Must-Watch Anime of 2025: Top Ongoing & Upcoming Series You Can’t Miss!

“From isekai adventures to wholesome romances, this year’s anime lineup is fire!”

This year has started with some amazing lineups that can’t be missed. But if you’ve been living under a rock and are unaware of what to watch this year, don’t worry!

This listicle contains some amazing popular titles, along with new additions to the anime world, that are a must-watch for otakus around the world.

The listicles below feature wonderful collections of shows, whether you enjoy hardcore romance, love to immerse yourself in action, or get lost in the isekai. We’ve got you covered.

We’ve also placed all the ongoing and upcoming anime into four categories so that they are easily accessible and understandable for readers, with their release dates and where to binge-watch the shows.

The anime listicles is divided into four categories:

Best New Ongoing Anime 2025:

Anime included in this category are brand new, not sequels, and the best part is you can watch them right now without any wait because they are ongoing.

Best Ongoing Sequel Anime:

Anime that are sequels to popular series will be placed in this section.

Best Upcoming New Anime:

Similar to the new ongoing anime, the upcoming new anime are brand-new shows that will be released this year.

Best Upcoming Sequel Anime:

This list includes sequels to popular anime that will be coming out this year.Now that we’re all set with the formalities, let’s begin with the listicle.

Best new Ongoing anime 2025

1.Welcome to Japan, Ms. Elf!

Premiere Date: January 11, 2025

Streaming On: Crunchyroll

The craze for Isekai anime is still trending, and if done well, it can always be a hit. Welcome to Japan! Ms. Elf is not your ordinary Isekai show that you’ve been watching for ages; it’s what you call a reverse Isekai.

You ask, “What’s that?” Well, in regular Isekai shows, the main protagonist is transported to a fantasy world, but this time, even though our hero travels between different dimensions, he gets a beautiful elf with him in the real world.

The story starts with Kazuhiro Kitase, whose only hobby is sleeping and escaping to the fantasy world.

However, he doesn’t realize that the world he thinks he’s dreaming about is real, not just his imagination, after being attacked by a legendary dragon and gaining an elf friend by his side.

He soon realized that he could travel through different worlds while sleeping, and to his surprise, it was also the real world that existed in different dimensions.

From there his adventurous life begins.If you’re bored of watching regular Isekai anime with repeatedly boring power-up systems, then this one is just for you, with a whole lot of wholesome themes.

2. Sakamoto days:

Premiere Date: 11 January 2025

Streaming On: Netflix

The show that has been anticipated by manga fans for almost a year is finally here, the legendary character Sakamoto, along with his gangster team and wholesome family.

The show features the legendary hitman Sakamoto himself, whose powerful aura is known throughout the underworld.

However, his demeanor changes when he falls in love with a sweet girl, marries her, has a cute little baby girl, and becomes an overweight house husband. But leaving the past, as dark as Sakamoto’s, is never going to happen so easily.

His life takes a turn when people from an underworld organization start chasing him to claim the huge bounty on his head.

Now, he has to push his boundaries, save his family, and maintain distance from these gangsters all at once.

The show is full of action sequences, so be ready to watch some outrageous moves from our hero.

3. Honey Lemon Soda:

Premiere Date: January 8, 2025

Streaming On: Crunchyroll

Now, it’s time to give space to romance anime because life without romance shows is insipid.

Honey Lemon Soda may sound a bit obscure, but it’s your typical rom-com show where a cute girl falls for the kindness of a sturdy boy.

The story begins with 15-year-old Uka Ishimori, who was bullied throughout her entire middle school years.

She never stood up to anyone, barely even moved, and because of her rock-like demeanor, she was called “Rocky” by her past classmates.

Now that she’s out of middle school and the miserable life she was living, Uka wants to make friends in high school.

However, she gets accidentally drenched in lemon soda by a guy who is the polar opposite of her, Kai, on her first day to high school.

He seems to be bold, handsome, cool, and never fails to stand up to bullies. He is everything she wants to be. From here, their story of admiration, soon to bloom into love, begins.

4. The Red Ranger Becomes an Adventurer in Another World:

Premiere Date: January 12, 2025

Streaming On: Crunchyroll

As the title suggests, yes, it’s an Isekai anime where the Red Ranger is Isekai’d to another world.

The plot may seem unadorned, but what makes it worth watching are its characters and immersive world-building.

