Forum - View topicThe Best Anime of Summer 2025
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KPK10
Posts: 46 |
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While I agree that The Summer Hikaru Died should be first, Takopi deserves the second spot!
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Wizardizar
 Posts: 206 |
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I'm just happy Turkey! made the cut into the top 10. Big win for people like me who love freaky little anime originals.
As for my ranking of the shows I watched this season (which puts them above the 5-6 I dropped early this season): DanDaDan: There's no show quite like this My Dress-Up Darling: Just good vibes week after week Takopi: Art, but never want to watch it again Turkey!: For all the complaints about it not being about bowling, it is the most an anime has ever been about the power of bowling to save lives Watanare: I love women's wrongs and disaster girls, and it looked and sounded great Ruri Rocks: Maybe one of the most beautiful show this season and learned a lot about minerals Silent Witch: Enjoyed this way more than I expected but I wished it had a bit more action Food Court: I'd listen to their podcast Bad Girls: I love these gay little idiots, but it was definitely 10% rom- 90% com, and not all of it landed |
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malvarez1
Posts: 2994 |
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I went into To Be Hero X completely blind and was shocked how much I enjoyed it. The animation is amazing whether it was CGI or 2D. The show non-linear storytelling could also be incredibly rewarding.
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meiam
Posts: 3674 |
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To me this feel like city the animation is just so far ahead of everything that it just doesn't even make sense to compare them, like asking whats better between an apple, a banana or fulfilling all your ambitions.
But comedy and show about happy people are always looked down upon, oh well. |
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quentntarantado
Posts: 61 Location: Indonesia |
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So no. 1 is best in quality? Arguably any of these could be no. 1, but Summer Hikaru Died seem to lose steam in the middle. Takopi meanwhile is six episodes of horror, horror, horror, horror, horror, and redemption. I would put Takopi second.
Dandadan is my first. Sorry, I have my biases. Nothing can beat the romantic couple Momokarun, and then Kinta Sakata on top of that? I saw most of the anime this season, but my eyes remain firmly on this series. |
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Gem-Bug
 Posts: 1513 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada |
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Dandadan and The Summer Hikaru Died are the only shows I kept up with this season, and both are excellent
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Gina Szanboti
 Posts: 12741 |
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While I agree with the reviews in the list for the shows that I watched (7 of the 10), I still want to give a shout-out to Dekin no Mogura. It was the series I most looked forward to each week. The Preview Guide reviewers hated it, and it apparently didn't even get enough viewers to make the weekly ratings list, which is a damned shame, because it's one of the most unique series we've gotten in ages.
On paper, it shouldn't work. It's very...talky, but I was never, ever bored by those conversations, in part because of the creative visuals that often went with them. The character designs are all over the map, from cute, sexy, bizarre, creepy, and downright ugly, but every one is a treat. Everyone's face game is top notch. The colors pop, the camera work is stellar and the set designs are amazing and full of interesting little details. And the stories are endlessly intriguing, and often heartwarming with some nice lessons hidden in the dry, offbeat humor, along with the spiritual lore that's casually thrown out along the way. The Nekozuku family's spirit cats are great, and then there's Maggie, the glasses wearing red panda ghost who hangs out on the head of one character. And then there was the major infodump at the end of the finale that made me salivate for another season. I can't recommend this show enough. It might take 2-3 episodes for it to convince you, but if you give it a chance, it's well worth your time. I just hope it gets a full review by someone who can vibe with what it's dishing out. 
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Nyapan
 Posts: 60 |
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The Summer Hikaru Died was also my favorite this season! I really like that it takes its time setting up Yoshiki and Hikaru's relationship. With so many shows going so fast nowadays it's a nice change of pace.
My second favorite was Dekin no Mogura. I saw a lot of people appreciating the series in one the latest TWIA comment sections which made me happy since it's the type of series that goes under the radar (slow start, a ton of dialogue, average animation). Edit: The comment above summed it up perfectly! |
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Oggers
 Posts: 467 Location: Ontario, Canada |
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I've been watching Dandadan, My Dress-Up Darling, City and Anne Shirley and I've enjoyed all of them (even if Anne Shirley still suffers from pacing issues at times). I haven't had time to watch The Summer Hikaru Died as well, but I'd love to check it out after these shows have wrapped up.
