The Top 5 Anime of 2025
Let’s be honest - 2025 might be the greatest year in the history of anime. And yes, that might sound like recency bias at first, but after careful thought and consideration, there’s a strong case to be made. From absolute blockbuster hits like Solo Leveling and Demon Slayer, to wildly fun and creative sequels like DAN DA DAN and Sakamoto Days, to bold, emotionally challenging originals like Gachiakuta and Takopi’s Original Sin, this year truly had everything.
With a lineup this stacked, ranking a top five was no easy task - but we gave it our best shot. Below are FloTaku’s Top 5 Anime of 2025.
5. DAN DA DAN – Season 2
One of my personal favorites of the year, DAN DA DAN Season 2 absolutely earns its spot in the top five. On the surface, the premise is intentionally ridiculous: a quest to recover Okarun’s stolen “family jewels” while the world is constantly under attack by ghosts, aliens, and supernatural absurdities. But DAN DA DAN is so much more than its chaotic setup suggests.
What truly sets the series apart is how effortlessly it shifts between genres without ever losing momentum. One moment, it’s a high-stakes, adrenaline-fueled action anime with slick choreography and explosive battles. The next, it slows down into a surprisingly sincere romance, exploring the awkward yet heartfelt bond between Okarun and Momo. Then, almost without warning, it morphs into full-blown sci-fi, complete with kaiju-scale threats and giant mechs.
Despite these constant tonal shifts, the storytelling never feels disjointed. Add in its phenomenal soundtrack, distinctive art style, expressive character designs, and consistently fluid animation, and you’re left with one of the most creative and entertaining anime experiences of the year. For sheer versatility alone, DAN DA DAN Season 2 deserves this spot.
4. Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle
Some will say this ranking is too high. Others will say it’s too low. But we believe #4 is exactly where Demon Slayer belongs.
Yes, the story is relatively straightforward. Yes, Tanjiro is a classic shōnen protagonist, and yes, the overarching narrative isn’t the most complex in anime. But that simplicity has always been Demon Slayer’s strength. The series understands what it does best, and it executes it at an elite level.
The Infinity Castle film is, without exaggeration, one of the most cinematic anime experiences ever created. Ufotable’s animation reaches absurd levels of detail, from the constantly shifting architecture of the castle itself to the breathtaking choreography of each fight. Every movement feels deliberate, every clash impactful, and every frame visually rich.
Beyond the spectacle, the film also delivers emotionally, particularly through its character backstories. Akaza’s flashback stands out as one of the most heartbreaking moments in the franchise, adding depth to a character who once felt purely antagonistic. While the pacing could have been tightened and the runtime slightly trimmed, the sheer cultural impact of the film - including its $700M+ global box office performance - cements its place as one of the defining anime releases of the year.
3. Solo Leveling – Season 2
This one is guaranteed to be controversial.
“Solo Leveling is overrated.”
“It’s just another overpowered protagonist.”
“You probably can’t even name five characters.”
And honestly? None of those criticisms are entirely wrong.
But here’s the thing - what Solo Leveling does well, it does better than almost any anime in recent history.
Season 2 delivers nonstop, perfectly paced hype. Every episode feels like an event. The fight animation is consistently top-tier, the power scaling is intoxicating, and Sung Jin-Woo’s presence alone carries an overwhelming sense of aura that few protagonists can match. The show doesn’t rely on a massive ensemble cast because it doesn’t need to - Jin-Woo is the spectacle.
More importantly, the anticipation Solo Leveling generates is unmatched. Week after week, fans were counting down the days until the next episode dropped, eager to see just how insane the next power-up or battle would be. The story itself is more than serviceable, with enough mystery and world-building breadcrumbs to keep viewers invested as the larger narrative begins to unfold.
Could the supporting cast use more development? Absolutely. But Season 2 makes it clear that we’re only scratching the surface of the story’s true scope. It’s popular for a reason, and in a year this competitive, Solo Leveling earns its top five placement.
2. My Hero Academia – Final Season
I’ll be honest , I was never the biggest My Hero Academia fan. I kept up with the series, but it never fully captured me the way other anime did.
That changed with the final season.
MHA Season 5 was a masterclass in how to conclude a long-running shōnen series. Everything finally clicked. The animation was consistently polished, the character arcs reached their natural conclusions, and the emotional weight of the story hit harder than ever before. For the first time, I felt deeply invested in nearly every character on screen.
The show successfully tied together years of buildup, delivering a finale that felt both earned and emotionally resonant. Watching the characters come full circle - especially Bakugo and Deku - was genuinely powerful, and the series closed its story in a way that honored both its themes and its fans. If there were any season that deserved serious Anime of the Year consideration, this was it.
1. Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc
I’ll keep this simple:
Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc is the greatest anime film I have ever watched.
This movie is a perfect example of how to structure and execute a story. The first half is a meticulous, slow-burn setup, allowing viewers to fully immerse themselves in Denji and Reze’s complicated, yet fragile relationship. The pacing is flawless, letting emotional tension build naturally without ever feeling rushed.
Then comes the second half - a jaw-dropping display of MAPPA at its absolute peak. The choreography, animation, and visual direction are among the best anime has ever produced, reminding everyone just how technically impressive Chainsaw Man can be when it’s firing on all cylinders.
And then there’s the ending — devastating, unforgettable, and emotionally raw.
From the music to the atmosphere, from the quiet moments to the chaos, Reze Arc delivers on every level. Very few films have ever made me feel this deeply, and that is something I will always remember. For me, it's very clear - this wasn’t just the best anime of 2025, but one of my favorite anime experiences of all time.
Conclusion
And there you have it, FloTaku’s Top 5 Anime of 2025.
This list was incredibly difficult to put together, which speaks volumes about just how stacked this year truly was. Because of that, we’d also like to give honorable mentions to Takopi’s Original Sin, Gachiakuta, To Be Hero X, The Apothecary Diaries, Flagrant Flower, and The Summer Hikaru Died, all of which are deserving of a top 5 spot.
No matter what your personal rankings look like, one thing is undeniable: anime is in an incredible place right now. And if 2025 was any indication, 2026 is shaping up to be just as exciting.