The story starts with a super optimistic Red Ranger, Tōgo Asagaki, the leader of the Super Sentai team. During the final fight with the boss of an evil force, Ender King, he is teleported to another world.

From here, the real journey in an Isekai world starts, where he forms alliances with mages (magic users) to free this world from evil and chaos, as well as his own world.

The show is full of action, a super cool ranger, a bit of paradox jokes on our heroes, and the magic in the Isekai world.

5. Übel Blatt:

Premiere Date: January 11, 2025

Streaming On: Amazon Prime Video

Ubel Blatt is the only anime airing this season that contains a massive amount of massacre and features many triggering moments.

It’s the only title in our list that may not be suitable for everyone, but if you enjoy anime like Berserk and Akame ga Kill, which don’t hesitate to show the corrupt side of the world, then this one should be on your watchlist.

The story begins with a betrayal and seven heroes who are known as heroes, but are they truly what they seem?

Enter our hero, Köinzell, a mighty swordsman who fears nothing, not even death. He is the wielder of the black sword, which is mysteriously powerful and well-known in the land. But what’s thrilling is the hidden secret behind Köinzell’s journey.

6. Medaka Kuroiwa Is Impervious to My Charms:

Premiere Date: January 7, 2025

Streaming On: Crunchyroll

Another typical shoujo (romance) anime on our list starts with the introduction of the ravishing beauty, Mona Kawai, and almost centers around her.

People worship the ground she walks on, the air she breathes, and so on. Well, calling her just cute and beautiful is an understatement for sure.

But her beautiful world shatters when she comes across a guy named Kuroiwa, who is surprisingly immune to her charming personality.

She goes out of her way and tries to approach him to make him fall for her brilliant demeanor, but no matter what she does, it just underwhelms him, or so it seems.

But that doesn’t make Mona give up, and she tries almost every time to convince him. But God knows whether Kuroiwa will accept her goddess-like demeanor or treat her like everyone else.

7. Medalist:

Premiere Date: January 5, 2025

Streaming On: Disney+ Hotstar

Yet another very popular manga series, alongside Sakamoto Days, is Medalist, and it’s also one of the best ice skating anime of the season.

Fans of Yuri On Ice, who were disappointed by the cancellation of the movie, can watch this one because it caters to almost the same vibes as Yuri On Ice.

Even though it’s the only sports anime releasing this winter, it is more emotionally driven, focusing on character development and personality rather than just being a sporty watch.

The story begins with Tsukasa Akeuraji, who always dreamed of being a solo figure skater, but because he started his journey a bit late, he was never able to accomplish his goals. In the end, he gives up his dream career and takes up the job of a coach.

However, life gives him another chance to fulfill his goal.On his first day of coaching, he meets an auspicious and determined girl, Inori, who is trying her best to practice skating.

Even though her overprotective mother tries to stop her, she goes for it anyway, and that dedication to her passion moves Tsukasa to train her and help her achieve what he couldn’t.

The show is a blend of all the emotions, with an awesome soundtrack. Definitely worth a watch!!

8. Farmagia:

Premiere Date: 10 January 2025

Streaming On: Crunchyroll

The anime inspired by a game with the same title, Farmagia, is a farming-based show.

But there’s a catch: instead of the usual farming of veggies, flowers, and other crops, our characters farm for cute, beautiful, and even the strongest monsters.

Yes, that’s exactly what you read about—MONSTERS—and they are totally controllable because everyone has one in this world, just like Pokémon.

The story begins with a brief introduction to the land of Felicidad and how things work in this world.

But soon, the death of Felicidad’s ruler marks a shift in the world, where the despotic overlord Glaza takes over and tries to diminish everything that doesn’t work out for him.

Enter our hero, who travels the underworld to explore opportunities to gather mysterious and powerful resources to farm and get his hands on powerful monster friends, all in an effort to overthrow Glaza’s dictatorship on their land.

9. Zenshuu:

Premiere Date: January 5, 2025

Streaming On: Crunchyroll

Zenshuu has made it to one of the most anticipated anime lists for fans because of its unique take.

Fans were looking forward to watching an anime based on an artist who creates anime as well as their livelihood, and with the hype around it, it’s going strong in grabbing the attention of many viewers with its jaw-dropping animation and, of course, its story.

The story starts with Natsuko, who, after graduating from high school, starts her career in animation, specifically in creating anime.

With her immense talent and the success of her debut show, she is given the opportunity to work on a romance/comedy movie that will center around the theme of first love.

