2025 Anime Watchlist: Most Anticipated Releases and What’s Next
From Attack on Titan's final farewell to bold premieres like Devil May Cry and Jujutsu Kaisen's new film, anime in 2025 is redefining global entertainment. Discover what makes this year a turning point in the industry.
Early in January, fans were still catching their breath from the grand finale of Attack on Titan. Its final theatrical outing, The Last Attack, drew large crowds and emotional responses, wrapping up a decade-long saga. But even before those credits rolled, Japan’s race to dominate global anime viewership was already shifting into high gear. With the winter lineup kicking off everything from Solo Leveling season 2 to Blue Exorcist: The Blue Night Saga, it became clear that 2025 wouldn’t ease in quietly.
Streaming giants like Netflix and Crunchyroll are now locked in a content race mirroring what’s seen in sports circuits: quick sprints to secure licenses and global premieres and longer marathons to dominate fan bases over time. In this volatile entertainment landscape, the anime industry is pacing itself like a championship contender: with endurance, adaptability, and well-timed strikes. What’s coming next, however, changes the tempo altogether and might just reset the game.
The 2025 Lineup
The spring season signals a sharp turn in pace. With high-stakes releases packed into a three-month window, the industry seems to be chasing its record. Leading the charge is Devil May Cry (April 3), a bold attempt by Capcom and Netflix to break genre boundaries with stylized demon-slaying chaos. Only a day later, Fire Force season 3 reignites the screen, building on its explosive lore and fan-favorite ensemble.
Studio Bones is also in the mix with My Hero Academia: Vigilantes (April 7), a spin-off adaptation many believed would never happen. It’s set to delve deeper into pre-canon chaos, offering a street-level look at justice in a society bursting at the seams. Meanwhile, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX (April 8) is primed to reinvent the franchise's storied mecha warfare for newer generations, just as Moonrise (April 10), a Netflix original, aims for something quieter, a character-driven sci-fi journey across the lunar frontier.
This isn’t just a release window; it’s an acceleration curve. Each title isn't competing just for viewership but for cultural relevance, a key metric in today’s hyper-fast race for international dominance. The resurrection of Yu-Gi-Oh GX via a remastered edition in April is another calculated move, reviving nostalgia while onboarding a younger audience. With global anime growth predicted to increase 9.5% YoY in 2025 (per recent Tokyo Animation Business Report), this flood of content isn’t random.
What truly raises eyebrows, though, is the shift in format pacing. Jujutsu Kaisen’s next theatrical entry, Hidden Inventory/Premature Death (May 30), reflects a deeper pivot in the race model. Studios are increasingly betting on cinematic arcs to drive both box office revenue and long-tail digital engagement. It’s a formula Demon Slayer nearly perfected. This fall, it returns with Infinity Castle (September 12), its most ambitious project yet, the first film in a trilogy. The race isn't just on-screen anymore; it's behind the scenes, too.
And then there’s Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc, releasing October 29, a film many suspect will experiment with narrative structure and animation format alike. By year’s end, One Punch Man season 3 and Spy x Family season 3 are expected to anchor the fall finale, closing 2025 with weighty punches.
Beyond the Big Names
Outside the main circuit, there’s another race underway, one that doesn’t always make headlines. It’s the quiet competition among lesser-known series and experimental titles. Witch Watch (April 6) is a magic-themed comedy with slice-of-life pacing, flying under the radar despite strong source material and a passionate niche. Similarly, Lazarus (April 5), with its noir-cyberpunk style, is shaping up to be one of the more inventive visual treats of the year.
Summer extends that experimental trend. Dan Da Dan season 2 (July), a sci-fi romp known for its unpredictability and bold direction, returns with high expectations. Kaiju No. 8 season 2 also lands mid-year, continuing a story that walks the line between military drama and creature-feature chaos. Both shows signify a growing appetite for anime that can mix genres, a demand reflected in the rising number of hybrid-format greenlights in 2024’s Tokyo Anime Awards race submissions.
Meanwhile, Sakamoto Days part 2 adds a sharp comedic flair to the action-heavy summer catalog, while Dr. Stone: Science Future part 2 brings back the high-stakes scientific adventure fans have come to love. These aren’t just time fillers; they’re test runs for what might lead future animation directions.
The fall season is packed, but it’s shows like Disney’s Twisted-Wonderland (October) that could surprise most. With a premise adapted from a mobile game and Disney’s backing, it stands out as a potential disruptor in both marketing and narrative presentation. If it works, we may see more cross-platform integrations pushing anime into new lanes entirely.
2025’s anime calendar isn’t just crowded. Each release, from mega-hits to niche gambles, plays a part in an ever-expanding race for cultural dominance. Studios are no longer just storytellers; they’re contenders in a global sport, one that demands consistency, spectacle, and surprise in equal measure.
Also Read: Solo Leveling Season 3 Premiere: Expected Launch & Where to Watch
As fall approaches and the second wave of releases gears up, one thing is clear: the real battle isn’t just between heroes and villains on screen. It’s between every title vying to become the next classic. And as this race continues, viewers won’t just be spectators.
