Before the spring season settles in, the Anime Corner News (ACN) team is here to share their favorites from the Winter 2025 anime season. This seasonal tradition has been with us for a while now and although the times come and go, we will always have these shows to reminisce about. As always, this list is not a ranking of the anime or the writers and does not represent hard facts – it is simply our own opinions written down for fun.
And so, without further ado, let’s see what the ACN team enjoyed:
Orb: On the Movements of the Earth – Eric
I think calling Orb a masterpiece might even be a disservice to the series. It was a pinnacle of writing in the modern age of the medium. This is an anime I’ll continue to look back on and showcase in arguments that great writing will always topple great animation.
Constant twists. Subtle, yet consistent, symbolism. And dialogues that will make you hit rewind twice just so you can appreciate the writing. All of this was woven into a magnificent story that is by far and large my front runner for Anime of the Year. Orb: On the Movements of the Earth – there’s nothing like it.
Ave Mujica – The Die is Cast – Ken
Ave Mujica – The Die is Cast – strayed from the typical girls’ band storytelling by adding in horror elements. With layers of secrets hidden within the cast, you never knew who to trust or whether their feelings were genuine, leading to intense drama, shocking twists, and moments that made you question if this was still part of the BanG Dream! franchise.
As a sequel to MyGO!!!!!, this anime managed to tell the story of ten girls in an unconventional way and to conclude in true BanG Dream! fashion. Pulling off such a complex narrative was no easy feat, but the series ended on a high note. That said, it has truly become my favorite girls’ band anime, and Ave Mujica became my favorite girl band. I can’t wait to see where their paths lead next.
Sorairo Utility & Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister – JP
One of my fondest feelings is what came to me when I watched D-Frag for the first time. That violent mixture of sheer delight, comfort, entertainment, and affection is something that, up until now, nothing has replicated. But minutes into the first episode of Sorairo Utility, I knew I had caught the dragon I’ve been chasing after all these years. To me, this is what anime is supposed to be — escapism at its finest. It never failed to make me laugh; I was always excitedly waiting for a new episode and found myself raving about how kawaii Minami was to anyone who’d listen.
As for the continuing anime of the Winter 2025 season, Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister exceeded my expectations in its second half. It was already one of my favorite shows when it carried over from last season, but with its supernatural plotlines taking center stage, it gripped me further. Something that’s genuinely hard to instill in me is unease. By my own admission, I’m a highly apathetic person, but when I saw Shirahi snap, it hurt me to the point that I couldn’t sleep for a few days. Some franchises will churn out years’ worth of material and never come close to the power of Shirahi’s scenes.
The Apothecary Diaries & Sakamoto Days – Carla
If JP is picking two favorites for this Winter 2025 anime season, I’ll gladly join and do the same! Of course, my heart is set on The Apothecary Diaries Season 2. I cannot praise the series’ production enough. It’s iconic and memorable. It has an entertaining combination of character interactions, comedic moments, and the most interesting and thrilling developments of the season so far. The slow burn of this “laying the groundwork” is frustrating, but the excitement of seeing how Maomao and Jinshi unravel the mysteries of the palace (and the frog) make it all worth it.
Meanwhile, SAKAMOTO DAYS was just so easy to enjoy. It was simple, silly, cozy, and all in all very entertaining. There were times when, as a manga fan, I was underwhelmed or disappointed with the adaptation, but the art style and pacing that the anime maintained eventually grew on me. The characters are memorable, from Shin’s esper abilities, Lu’s chaotic personality, Seba and Nagumo’s handsomeness, Osaragi’s elegance, the Heisuke and Piisuke duo, and the many ways Sakamoto surprisingly overpowers his enemies. It’s very hard-boiled. I can’t wait for Cour 2!
©Yuto Suzuki/SHUEISHA, SAKAMOTO DAYS PROJECT
I May Be A Guild Receptionist, but I’ll Solo Any Boss to Clock Out on Time – Kiira
I May Be A Guild Receptionist, but I’ll Solo Any Boss to Clock Out on Time was exactly the anime I wanted for so long. There is no shortage of fantasy anime each season, but we almost always follow a main character who is an adventurer, a guild leader, or a mysterious newcomer from a foreign land (or maybe just from Japan). But we often don’t think about guild receptionists, as they are usually minor characters.
Alina was exactly the personality type I wanted for the main character in this show, and she was incredibly fun to watch. Despite the waifu being the main reason I returned each week, there’s a ton of mystery in each episode that’ll keep you coming back. The fantasy genre in anime often needs some shaking up, and this show did that.
The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 – Tamara
I only got on The Apothecary Diaries train earlier this year, and I devoured the first season in only a few days, just in time for new episodes. I loved every moment of the story so far; the characters are so well-written, and the story is enjoyable even when nothing is happening. Jinshi and Maomao’s developing romance is a true joy to watch, and I can’t wait to see where it goes. I just hope we don’t end up having to wait for a long time once this season ends.
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And that’s it for ACN’s top picks from the Winter 2025 anime season! If you’re interested in checking out the teams’ favorite shows in 2024, here’s a recap:
As always, thanks for supporting Anime Corner! Make sure to also check out the teams’ seasonal reviews, and don’t forget to also vote for your favorites on our weekly polls.
Featured Image:
© Natsu Hyuga/Imagika Infos Co./The Apothecary Diaries” Production Committee
© Solo Leveling Animation Partners
© Aki Hamaji / Hobunsha, Aniplex