Now, Natsuko must figure out how to work on this project without any prior experience. Will she be able to do it, or will it become a nightmare for her? Well, to find out, you’ll have to watch the anime.

10. I Have a Crush at Work:

Premiere Date: January 6, 2025

Streaming On: Crunchyroll

Another shoujo anime addition to our list, but this time it’s a workplace romance with mature characters. If high school shoujo anime doesn’t live up to your expectations, then this one should be on your watchlist.

The show begins with Yui Mitsuya and Masugu Tateishi, and as the title suggests they have a crush on each other, but they want to hide their affection, at least in the workplace.

After all, who wants to get into an awkward situation at their job? But hiding immense love and showing affection to your loved ones is a tough job for anyone. If they’re staying with you 24/7.

As the show progresses, there will be many romantic yet wholesome moments that are expected from the best shoujo series. Definitely worth watching workplace romance this season.

Also Read: Fortnite’s Next Anime Crossover? Dragon Ball Daima Might Be Coming Soon

Best Ongoing Sequel Anime:

1. Solo leveling (Season 2):

Premiere Date: January 5, 2025

Streaming On: Crunchyroll

Solo Leveling Season 2 is here, and everyone is crazy to watch it.

This season has attracted audiences with its epic fight scenes and, most importantly, Sung Jinwoo’s unimaginable glow-up.

The story begins in a world that functions like an MMORPG game, where one chaotic day a mysterious door opens, and through it, there are many monsters that need to be defeated so they don’t create chaos in the real world.

Groups of people form guilds and enter the gates to fight monsters, earning power-ups and different kinds of loot that can fetch them a good amount of money.

But there’s more to it. Our hero is given an opportunity, after almost dying in a dungeon, to participate in a program where he is upgrading his skills every second. Yes, that’s true.

The plot may seem simple, but the characters are too complex to ignore. It will be an action-packed ride that you won’t want to miss this year.

2. My Happy Marriage (Season 2):

Premiere Date: January 20, 2025

Streaming On: Netflix

My Happy Marriage is a remake of the iconic disney princess Cinderella in anime. The first season of the show made many fans cry over Miyo’s struggles and how she was protected by her sweet husband, Kiyoka.

As mentioned, the story revolves around our Cinderella, Miyo, who has been mistreated by her own family and was almost killed by them until her husband saved her. This season, Miyo faces an even bigger t

urmoil as she is about to meet her mother-in-law (Kiyoka’s mother), and she is far from serene.

It seems like her struggle is just about to begin with new character interactions this season.More drama, more chaos, more magic, Season 2 is fully underway this time.

3. The Apothecary Diaries (Season 2):

Premiere Date: January 10, 2025

Streaming On: Crunchyroll

Here comes one of the best mystery-driven Sherlock Holmes-style shows of last year:

The Apothecary Diaries. The story is set in medieval China, where a young apothecary solves every unresolved case she comes across.

The story begins with Maomao, the daughter of an apothecary, who gets kidnapped and sold to the imperial palace as part of the lowest echelons.

Maomao’s only goal is to work as an ordinary maid and avoid attracting unnecessary attention.

But things don’t go as planned, and soon she is recognized for her brilliant mind in solving cases that had never surfaced before.

Season 2 is full of new hidden mysteries, characters, and more shenanigans. So, don’t forget to catch up on this one!

Best Upcoming new anime 2025:

1.Witch Hat Atelier (2025):

Premiere Date: Not Announced

The most anticipated fantasy series yet to be released, Witch Hat Atelier, is a series that doesn’t need any introduction due to its insane popularity among fans.

The manga is one of the best-sellers, and finally, the anime adaptation is coming this year.

The story is set in a magnificent fantasy world, where everything is diverse and vibrant. This world also consists of magic and witches as the title suggests.

There’s Coco, a sweet dressmaker’s daughter, who aspires to be a witch.But the world is not always as it seems.

There are dark, mysterious forces at play that will surely affect the smooth journey of our little heroine.

Will she continue pursuing her dreams? What are the hidden secrets of the world? Well, everything will be answered in the upcoming anime.

2. The Summer Hikaru Died:

Premiere Date: Summer 2025

Available On: Netflix

We have covered almost all varieties of genres in our listicles, from heartfelt shoujo to action-packed long shounen anime, but one thing that can never be missed is horror.