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smurky turkey
Posts: 5024 |
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It sure was a packed season, I can't remember another one that was so relentless with the sheer quantity of shows, for the most part quality too. I would like to give shine to two shows:
Ruri Rocks for being beautiful in both image and sound, for being very educational and varied in what you learn about plus character wise it is quite amazing to see the initial bratty and annoying Ruri grow into a very curious and determined spelunker. Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun for delivering a very exciting season in which the story took some surprising turns and delivered plenty of adventures outside of the school. There was even some romantic progression here and there. |
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Glordit
 Posts: 1184 |
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One of us!! One of us!! Dekin no Mogura was such a great show. I loved everything about it and I do hold some small hope that it gets more someday. I agree with everything ANN chose, even though I haven't seen CITY, Hikaru or P&S yet. I'll just mention some of the memorable shows from my huge list: Dainanaoji Season 2 was just as good as season 1. Futari Solo Camp has a rough start but slowly grew on me and it's one of my favorites. Clevatess was everything I wanted in a dark fantasy series and more. Mattaku Saikin no Tantei to Kitara was the funniest show of the season. I wish more people gave it a chance. Ginga Tokkyuu Milky☆Subway really fun mini series, good laughs and loved the two mains characters personalities and chemistry. Busamen Gachi Fighter was surprisingly good, despite it's wacky premise. Puniru wa Kawaii Slime had some mature themes for it's content, which was a nice surprise but still a very fun and thoughtful 2nd season. Onmyo Kaiten Re:verse controversial choice! Overall was a fun watch, almost felt like your classic 90's samurai/ninja anime. |
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Takkun4343
 Posts: 1750 Location: Englewood, Ohio |
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Just finished season 2 of My Dress-Up Darling ten minutes ago and I can say with confidence that it's the best anime of the season (because DAN DA DAN got Toonami jailed and I'm forcing myself to live with it) and easily my favorite anime of the year. Last season, my rewatch of the first proved so worthwhile, cringe comedy included, that I upped it from a 9 to a 10 and retroactively upgraded it to my second best of 2022. Season two only made it all the better, to the point where I can't recall an episode where I wasn't some mix of excited. There was never a dull moment, never a moment where I felt pissed off enough to chug a depressant, and never a moment I strayed from my stance on this show. The only con I can think of is, between the black-BG end credits scroll and the "thank you" message from the cast at the very end of the finale, I'm starting to wonder if the adaptation... stops here and we'll never get a season 3. But even then, CloverWorks knocked it outta the park. I'm glad to call this my favorite anime of 2025.
Elsewhere, I'm two episodes away from finishing Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus and only two overall into Takopi's Original Sin, and both are in contention for second-best of the season and year. Each one has their own nagging nitpick that's keeping them from challenging Dress-Up Darling's spot - for Aobuta, it's spoiler[the utter lack of any adequate explanation for how Uzuki's Puberty Syndrome allowed her to "read the room", which wasn't technically a deal-breaker but still annoying enough in the face of how good the arcs before and after handled their heroines' abilities]; and for Takopi, it's spoiler[Shizuka being surprised at Marina telling her Chappy most likely got euthanized and her believing he could still be alive after Takopi killed Marina, which feels inconsistent with the jaded-beyond-her-years attitude I've seen thus far] - but until I see more episodes of both, it won't be clear which one pulls ahead. So for now, they're tied. As for the remaining seasonal I watched, well... that's better saved for the "Worst of the Season" thread. |
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fathomlessblue
 Posts: 422 Location: Manchester, UK |
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Reading these best of articles play out as a typical top ten list has really made me realize how much I miss the old format of the writers just throwing out their personal faves. I guess that sense of perceived competition might encourage engagement. but I've never really liked the compulsion to rate shows against each other as some of a collective writer effort instead of having people post individual picks.
