The Winter 2025 anime season is here, bringing plenty of new shows and exciting continuations to enjoy. Whether you’re looking for action, romance, comedy, or something completely unique, this season has a lot to offer.
In this post, we’ll go over the top 10 anime you should watch this winter. These standout shows are already generating buzz and are worth adding to your watchlist. Note that this list isn’t ranked in any particular order—every title has something special to offer. Let’s dive in!
Tarou Sakamoto was once hailed as the greatest hitman in history, a name that struck fear throughout the underworld. But everything changed when he fell in love with a woman. Determined to leave his violent past behind, Sakamoto retired from his life of crime and now works as a humble convenience store clerk. However, leaving his old world behind isn’t as simple as he hoped. Skeptical of his retirement, former rivals and allies continually seek him out, intent on challenging or eliminating him. Bound by a promise not to kill, Sakamoto must rely on his wits and ingenuity to outsmart his adversaries while protecting his family, his store, and the quiet town he now calls home.
For 15-year-old Uka Ishimori, middle school was a nightmare she hoped to leave behind. Nicknamed “Rocky” for freezing up in social situations, she endured relentless bullying. Now a high school freshman, Uka is determined to start fresh and reinvent herself. However, her plans take an unexpected turn when her vibrant classmate, Kai Miura—recognizable by his lemon-colored hair—accidentally spills juice on her during the first week. Kai, the epitome of everything Uka feels she lacks, is popular, confident, and unafraid to speak his mind. Despite their differences, he reaches out to help her break free from her shell, offering support where others never did. While Uka initially focused on making friends, she soon realizes her feelings for Kai run deeper—she’s fallen in love. What began with a spilled lemon soda is about to transform both of their lives forever.
After finishing high school, Natsuko Hirose begins her career as an animator, quickly showcasing her talent. She soon makes her directorial debut, and her first anime becomes a huge success, sparking a cultural phenomenon and establishing her as a rising star in the industry. Her next project is a romantic comedy about first love, but Natsuko has never experienced it herself, making it difficult for her to understand the concept. As a result, she struggles to create the storyboard, causing the movie’s production to halt. One day, after fainting from exhaustion while working on the storyboard, she wakes up inside the world of her favorite childhood anime, A Tale of Perishing.
