragic ending, and the series would be over in just a few minutes. Luckily, the isekai part is still to come!

Instead of finding herself in the afterlife, she wakes up in a very familiar place – the world of her favorite childhood series, “A Tale of Perishing”. Soon, she discovers that she has the power to influence the fate of this world.

The Apothecary Diaries (Season 2)

Genre: Drama / Mystery | Platform: Crunchyroll | Release: Weekly starting January 10, 2025

The Apothecary Diaries was a real surprise hit last year and the first episodes of the continuing season are already available on Crunchyroll.

In the first season, we followed Maomao, a young woman with extensive knowledge of medicine and poisons, who is kidnapped from the red-light district by a secret agent of the imperial palace. As is typical in noble circles, she quickly becomes entangled in various political intrigues, and her medical skills often play a crucial role in solving them.

The second season picks up right where the first one left off, so it’s highly recommended to watch the first season beforehand. That should be no problem, though, as the series is a perfect blend of historical drama, medical mysteries, and a touch of romance.

Sakamoto Days

Genre: Action / Comedy | Platform: Netflix | Release: Weekly starting January 11, 2025

It’s a familiar story: in the wild and reckless days of youth, you were a feared hitman. But eventually, those days come to an end, and you settle down. Love has the power to tame even the toughest individuals.

Sakamoto Days tells this exact story of Taro Sakamoto, who left his felonious past behind and built a family with his wife in a peaceful neighborhood. But the criminal underworld won’t let him go so easily, and various rivals from his past target his newfound family happiness. Now, the slightly rounder Sakamoto must face these challenges – preferably without spilling any blood, as his wife enforces a strict no-kill policy.

Since January 11, a new episode has been released every week on Netflix.

Fire Force (Season 3)

Genre: Action / Shōnen | Platform: Crunchyroll | Release: April 2025

Fire Force is returning soon with its third and final season. The first half will air on Crunchyroll starting in April, and the second half will be released in January 2026.

The series is set in a world where people spontaneously combust and turn into what are called "Infernals." To combat this threat, a special unit known as the "Special Fire Force" was formed, made up of individuals with pyrokinetic abilities who can extinguish Infernals using their powers. The name Fire Force says it all. However, as is often the case, the Infernals are not just a natural phenomenon, and they are far from being the only problem the Special Fire Force faces.

After the second season aired back in 2020, it's about time for the story to continue.

Dan Da Dan Season 2 (July 2025)

Genre: Action / Horror / Romantic Comedy | Platform: Crunchyroll | Release: July 2025

In 2024, a standout action series premiered that quickly became a favorite for many anime fans.

Dan Da Dan follows Ken Takakura, who is fascinated by supernatural phenomena like aliens. In contrast to Momo Ayase, he doesn't care much for ghosts, while she, on the other hand, doesn’t believe in aliens. So, the two strike a pact to convince each other that their beliefs are correct. Momo sets out to search for aliens, while Ken prepares for a ghost hunt. They both quickly learn the hard way that both aliens and ghosts really do exist and that’s just the beginning of their problems.

After the first season ended in the middle of an arc with a massive cliffhanger, fans have been eagerly waiting for the continuation, which fortunately won’t be much longer. Season 2 will return in July 2025 on Crunchyroll.

The Summer Hikaru Died

Genre: Horror / Slice of Life | Platform: Netflix | Release: Summer 2025

While Dan Da Dan lightens all its eerie moments with humor, things take a much darker turn in the slice-of-life anime The Summer Hikaru Died. Starting in the summer of 2025, you can watch this Lovecraftian tale on Netflix.

The story follows Yoshiki and Hikaru, two friends living in the countryside, with a deep bond that seems unshakable until a tragic event changes everything. One day, Hikaru is fatally

injured during a solo hiking trip. Before succumbing to his wounds, a mysterious and eerie entity invades his body, replacing his consciousness.

At first, no one around him notices the change, as the creature has taken on both Hikaru’s appearance and memories. But Yoshiki senses that something is wrong. Something dark and malevolent seems to have taken possession of Hikaru.

Lazarus

Genre: Cyberpunk / Action | Station: Adult Swim's Toonami | Release: 2025

Shinichirō Watanabe’s Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo were colossal successes that earned the director widespread respect. In 2025, he returns with a new creation.

Lazarus is set in the year 2052, in a world where a miracle drug has seemingly solved nearly every problem humanity was facing. However, it’s no surprise that such a powerful substance comes with its own side effects. Its creator, Dr. Skinner, reveals that the drug drastically shortens the lifespan of everyone who receives the injection, and imminent death is now unavoidable for those affected. As a result, a task force called Lazarus is formed to track down this fool and find a cure.

The anime promises to be a visual feast for action fans, as none other than Chad Stahelski, director of the John Wick franchise, has been brought on board to handle the action scenes.

Witch Hat Atelier

Genre: Fantasy | Platform: Crunchyroll | Release: 2025

The manga Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama has garnered a large fanbase, including many from outside the typical bubble. This fantastic reputation and beautiful art style will need to be upheld by the anime adaptation set to debut sometime in 2025 on Crunchyroll.

The story follows Coco, a tailor's daughter who dreams of becoming a witch more than anything. One day, she unexpectedly comes close to realizing that dream, but in the process, she accidentally turns her mother to stone. To reverse the curse, wizard Qifrey takes her under his wing. In his atelier, Coco learns the true nature of magic and quickly draws the attention of a powerful circle. After all, it's not common for an ordinary person like her to wield magic.

My Hero Academia (Season 8)

Genre: Superhero | Platform: Crunchyroll | Release: 2025

My Hero Academia has been a staple in the anime landscape since 2016. With Season 7, the superhero series reached another high point, and this year, the eighth season will bring the story to a close.

The series and its numerous movies take place in a world where nearly everyone is born with a special ability called a "Quirk." The emphasis is on "nearly," as the young Izuku Midoriya is completely powerless. By chance, he encounters his idol All Might one day and inherits his Quirk in a moment of danger. He is eventually accepted into the most prestigious superhero academy in the country and must learn to cope with his newfound power.

After the My Hero Academia manga recently concluded with a polarizing ending, the anime is now heading toward its own finale.

One Punch Man (Season 3)

Genre: Superhero / Seinen | Platform: Crunchyroll | Release: 2025

Saitama, on the other hand, takes a completely different approach. He’s a superhero just for fun, effortlessly defeating his enemies with a single punch, earning him the nickname One Punch Man.

While the first season of the anime adaptation had fans crying tears of joy, the second season, following a change in animation studios, received a more lukewarm reception. Nevertheless, Saitama’s journey is set to continue with Season 3, after almost a five-year hiatus.

The second season focused primarily on Garou, a self-proclaimed “Hero Hunter” who grows increasingly powerful. But Saitama has another major issue to deal with: an impending war with the Monster Association, which is expected to take center stage in Season 3.

The third season will again be produced by Studio J.C. STAFF, the same studio responsible for Season 2. So we can only hope that the quality will improve, nevertheless.