Well, to take the bait, I still find myself standing against the current regarding Hikaru, Dandadan, Dress Up Darling. Don't get me wrong, I like and enjoy all three, but the sheer gushing praise leave me feeling alienated. Hikaru's getting there, but similar to horror shows like Shiki or Higurashi, I can respect the individual beats, but my feeling are only going to coalesce once they're over and the mysteries and character arcs have played out. As for Dandadan, my feelings haven't really changed since season one. Great cast and joyful energy, but I don't really like the overarching plot, tonal shifts and creature design. It still feels like a bunch of random ideas spinning around without any sense of structure to guide them to a cohesive whole. I don't mind outlandish elements, but they need to feel like they're all moving in the same direction in service of something greater. I absolutely adored Undead Unluck for that reason, but Dandandan's plot still feels like a toddler just threw all their toys on the floor and is rapidly playing with each one. I guess some people love that, but I just start to tune to out at the senselessness of it. I will admit Dress Up Darling S2 impressed me far more than the first, with there being less lecherous elements and more focus on kindness and acceptance towards individual hobbies and outlooks. Cosplay will never be something I'm all that interested in, but I salute the passion and empathy towards the people who embrace it. Panty and Stocking is the one show in the list that just has me scratching my head at its high placement. I was fine with the original, enough to buy it at least. The sex jokes were mostly whatever over me, but I remember there was enough creativity and willingness to go outside the box that it was worthy of being remembered. This follow up just feels like a follow up devoid of ideas, similar to something Osomatsu-san S2. I don't mind that there's sex jokes. I don't mind that the sketch is going to be a vague parody of some western movie or franchise. But those are the staging to the comedy, not the comedy itself. Take away the giant penises and [expletive] and there's barely any actually thought out jokes here. It's basically just the Animaniacs with T&A. It's so hacky. I sat through the entire season almost completely numb to a show whose entire goal is to shock and wow. Granted, I was probably too old for its antics when the first season came out, and I certainly am now, but I can at least respect the hustle when there's enough wit. This was Sex & Violence with Machspeed levels of tiredness, So disappointing. At least character designs remain great. Well, grousing aside, my favourite shows are probably as follows. 5. Ruri Rocks. Look, I'm learning about mineralogy, and it's pretty fascinating stuff. If they also want to include a women with thighs suited to pulling turnips out of the ground, fine with me. It's also probably the closest we'll get to a show about gems without Studio Orange being involved again. That's a joke, we'll probably get another season of Jeweler Richard before Land of the Lustrous. 4. Food Court. It's literally just two girls talking but I find the two of them so enjoyable that I'm happy to just listen. I particularly love Yamamoto, whose outwards gyaru aesthetic is actually a quiet act of defiance to distance herself from people that would make assumptions about her for her figure regardless. It also really makes me want another season of Wave, Listen to Me! 3. CITY. I don't think I enjoy the cast to the same level of Nichijou gang of lunatics, but it's astonishing to see Kyoani somehow up their craftsmanship on what was already an impeccable production. Plus, it's just great being engulfed in the cosy warm hug that are Keiichi Arawi's worlds. 2. Dr Stone S4. This is such a strange pick to me, as while I've watched Dr Stone from the very beginning, it was mostly a consistently 'good enough' series to occupy some post-work comedown time and see some quirky gadgets get created. I never actively thought about dropping it, but it could have easily been forgotten in the tidal wave of new seasonal show. But over the last few series the show has fully wormed it's way into my heart, with much more forward momentum, tense interactions, and drift towards genuine sentimentality. Shounen has always championed the idea of the seemingly weak or unskilled rising up to protect others, but I'm not sure I've ever encountered one so sincerely fixated on the belief that anyone, regardless of age, infirmity or ability has a place and can contribute to a collective whole with enough curiosity and determination. The thirst for knowledge welcomes all who have an interest. That this belief culminates this season with one of the most quietly beautiful arcs of the weakest character single-handedly attempting to save humanity all but cemented the show as one my favourite shounen series of the modern age. 1. Call of the night S2 It pretty much continues the introspection that started appearing in the latter half of S1, expanding and becoming more nuanced with every new character focus. I'm still shocked how much I love and could write paragraphs about pretty much every person in his darn show. It's a wonderful thesis about how outcasts and weirdos with unique outlooks on life can find affection in the embrace of similarly quirky people. Now announce S3 already so we'll (presumably) get introduced to the one legitimate villainous character the show can been unsubtlely dancing. As for other shows, I promise to watch Anne Shirley at some point after my wonderful experience with the 1979 version settles down and also Takopi's Original Sin once I build up the courage. Any year now. Last edited by fathomlessblue on Sun Sep 21, 2025 4:12 pm; edited 3 times in total |
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EmeraldSaucer
 Posts: 936 |
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City has been the clear number 1 for me on sheer artistic achievement alone, but this has been a really great season. While I don't think the new season of My Dress-Up Darling was quite as strong as the first, it remains a very strong and thoughtful adaptation that even manages to uplift material that wasn't so well executed in the manga (like the presentation of Coffin, which the last episode continued the trend of being amazing). Ruri Rocks has likewise been a treat every week between its meticulous character animation to the gorgeous background work, all with that feel good undercurrent of finding something you love and blazing a path forward to it (much in the same way as Dress-Up Darling, in fact; funny how both had vignettes of characters having to discard what they love at an earlier age to try to be "normal"). And Turkey was such a lovely surprise, with Naomi Hiruta's sensibilities brought from being a live-action scriptwriter rather than an anime veteran really coming through as a breath of fresh air; never am I more glad that we got baited and this wasn't a slice of life about bowling
Wish The Summer Hikaru Died had maintained its early momentum, but sadly the strained production became increasingly clear alongside the realization that it'll be a surprise if the season ends on a satisfactory note. Still good, but its shortcomings cause to it fall just short of the rest imo |
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ThatGuyWhoLikesThings
Posts: 1075 |
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P&S gets a shout-out but not Clevatess or Bunny Girl Senpai :'(
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