Most of the time, horror series are hit or miss, but this title, The Summer Hikaru Died, has made its way into fans’ hearts with its creepiest plot ever.

And yes, not only is it one of the best horror series, but it is also a BL (boys love) series.

So, if you are a fan of horror plus some good boys’ romance, then this is just for you.The story starts with Yoshiki and Hikaru living in a rural area of a Japanese village.

One day, during a trip to the mountains, Hikaru gets lost but suddenly returns to the village. Yoshiki, suspicious about his return, asks him whether he is the real Hikaru.

From there, the scariest mystery unfolds, Hikaru’s body has been taken over by some unknown entity.

Is Hikaru really dead, or is he alive? That is the question that will reveal many secrets about these mysteriously demonic entities.

3. Witch Watch:

Premiere Date: April 2025

Available On: Crunchyroll

Here comes an anime featuring a witch, and this one is more of a light-hearted series compared to other witch series mentioned in our listicles.

The story begins with Nico Wakatsuki, a trained witch, who returns to her town after completing her training.

She wants to opt for a familiar, like her other witch friends, but the catch is that she doesn’t want a familiar that is just an animal like the others. She wants to choose a non-animal creature as her familiar.

She already knows who to pick: her childhood friend, Morihito “Moi” Otogi, who is an ogre. Even though he refuses, she doesn’t care and makes him her familiar, and their journey of witchy adventures begins from there.

As it seems, the synopsis is pretty simple, and it would definitely be a fluffy watch to uplift the mood.

Best Upcoming Sequel Anime:

1. Fire Force (Season 3):

Premiere Date: April 2025

Available On: Crunchyroll

Yet another popular series coming this year with a brand-new season, Fire Force.

The story is set in a world where people are cursed and turned into fireballs, yes, they are basically consumed by fire. Firefighters with special abilities work to subdue them so they can rest in peace.

In this season, we will be introduced to new characters, epic fights, and even a merging of two diverse universes.

There will be a collaboration between the series Soul Eater and Fire Force this season, and we will uncover the hidden secrets behind the people spontaneously combusting in this world.

Since the author of both series is the same, we can expect some thrilling adventures this time around.

2. Kaiju No. 8 (Season 2):

Premiere Date: July 2025

Available On: Crunchyroll

The super-hit series of last year is returning with a bang, and this time it will be even more exciting and action-packed.

The story begins with a 32-year-old main protagonist who doesn’t look like a hero at all, having given up on his dreams and ambitions.

Physical fitness is just a myth for him, and on top of that, he can turn into a monster called Kaiju in this world. Yes, that’s exactly what it is.

Despite all the tragedy happening in his life, he stands up and applies to fulfill his dream of becoming an elite soldier to fight Kaiju.

But how will he conquer this challenge, now that he is one of them? To find out, you’ll have to watch the show.

3. My Hero Academia (Season 8):

Premiere Date: Fall 2025

Available On: Crunchyroll

One of the most popular superhero anime is coming to its end this season.

The story follows an ordinary boy, Deku Midoriya, who only dreamed of becoming a hero and saving the world from super villains. His dream becomes a reality one day when one of the world’s ideal superheroes trains him.

He is soon enrolled in an academy, as the title suggests, which is the one and only school for superheroes with special abilities, much like the Avengers.

Deku’s journey is filled with emotional backlash, crises, and chaos. He was never supported due to his average abilities. But soon, he becomes the best.

This season will finally mark the end of Deku’s long-lived journey, along with all the beloved heroes that have captured the audience’s hearts.

4. Spy x Family

(Season 3):

Premiere Date: October, 2025

Available On: Crunchyroll

A super wholesome and witty show that makes anyone giggle with laughter and it is undoubtedly, one and only, Spy x Family.

With two blockbuster seasons and one super hit movie, the series has built a wonderful collection, and now there are more additions to the series.

Season 3 will pick up where the movie left off, and Loid Forger’s mission, Operation Strix, is still in progress.

His only hope is his adopted daughter, Anya, who can easily help by becoming an Imperial Scholar at the school that will move things forward.

Season 3 will be packed with action, adventure, and laughter. So, don’t sleep on this one!

Wrapping Up:

Finally, we have come to the end of our long listicle of anime to watch this year. We hope this helps you add some great shows to your watchlist.

Lastly, don’t forget to share which anime you’re looking forward to watching. We’re excited to hear about your most anticipated show this season!