The week of January 19th to 25th, 2025, was a busy one for anime and manga fans in North America, with a variety of new releases hitting shelves and screens. From highly anticipated anime series to captivating manga volumes, there was something for everyone. Let’s dive into the details of what was released.
Anime Releases
This week saw the release of a couple of notable anime titles on Blu-ray.
Horimiya: The Missing Pieces
Fans of the popular romantic comedy Horimiya were treated to the release of Horimiya: The Missing Pieces on Blu-ray and DVD. This series, distributed by Crunchyroll, features stories not covered in the main Horimiya anime adaptation.
The Strongest Tank’s Labyrinth Raids
Another notable release was The Strongest Tank’s Labyrinth Raids, also distributed by Crunchyroll. This action-packed anime series brings a new adventure to screens for fans to enjoy.
Bubblegum Crash
AnimEigo released the classic anime Bubblegum Crash on Blu-ray, giving fans a chance to revisit or discover this well-regarded series.
Manga Releases
The manga scene was particularly vibrant this week with a diverse array of titles hitting stores.
New Manga Titles and Volumes
Several new volumes of ongoing manga series were released, offering fans the latest chapters in their favorite stories. Some of the key releases include:
- After God (Graphic Novel) Vol. 2 (Viz Media): This series continues its exploration of its unique themes.
- After School Etude Vol. 2 (Seven Seas): The second volume of this series provides further insight into the characters.
- Ako and Bambi Vol. 4 (Yen Press): Continuing the story in this manga series.
- The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten Vol. 3 (Square Enix Manga): More of the sweet moments in this romantic comedy.
- Ayakashi Triangle Vol. 13 (Seven Seas): The latest installment of this supernatural adventure series.
- Bungo Stray Dogs: Dazai, Chuuya, Age Fifteen Vol. 3 (Yen Press): Expanding on the backstories of fan-favorite characters in the Bungo Stray Dogs universe.
- Call the Name of the Night Vol. 5 (Yen Press): This manga series continues to captivate readers.
- A Cat From Our World and the Forgotten Witch Vol. 4 (Seven Seas): Another volume in this isekai fantasy series.
- Cat on the Hero’s Lap Vol. 4 (Seven Seas): This heartwarming story keeps moving forward.
- Chained Soldier Vol. 10 (Yen Press): The intense battle continues in this action-packed manga.
- Cheerful Amnesia Vol. 5 (Yen Press): More of the comedic situations in this series.
- Days With My Stepsister Vol. 2 (Yen Press): The relationship dynamics continue in this manga.
- The Demon Sword Master of Excalibur Academy Vol. 8 (Yen Press): The latest chapter of this fantasy series.
- Diary of a Female Lead: Shujinkou Nikki Vol. 2 (Seven Seas): Another volume with more drama and romance.
- Dogs and Punching Bags (Vertical): This release offers a unique story with its own distinct style.
- Dra-Q Vol. 1 (Kodansha USA): A new series that manga fans may be interested in.
- Everyone’s Darling Has a Secret Vol. 1 (Yen Press): Readers will be excited to dive into this first volume.
- Free Life Fantasy Online: Immortal Princess Vol. 9 (Seven Seas): The adventure continues in this isekai series.
- From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman: My Hotshot Disciples Are All Grown Up Now, and They Won’t Leave Me Alone Vol. 2 (Yen Press): More of the adventure in this manga.
- Gachiakuta Vol. 5 (Kodansha USA): A new chapter for readers to indulge in.
- Goblin Slayer Side Story II: Dai Katana Vol. 7 (Yen Press): This manga continues with more dark fantasy.
- His Majesty the Demon King’s Housekeeper Vol. 9 (Yen Press): More of the daily life in this series.
- Honeko Akabane’s Bodyguards Vol. 2 (Yen Press): Another volume of this series focusing on unique characters.
- Toilet-bound Hanako-kun Chapter 122 (Yen Press): A new digital chapter was released for the series.
- Kakegurui – Compulsive Gambler – Chapter 113 (Yen Press): Another digital chapter in this series.
- Übel Blatt II Chapter 11 (Yen Press): Fans were able to get a new digital chapter for this series.
Notable Manga Series
Several popular manga series continued with new releases during this week. Titles such as Ayakashi Triangle, Bungo Stray Dogs, and Chained Soldier all saw new volumes released, much to the delight of their respective fan bases.
Variety of Genres
The releases spanned a wide range of genres, including action, romance, fantasy, and comedy, ensuring that there was something for every type of reader. From the supernatural battles in Ayakashi Triangle to the heartwarming moments in Cat on the Hero’s Lap, the diversity of stories was a highlight of this release week.
Ongoing Anime Series
While there were several new releases, several anime series continued to air new episodes during this period. These included:
- Blue Box: This series continued its run with new episodes.
- Blue Exorcist: The Blue Night Saga: New episodes of this action-fantasy series were available.
- Dragon Ball Daima: The ongoing series continued to be a must-watch for fans.
- Solo Leveling Season 2: A highly anticipated second season was released.
- Zenshu: This series started airing this month.
- Dr. Stone Season 4: The science adventure series continued with new episodes.
- The Apothecary Diaries Season 2: This popular series also had new episodes available.
- Sakamoto Days: Fans were excited for the continued release of this anime.
Looking Ahead
The releases from January 19th to 25th set a high bar for the rest of 2025. There are several other anime and manga releases planned for this year, including new seasons of popular anime like Spy x Family and My Hero Academia, as well as the release of new manga volumes.
Anticipated Releases in 2025
- Anime Films: Several anime films are scheduled for release in 2025, such as Colorful Stage! The Movie: A Miku Who Can’t Sing and Cute High Earth Defense Club Eternal Love!.
- New Anime Series: Many new anime series are slated to debut, including Lazarus from the creator of Cowboy Bebop.
- Manga: There are many new manga volumes and series to look forward to throughout the rest of 2025.
In conclusion, the week of January 19th-25th, 2025 was an exciting time for anime and manga enthusiasts in North America, offering a wide range of new content to enjoy. With such a strong start to the year, fans have much to anticipate for the rest of 2025.
