What Was the Best 2025 Summer Anime? 3rd: Kisekoi, 2nd: Kaoru Hana wa Rin to Saku, 1st is…

The Summer 2025 anime season is in full swing, with many one-cour series reaching their grand finales. This season has been packed with must-watch titles, from highly anticipated sequels to exciting originals. But among this rich lineup, which title captured the hearts of Anime!Anime! readers the most?

To find out, Anime!Anime! conducted a reader survey titled “Which was the best Summer 2025 anime (July-cour)?” The survey ran from September 18th to September 25th, gathering 620 responses. The gender ratio was approximately 60 percent male and 40 percent female, with a slight male majority. Regarding age, about 25 percent were under 19, and around 15 percent each were in their 20s and 30s.

■Manga & Light Novel Adaptations Dominate the Top 10!

Here are the full-size images from the gallery:

First Place

Coming in at First place is Silent Witch Chinmoku no Majo no Kakushigoto, garnering approximately 10 percent of the votes.

This work is based on a fantasy novel series published under “Kadokawa Books.” It follows Monika Everett, a young genius who developed chantless magic but suffers from extreme stage fright, as she takes on a top-secret mission to infiltrate a prestigious school and protect the second prince. Readers adored it, with comments like: “I felt a heartwarming joy watching Monika, the ‘Silent Witch’ who is so shy she constantly laments ‘I wanna go home to my mountain hut~,’ gradually grow” and “Normally, Monika is flustered and has low self-esteem, but when it counts, she’s incredibly cool. The story’s appeal lies in its rich variety of developments, including mystery elements, episodes of friendship, and even depictions of humanity’s darker side.” Many fans enjoyed cheering on the protagonist.

Furthermore, there were strong calls for a second season: “The opening animation is beautiful, and I was drawn in by how every story beat felt meaningful. I really hope they adapt the entire protection mission!” and “I got into it through the anime, but I was so curious about what happens next that I read all the original novels, including the spin-offs. I’m hoping for a sequel!” This series, with its final episode airing on October 4th, soared to the top spot.

Second Place

Securing Second place is Kaoru Hana wa Rin to Saku, with approximately 9 percent of the votes.

Kaoru Hana wa Rin to Saku is a romantic comedy serialized in “Magazine Pocket.” It beautifully depicts the interaction between Tsumugi Rintarou, a protagonist often misunderstood due to his appearance, and Waguri Kaoruko, the heroine who attends an elite girls’ school. Fans left comments such as: “My heart was cleansed by this youthful story where Kaoruko-chan’s smile gently unravels Rintarou’s often closed-off heart. All their friends are also good people, so you can enjoy it without worry.” and “Their relationship is so fresh and heart-throbbing! Kaoruko-chan’s straightforwardness in not judging others by their looks and her small-animal-like cuteness when eating were adorable. Even my mother watched over them as if they were her own children.” Another viewer added, “Rintarou’s awkwardness feels so human and good, and the boys’ school atmosphere is realistic, with his friend Usami being so cool. I learned about the beauty of honest feelings through this anime.” Many comments praised the series for its refreshing and heartwarming charm.

Third Place

Claiming Third place is Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru Season 2, with approximately 8 percent of the votes.

Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru is based on a manga serialized in “Young Gangan.” It tells the story of Gojou Wakana, a high school boy aspiring to become a Hina doll artisan, and Kitagawa Marin, a popular girl in his class, as they deepen their bond through cosplay. Fans raved: “Marin-chan’s passion for cosplay is absolutely incredible! And Gojou-kun’s sincere dedication to making her costumes in response to that passion is just captivating!” and “In Season 2, Marin-chan’s various cosplay outfits were once again a feast for the eyes. I also thoroughly enjoyed seeing her lovey-dovey moments with Gojou-kun.” Another comment praised the adaptation: “It was a sequel we waited three years for, and the anime’s original arrangements were superb. You could really feel the staff’s love for the work.” The anime’s unique additions were also highly praised.

■Other Noteworthy Comments!

For Seishun Buta Yarou wa Santa Claus no Yume wo Minai, a fan commented, “There were some tense moments, but Sakuta and Mai-san’s stable relationship as a couple provided a nice cushion. We also saw their relationship evolve as they entered university, and the ED theme by the new characters was wonderful.”

For Karaoke Iko!, a reader said: “This is a surreal comedy brought to life by the unusual duo of a tone-deaf yakuza and a middle schooler from a choir club. The dynamic between Satomi-kun, grappling with adolescent struggles, and Kyouji, who seems insensitive yet is surprisingly caring, was just incredibly entertaining. The compact format of 4 episodes plus one original anime episode was also brilliant!”

Regarding Dr.STONE SCIENCE FUTURE (Second Cour), a fan shared: “While the chase with the Kingdom of Science’s darkness kept me on edge, I ended up crying over Suika-chan in the end. Senkuu’s kind words of encouragement were also moving! Hard-working Suika-chan is just too cute!!”

And for Takopii no Genzai, even though it was a streaming-exclusive title, it received votes: “The raw depictions from the manga gained voices and movement, making it even more painfully realistic. That’s precisely why it was so powerfully captivating and thought-provoking.”

The Summer 2025 anime season saw fantasy, romance, and action titles take the top spots. All titles in the top 10 were adaptations of either manga or novels, and many readers mentioned that the anime prompted them to check out the original works.

Don’t miss the top 20 rankings on the next page!

■Top 10 Ranking

[Which was the best Summer 2025 anime (July-cour)?]

1. Silent Witch Chinmoku no Majo no Kakushigoto
2. Kaoru Hana wa Rin to Saku
3. Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru Season 2
4. Ruri no Houseki
5. Dandadan (Dai 2-ki)
6. Seishun Buta Yarou wa Santa Claus no Yume wo Minai
7. Dr.STONE SCIENCE FUTURE (Second Cour)
8. Takopii no Genzai
9. Hikari ga Shinda Natsu
10. Watashi ga Koibito ni Nareru Wake Nai jan, Muri Muri! (Muri Janakatta!?)

(Response Period: September 18th – September 25th, 2025)

Next Page: Top 20 Rankings Revealed

Click here for other ongoing survey topics! Tell us what you think.＞＞https://animeanime.jp/special/1898/recent/

By Takahashi Katsunori