My 2025 Wrapped Part 1: My Top 10 New Anime/Donghua Series
I know I should've posted this back in January, but things have been hectic, and my notorious indecisiveness made things difficult... Overall, I added 49 new completed entries on MAL over the course of 2025. Here's some quick statistic comparisons for anyone interested:
*P.S. I opted not to include any sequel seasons since they would dominate the list, and I wanted to give some recognition to newer—and rather overlooked—releases. However, I have included some older series that I only started in 2025—such series have been indicated with an asterisk (*).
Douse, Koishite Shimaunda │ Anyway, I'm Falling in Love with You
Kanpekisugite Kawaige ga Nai to Konyaku Haki sareta Seijo wa Ringoku ni Urareru │ The Too-Perfect Saint: Tossed Aside by My Fiancé and Sold to Another Kingdom
Zutaboro Reijou wa Ane no Moto Konyakusha ni Dekiai sareru │ Betrothed to My Sister's Ex
Kaoru Hana wa Rin to Saku │The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity
-> My Top 10 Favourite New 2025 Series:
10.) Taiyou yori mo Mabushii Hoshi │A Star Brighter Than the Sun
> Check this out if you're a fan of: Kimi Ni Todoke, Kokuhaku Jikkou Iinkai & Skip to Loafer
Taiyou yori mo Mabushii Hoshi centres around Sae and Kouki, two childhood friends who drifted apart during middle school but have always had romantic feelings for each other. The series explores their reconnection in high school as they deal with the challenges of navigating love and friendship during adolescence.
The series' strong points are its sincerity, emotional depth and romantic tension. Furthermore, although the romantic connection between its two leads is the series' central focus, the inherent chemistry between the rest of series' cast adds to its emotional resonance. An understated part of the series is how tactfully it captures the emotional intensity of first love and friendship. All in all, the series balances lighthearted school life moments with heartfelt explorations of love, self-image and self-discovery.
09.) Gorilla no Kami kara Kago sareta Reijou wa Ouritsu Kishidan de Kawaigarareru │ The Gorilla God's Go-To Girl
> Check this out if you're a fan of: Saigo ni Hitotsu dake Onegai shitemo Yoroshii deshou ka & Akagami no Shirayuki-hime
I originally only tried out this series partly as a joke—because I thought its title was absurdly ridiculous—and partly because of the lack of shoujosei series in the Spring 2025 season. As you can tell, I ended up taking quite a liking to the series... The story is set in a world where people acquire blessings from various animal gods. Its protagonist, Sophia Riller, is scouted as an apprentice knight after receiving the Gorilla God's blessing. Although she tries to conceal her overpowering strength—because she wants to lead a normal life—her bravery and compassion make her stand out, nonetheless.
Although this series is not for everyone—considering its unconventional premise and simplistic story—its balanced blend of comedy, romance, and slice-of-life elements make it an enjoyable and wholesome watch. While I wished it explored its setting, themes and characters more thoroughly—its character interactions and overall message were enjoyably endearing. The series' strongest point is the compelling romantic chemistry between its leads. Although their relationship develops quickly compared to the series' episode count, their development still feels very natural and sincere—which is oftentimes difficult to achieve.
08.) Sayonara no Asa ni Yakusoku no Hana wo Kazarou │Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms *
> Check this out if you're a fan of: Violet Evergarden, Sousou no Frieren, Hotarubi no Mori e & Akatsuki no Yona
This series primarily follows its titular protagonist, Maquia, a long-lived mystical being who is thrust into the outside world after a power-hungry kingdom invades and destroys her homeland. Although she knows nothing of the human world, she chooses to adopt an orphaned baby. The series centres around her grief of her homeland as well as her struggles to remain hidden while raising a child who ages faster than herself.
If you're looking for a compelling fantasy series with stunning visuals, stellar music, and a captivating aesthetic—then look no further. While I wished SayoAsa explored its setting and characters more thoroughly—it's definitely a worthwhile watch if you enjoy fantasy-drama series that are character driven. The best aspect of this series is undoubtedly its emotional resonance—which is achieved through its exploration of meaningful themes such as motherhood, loss, identity, the passage of time and the demerits of immortality.
