July 2nd marks the exact halfway point of the year.
In 2025, many anime titles have been released across television, movies, and streaming services. With a wide variety of genres including action, fantasy, sports, idol, and comedy, the first half of the year saw significant excitement. Among this wealth of titles, which works captured the hearts of Anime! Anime! readers?
We conducted a reader survey titled “What is the Best Anime of the First Half of 2025?“. Responses were collected from 208 people during the survey period from June 19th to June 25th.
The gender ratio was approximately 75 percent male and 25 percent female, showing a higher participation from men. Regarding age groups, around 15 percent were 19 or younger, and about 50 percent were in their 40s, indicating a large number of votes from specific demographics.
■From Popular Series Sequels to Originals and Movies!
In this survey, we will mainly introduce titles that received comments from readers.
Kusuriya no Hitorigoto Season 2 began airing in January this year, with its final episode just broadcast on July 4th. Readers commented, “Episodes depicting Maomao’s daily life were great, but the mystery-solving and the suspenseful episodes involving national conspiracies kept me on edge, and I looked forward to it every week,” and “Following the first season, the second season also beautifully portrayed the atmosphere of the imperial court and was very interesting. The story’s development was breathtaking, and time flew by.” This series gathered many votes, particularly from original work fans.
Same as the sequel, Jibaku Shounen Hanako-kun 2 aired from January to March. Comments included, “It’s the first new work in 5 years since the first season. The art style is powered up and even more beautiful, and the theme song perfectly matched the world setting,” and “Hanazawa Kana-san’s voice for the new character Shijima-san is perfect! I’m a fan of Hanazawa-san, so I was happy. I can’t wait to see the new work soon!” Many readers expressed anticipation for the second cour starting in July.
The spin-off of the game “Uma Musume Pretty Derby” series, Uma Musume Cinderella Gray, aired from April to June. Reasons for its popularity included, “The power of the race scenes is overwhelming. The heat suitable for a sports anime is irresistible!” and “Since it’s an anime adaptation based on the spin-off manga, I enjoyed a different side of Oguri Cap compared to the game.” The thrilling speed of the Uma Musume was a key factor in its popularity. The second cour of this work will begin in October.
The manga-based Isekai reincarnation series, Akuyaku Reijou Tensei Ojisan, was a spring anime that aired from January to March. “While there are many works featuring villainesses as protagonists, the unique setting of a middle-aged ojisan reincarnating stood out. The unexpected collaborations, like the ED theme being Matsuken Samba, were also amusing. I really hope for a continuation of the anime!” commented one reader, with many others hoping for a sequel.
Among theatrical films, Eiga Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle-, released in February, became a hot topic. “The system where the audience votes via smartphone during the movie to decide the winning team was groundbreaking,” and “The gimmick where the ending changes is new. Many fans probably watched it multiple times,” were among the comments, highlighting its attention as Japan’s first interactive film.
The original anime Zenshuu. aired from January to March. “I was surprised by the unique combat skill where an animator reincarnated in another world can summon drawings they create as original key frames! Although it seemed like a lighthearted work at first, it took a sudden turn in the latter half, which is a charm unique to original stories where you can’t predict what will happen,” commented one viewer about this rare work featuring an anime director as the protagonist.
And for the latest entry in the “Precure” series, Kimi to Idol Precure♪, votes were cast for the currently airing title: “The dream combination of Precure × Idols is the best! In addition to the usual battles, their idol activities are also super busy. I’m cheering for the Precure as I watch them appear in events and train hard.”
Looking at the list of over 40 titles that received votes, covering action, fantasy, mystery, and comedy, the anime scene in the first half of 2025 was indeed packed with variety.
Be sure to check out any titles that pique your interest.
■Other Featured Visuals
Here are some other key visuals from popular anime in the first half of 2025:
■List of Titles that Received Votes
[Best Anime of the First Half of 2025?]
- BanG Dream! Ave Mujica
- Dr.STONE SCIENCE FUTURE
- LAZARUS Lazaro
- mono
- ONE PIECE
- Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu 3rd season Hangeki-hen
- SAKAMOTO DAYS
- Summer Pockets
- Unnamed Memory Act.2
- WIND BREAKER Season 2
- Apocalypse Hotel
- Aru Majo ga Shinu Made
- Witch Watch
- Uma Musume Cinderella Gray
- Kaijuu Sekai Seifuku
- Kimi to Idol Precure♪
- I’m the Guild Receptionist, But I Don’t Want to Work Overtime So I’ll Solo the Boss
- Kinnikuman Kanpeki Choujin Shiso-hen Season 2
- Zatsu Tabi -That’s Journey-
- I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Suddenly Maxed Out My Level ~Part 2~
- Princessession Orchestra
- Ballpark de Tsukamaete!
- Medalist
- Akuyaku Reijou Tensei Ojisan
- Ishura (Season 2)
- Enen no Shouboutai San no Shou
- Okinawa de Suki ni Natta Ko ga Hougen Sugite Tsurasugiru
- Ore wa Seikan Kokka no Akutoku Ryoushu!
- Kanpeki Sugite Kawairage ga Nai to Kon’yaku Haki Sareta Seijo wa Ringoku ni Urareru
- Kidou Senshi Gundam GQuuuuuuX
- Kowloon Generic Romance
- Kuroshitsuji -Midori no Majo Hen-
- Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (Season 2)
- Shoushimin Series (Season 2)
- Ao no Exorcist Shuya-hen
- Zenshuu.
- Jibaku Shounen Hanako-kun 2
- Hibi wa Sugiredo Meshi Umashi
- Ninja to Koroshiya no Futarigurashi
- Gekijouban Project Sekai Kowareta Sekai to Utaenai Miku
- Eiga Doraemon Nobita no Eseikai Monogatari
- Eiga Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle-
- Kaitou Queen no Yuuga na Kyuuka (Vacance)
(Response Period: June 19, 2025 – June 25, 2025)
Takahashi Katsunori
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