About the Winter 2025 Season

The anime year kicks off with the Winter cour, running from January through March. Winter seasons historically produce some of the year's most talked-about series — and 2025 is no exception. Whether you want big action, quiet character drama, or something genuinely surprising, there's a lot worth tracking this season.

This guide is structured to help you quickly find what suits your taste — we've noted approximate genre, tone, and episode count where available.

Standout New Series

Dungeon Meshi (Delicious in Dungeon) — Continued Cour

Genre: Fantasy / Comedy / Adventure | Tone: Warm, inventive, occasionally emotional

If you haven't started Dungeon Meshi yet, now is a perfect time to catch up. Studio Trigger's adaptation of Ryoko Kui's beloved manga follows adventurers who cook and eat the monsters they defeat as they delve deeper into a dungeon to rescue their kidnapped party member. The series is a masterclass in world-building and has become one of the most acclaimed anime in recent memory. The Winter cour brings the story into its most compelling arcs yet.

Solo Leveling — Second Season

Genre: Action / Isekai-adjacent / Power Fantasy | Tone: Slick, high-energy, visually spectacular

Based on the Korean manhwa (not manga — a distinction worth noting), Solo Leveling follows Sung Jinwoo, a weak hunter in a world where people fight monsters in dungeon gates. Season 2 escalates the stakes considerably. The animation quality from A-1 Pictures remains a talking point — this is one of the most visually polished action anime in recent years. Best for fans of power-progression narratives.

Sakamoto Days

Genre: Action / Comedy / Shonen | Tone: Fast, funny, surprisingly inventive

A former legendary assassin who retired to run a convenience store after falling in love is dragged back into the criminal underworld. Sakamoto Days blends absurdist comedy with genuinely creative action choreography. The manga has a devoted fanbase and the adaptation looks promising. Great pick if you want something fun and kinetic.

Returning Series Worth Watching

My Hero Academia — Final Season

Genre: Shonen Superhero | Tone: Epic, emotional

The landmark superhero series concludes its run this year. If you've followed the series, the final arc delivers on long-running character threads in genuinely affecting ways. The animation has been notably strong in recent cours. For newcomers, this is not the place to start — go back to Season 1.

Under-the-Radar Picks

Apothecary Diaries — Continuing

Genre: Historical Mystery / Drama | Tone: Intelligent, measured, quietly compelling

Easily one of the best anime of recent years that many casual viewers are still sleeping on. A young woman with a background in herbalism works as a lady-in-waiting in an imperial court and solves medical mysteries. The storytelling is unusually sophisticated for a mainstream anime, with a protagonist who is brilliant without being a power fantasy. Strongly recommended for viewers who want something outside the typical action mould.

How to Keep Track of Seasonal Anime

Seasonal anime can be hard to follow without a tool. These resources help:

  • AniChart.net — Clean visual grid of every season's releases with air dates
  • MyAnimeList (MAL) — Community tracking site; add shows to your list to get notifications
  • AniList — Modern alternative to MAL with a cleaner interface and social features

Our Recommendation for This Season

If you can only watch one thing: Dungeon Meshi. If you want pure spectacle: Solo Leveling S2. If you want something smarter and slower: Apothecary Diaries. There's something excellent on offer for every type of anime fan this winter.