> Check this out if you're a fan of: Yuri!!! On Ice & Haikyuu!!
This series follows Tsukasa, an assistant coach who never managed to fulfill his dreams of becoming a competitive figure skater partly because he started pursuing the sport too late. When he meets Inori—a young aspiring figure skater with immense raw talent—he is reminded of his own struggles and takes on the role of being her coach. This series captivated me with its compelling blend of comedy, drama and emotional storytelling. The series' strong points are its visuals, music and emotional resonance—in addition to its character development and dynamics.
Despite its comedy and inspirational tone, the series highlights the vulnerability of young athletes and the pressures placed on them. All in all, this series does a great job at reinforcing the message that one's dreams are often within reach as long as one persists, while also highlighting the pressures and constraints that will inevitably arise in the pursuit of one's passions.
06.) Tensei Akujo no Kuro Rekishi │ The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess
> Check this out if you're a fan of: Romantic Killer, Cheng He Titong & Hamefura
Admittedly this series' title and plot is excessively zany and banal, but I'd argue that this series' awareness of this is its primary selling point. Tenkuro follows its protagonist, Konoha Sato, after she transmigrates into the self-indulgent fantasy romance novel she wrote in during her teens. Considering she's trapped in the body of the series' villainess, Iana Magnolia, remembering every single detail of the series' she had all but erased from her memory is now a matter of life and death.
Overall, the series' comedy, characters and plot conventions are so outlandish that they become endearingly hilarious. Although the series becomes increasingly more eccentric it progresses even its most absurd tropes make sense in retrospect. If you're into fandom culture and have ever struggled with writing your own series, then the series is especially relatable as we're essentially following a writer as she tries to fix the disaster that she created herself. Although this series is not for everyone—considering how much it centres around parodying otome-isekai tropes—its humour, balanced blend of comedy, romance, and drama elements make it a fun watch. The series' key strengths are its vibrant cast and strong character chemistry.
> Check this out if you're a fan of: Kimi ni Todoke & Ao Haru Ride
I know that this series was very divisive amongst the shoujosei fandom, but I honestly enjoyed it. This classic, coming-of-age romance series follows Uka Ishimori, a shy and scarred high school girl who is taken under the wing of the popular yet aloof Kai Miura. As her conviction and confidence grows so does her connection with Miura.
This series strong points are its soundtrack, vibrant animation, emotional resonance and fun character dynamics. My favourite aspect of this series is how much it prioritises gradual character- and relationship-development. Oftentimes romance series can come across as shallow if they do not properly build up their characters and relationships in a meaningful and compelling way. All in all, Honey Lemon Soda's balanced blend of comedy, romance, and slice-of-life elements make it a wholesome watch. If you're a fan of coming-of-age shoujosei series, then this series gives off a great nostalgic feel while remaining refreshingly engaging.
> Check this out if you're a fan of: Yakusoku no Neverland, Angel Beats, Given, & Danganronpa
Yes, I know that this series is technically not categorized as an anime or a donghua as not only is this a Korean series, but it is also primarily told through a series of music videos rather than traditional episodes... However, I wanted to include it anyway as I wouldn't have many other opportunities to mention it... Also, I'd very much appreciate it if they ever expanded this into a full official animated series. Alien Stage is set in a dystopian universe where humans have been enslaved by aliens and are kept as pets. The series primarily focuses on a televised singing competition where its main characters are forced to compete against one another with their lives on the line.
Alien Stage is a compelling blend of dystopian sci-fi, psychological drama, and musical storytelling. This series' strong points are its uniquely striking aesthetics, stunning soundtrack and strong emotional storytelling. My favourite aspects of the series are its multi-layered character dynamics and well-integrated core theme of the sacrifices and vulnerabilities associated with love. While I wished it explored its setting, themes and characters more thoroughly—this series is very effective when it comes to utilizing its limited time to convey its message. If you're looking for a series with complex character dynamics, stellar music and a haunting aesthetic, then I'd highly recommend Alien Stage.
[ As a forward, deciding the top 3 placements was incredibly difficult for me. Many including myself have stated that 2025 was a slow year but in retrospect there were quite a few underrated new series. With this in mind, in terms of personal enjoyment the top 3 are very much interchangeable... So, I heavily considered other factors like voice acting, pacing, animation and adaptation production quality when deciding the ranking placements...]
