Top 10 Best Anime of 2025 (So Far)

Updated: 3 September 2025 (BST)

We watched weekly, compared UK availability and release schedules, checked awards and critical reception, and verified facts against official pages (Crunchyroll, Netflix, Disney+) plus reputable outlets (GamesRadar, Entertainment Weekly, Polygon, Radio Times, Rotten Tomatoes).

Scope: TV anime that premiered new in 2025 or returned with a fresh season between 1 January and 3 September 2025, and are legally streamable in the UK.

TL;DR

#1 The Apothecary Diaries S2 crowned our mid-year favourite for scope, craft, and consistency.
Netflix’s SAKAMOTO DAYS and The Summer Hikaru Died dominated the cultural conversation.
Science SARU’s Dandadan S2 kept Thursday nights electric across both Crunchyroll and Netflix.
Solo Leveling S2 remains the awards juggernaut of the year.

1) The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 (Toho/OLM)

Why it’s #1: A gripping palace-mystery that stuck the landing on 4 July with a superb 24-episode run, escalating both medical puzzles and political stakes without losing character intimacy.

A sequel was announced the day the finale aired – testament to momentum and fan trust.

Where to watch (UK): Crunchyroll (sub & dub).

Receipts: S2 concluded on 4 July 2025, with an immediate sequel confirmation; Crunchyroll streams it worldwide outside Asia.

2) Dandadan Season 2 (Science SARU)

Why it’s great: Max-chaos paranormal rom-com with razor-edged action, inventive layouts, and a Thursday release cadence that’s become ritual viewing.

Episode 10 hits 4 Sept (5:00 pm BST); season wraps mid-September.

Where to watch (UK): Crunchyroll and Netflix (weekly).

Good to know: The “Evil Eye” arc was previewed theatrically as Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye; S2 streams Thursdays with dub support on Crunchyroll. Crunchyroll+1

3) SAKAMOTO DAYS Season 1 (Netflix)

Why it’s great: A hitman-turned-dad action-comedy that actually nails weekly pacing on Netflix. Part 1 launched 11 Jan; Part 2 rolled out Mondays from 14 July with 11 new episodes.

Where to watch (UK): Netflix (exclusive). Netflix

Schedule snapshot: As of this week, ep 20 arrives 8 Sept (4:30 pm BST).

4) The Summer Hikaru Died Season 1 (Cygames Pictures)

Why it’s great: Quiet rural dread meets queer coming-of-age, all wrapped in unnervingly gorgeous atmosphere. Premiered 5 July on Netflix globally; new episodes weekly.

Where to watch (UK): Netflix. Netflix

Critical chatter: Smart, unsettling, and emotionally precise; early reviews highlight its horror/identity blend.

5) Solo Leveling Season 2 (A-1 Pictures)

Why it’s great: The year’s awards steamroller – Anime of the Year at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards and a sweep of key categories, while S2 (Jan–Mar) sharpened spectacle and score.

Where to watch (UK): Crunchyroll.

Dates: Aired 5 Jan–30 Mar 2025 (JST broadcast), simulcast to UK time on Saturdays.

6) Fire Force Season 3 (Part 1) (david production)

Why it’s great: Return to form with blistering set-pieces and cleaner storytelling, teeing up the endgame. Cour 1 aired 4 Apr–21 Jun; Cour 2 hits Jan 2026.

Where to watch (UK): Crunchyroll.

Scheduling notes: Confirmed split-cour; UK simulcasts mirrored Friday slots.

7) My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 (CloverWorks)

Why it’s great: The cosplay romance comeback we hoped for—warm, polished, and quietly ambitious. Premiered 5 July with weekly drops.

Where to watch (UK): Crunchyroll.

Extra: English dub rollout began 19 July.

8) Medalist Season 1 (ENGI)

Why it’s great: Figure-skating drama with a coach–protégé duo that actually skates on screen, easily 2025’s best sports debut. Streams on Disney+ internationally; Hulu in the U.S.

Where to watch (UK): Disney+ (Star tile). Disney+

Dates: Premiered 4 Jan in Japan; roll-out via Disney’s platforms confirmed ahead of launch.

9) Devil May Cry Season 1 (Studio Mir)

Why it’s great: Adi Shankar turns Capcom’s style bible into pulpy, propulsive TV with a knowingly early-‘00s soundtrack. Premiered 3 Apr; renewed, with S2 first-look in August.

Where to watch (UK): Netflix. Netflix

Reception: Solid critical notices and RT coverage underpin its inclusion.

10) To Be Hero X Season 1 (BeDream/P.I.C.S.)

Why it’s great: A deliriously animated original that fuses superhero parody with father-daughter heart and top-tier fight choreography – spring’s cult favourite.

Where to watch (UK): Crunchyroll.

April–June airing; widely recommended across mid-year lists we reviewed.

On the cusp

The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity (CloverWorks) – UK starts 7 Sept

Why watch next: 2025’s breakout romance finally lands on UK Netflix this Sunday (7 Sept) with weekly episodes. Perfect counter-programming to the action heavyweights above.

LAZARUS (MAPPA/Sola Entertainment)

Why watch: Shinichirō Watanabe’s new original – choreography by John Wick’s Chad Stahelski, music by Kamasi Washington, it wrapped in June.

UK streaming has varied by region; look for Channel 4/Max options and Adult Swim pages for official guidance.

How we ranked (signals we weighted)

UK availability & scheduling reliability (official platform guides).
Awards/critical consensus (e.g., Crunchyroll Anime Awards; RT coverage).
Episode-to-episode consistency and animation craft (studio pedigree + weekly performance notes).
Benchmarking vs. other top lists (we analysed your provided transcripts).

Where to watch in the UK (quick list)

Crunchyroll: The Apothecary Diaries S2, Dandadan S2, Solo Leveling S2, Fire Force S3 (Part 1), My Dress-Up Darling S2, To Be Hero X.
Netflix: SAKAMOTO DAYS, The Summer Hikaru Died, Devil May Cry, Dandadan S2 (also on CR), The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity (from 7 Sept).
Disney+: Medalist.

Also read: Jujutsu Kaisen S3: The Culling Game hits January 2026 what to expect next year and how to watch. (Great companion for action-heavy picks.)

FAQ

What is the best anime of 2025 so far?
The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 – It delivered a complete 24-episode run that ended on 4 July 2025, plus a sequel announcement on the same day.

Which platform has the most of these in the UK?
Crunchyroll carries six of our top ten; Netflix carries four (two overlap with Crunchyroll), and Disney+ has Medalist.

What big anime should I watch next?
Start The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity when it hits UK Netflix on 7 Sept, then check out Watanabe’s LAZARUS if it’s available in your region.