03.) Silent Witch: Chinmoku no Majo no Kakushigoto │ Secrets of the Silent Witch
> Check this out if you're a fan of: Sousou no Frieren, Seijo no Maryoku wa Bannou desu & Violet Evergarden
This story follows Monica Everett, a genius mage with social anxiety, as she embarks on an undercover assignment as a student at an elite academy to protect the second prince. This series not only centres around Monica's struggles to conceal her true identity as a renowned sage while fighting off threats but also sees her gradually learn to connect with others.
All in all, this series deftly weaves together fantasy, comedy, drama action and slice-of-life elements. Its key strengths are its fluid animation, quirky characters and heartwarmingly soothing atmosphere. This series emphasises character development and slice-of-life components rather than dramatic action sequences, lending it a delightfully soothing emotional resonance. My favourite aspect of this series is its gradual character growth of its main character—as well as the entertaining synergy between its cast. If you're looking for a series with a complex female main character, understated humor and a relaxing tone, then I'd highly recommend Silent Witch.
02.) Mofa Gongzhu de Xiao Fannao │ Who Made Me a Princess
> Check this out if you're a fan of: Kanojo ga Koushaku-tei ni Itta Riyuu & Hoshifuru Oukoku no Nina & 7th Time Loop
I've been a fan of the manhwa for a few years so naturally this was my most anticipated release of 2025... That being said, while this adaptation did leave me with a lot of misgivings—it also delivered on a lot of points which is why it's still so high on my list.
This series centres around Athanasia's struggles to avert her cruel fate as a cast-off princess in a novel, who is sentenced to death by her cold-hearted father after being accused of attempted poisoning. The show follows her as she tries to gain her father's love while she uncovers hidden truths that change the course of events. Over time, the story evolves into one that centres around palace intrigue, friendships, romance, and the healing of a fractured family.
This series deftly weaves together fantasy, drama, comedy and romance with suspense, character development and heartfelt emotional storytelling. All in all, WMMAP is a story about healing, forgiveness, growth and overturning one's fate. This adaptation's strong points are its talented voice cast and how well its dynamic visuals capture the series' whimsical aesthetic and vibrant setting. My favourite aspects of the series are its compelling narrative and endearing characters—as well as the understated yet ardent chemistry of its main couple. If you're looking for a fantasy-drama that centres around complex familial relationships, healing and emotional growth, then I'd recommend this series.
01.) Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu │ The Summer Hikaru Died
> Check this out if you're a fan of: Jibaku Shounen Hanako-kun, Summertime Render & Link Click
Even though I typically don't gravitate towards the horror genre, I checked out this series as soon as it aired because of all the positive reviews I had heard about the manga. Obviously, I'm very glad that I made this decision...
After disappearing in the mountains for a week Yoshiki's best friend Hikaru returns with seemingly no recollection of what had happened. However, even as six months seamlessly pass, Yoshiki inherently knows that it is not Hikaru that has returned but something else entirely. After finally mustering the courage to confront the new Hikaru, he is almost attacked by the monstrous entity but is sworn to secrecy in exchange for his life. This series follows Yoshiki as he struggles to process his feelings of grief, longing and self-loathing while trying to guide the supernatural entity that has possessed his friend's body.
This series is a hauntingly brilliant blend of horror, mystery, supernatural drama and slice-of-life. TSHD is incredibly adept at balancing tender and comedic moments with ones of creeping unease and supernatural horror. This series seamlessly integrates many incredibly rich themes into its narrative and characters—with its main themes being grief, identity, self-preservation, alienation and queerness. My favourite aspect of this series is the compellingly multi-layered dynamic between its two leads—in addition to its slow burn tension and immense emotional depth. The canonical relationship between Yoshiki and Hikaru is incredibly nuanced and thus the series has been stated to transcend being purely labeled as a love story—that being said, I strongly believe that this series is one that most BL fans would greatly enjoy. If you're looking for a series with a compelling narrative, layered character relationships and a haunting aesthetic, then I'd highly recommend TSHD.
Thanks to everyone who read through any of that haha... Let me know which series you guys enjoyed the most or are looking forward to checking out in the comments...
