The Spring 2025 anime season is in full swing, and Japan’s television rankings are offering a fascinating glimpse into what’s capturing the nation’s attention. From continuing favorites to exciting new entries, the anime landscape is as vibrant as ever. Let’s dive into the top series and explore what makes them so popular.
The Reigning Champs: Familiar Faces Still on Top
Several long-running anime continue to hold their ground, proving their enduring appeal with Japanese audiences. These are the shows that have become weekly staples for many households:
- Sazae-san: This classic family anime remains a ratings juggernaut, consistently topping the charts. Its timeless humor and relatable characters resonate across generations. For the week of April 14-20, it earned a 7.0% rating. The week of April 7-13 saw it get an 8.1% rating.
- Chibi Maruko-chan: Another beloved family series, Chibi Maruko-chan, follows the everyday life of a young girl and her family. Its gentle humor and nostalgic charm keep viewers coming back for more. The week of April 14-20 saw the show garner a 5.2% rating, while the week prior it had a 6.2% rating.
- Detective Conan: Also known as Case Closed, Detective Conan continues to captivate audiences with its intricate mysteries and engaging characters. The film Detective Conan: Hyakuman Doru no Michishirube (Case Closed: The Million-dollar Pentagram), which aired on NTV on Friday, April 18, at 9:00 p.m. and earned an 8.3% rating. The TV show itself, which aired April 12th had a 5.6% rating.
- Doraemon: The adventures of Doraemon and Nobita continue to delight viewers of all ages. Its imaginative stories and heartwarming themes have made it a long-standing favorite. The show earned a 3.4% rating for the week of April 7-13.
- One Piece: The seemingly never-ending pirate adventure continues to draw in viewers. One Piece garnered a 2.8% rating for the week of April 14-20, and a 3.1% rating the week before that.
New Contenders and Rising Stars
While established series maintain their dominance, the Spring 2025 season has also introduced several exciting new anime that are quickly gaining popularity:
- The Apothecary Diaries: This historical drama has resonated strongly with audiences. Season 2 earned a 4.7% rating for April 14-20 and 4.9% for April 7-13.
- Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX: The latest entry in the Gundam franchise, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, is making waves with its unique take on the iconic mecha series. For April 7-13, it earned a 3.4% rating.
- Yaiba: Samurai Legend: This new adaptation of a classic series is capturing the attention of both longtime fans and new viewers. It earned a 2.7% rating for the week of April 14-20, and a 3.0% rating for the week prior.
- You and Idol Precure♪: This magical girl anime is proving popular with younger audiences. It earned a 2.7% rating for the week of April 14-20, and a 2.9% rating the week of April 7-13.
Spring 2025 Anime: International Fan Favorites
While Japanese TV ratings offer a glimpse into domestic popularity, several Spring 2025 anime are also generating significant buzz among international fans. Here are some of the most anticipated and well-received series:
- Witch Watch: This series is about a witch-in-training named Nico who moves to Japan and attends the same high school as her childhood friend, Morihito Otogi, a humanoid ogre with incredible physical strength. It has consistently ranked high in international polls.
- Wind Breaker Season 2: Wind Breaker makes its grand return with a season 2 that promises to be epic for fans of sports anime! After a first season that captivated audiences with breathtaking cycling races and intense teenage drama, this new season is set to push the limits of adrenaline and emotion even further.
- My Hero Academia: Vigilantes: This spin-off series explores the world of My Hero Academia from a different perspective, focusing on vigilantes who operate outside the law.
- Fire Force Season 3: The third season of Fire Force, slated for April 2025, is also making waves in the anime world! Highly anticipated by fans, this installment promises to crank up the tension even further. Following the thrilling finale of season 2, this new season plunges us straight into the Great Cataclysm arc, a major turning point in the series.
- Lazarus: From the mind of Cowboy Bebop creator Shinichirō Watanabe, Lazarus is a cyberpunk action series set in a future where a miracle drug has a deadly side effect.
Streaming Platforms: A Gateway to Anime
For international viewers, streaming platforms are the primary way to access the latest anime releases. Here’s a rundown of some of the major platforms and their Spring 2025 offerings:
- Crunchyroll: A comprehensive platform dedicated to anime, Crunchyroll offers a vast library of both current and classic titles. Popular Spring 2025 series on Crunchyroll include Witch Watch, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, Wind Breaker Season 2, Black Butler: Emerald Witch Arc, and One Piece.
- Netflix: Netflix has significantly expanded its anime offerings in recent years, with a mix of exclusive originals and licensed series.
- Hulu: Hulu also offers a selection of anime, including some simulcast releases of popular series.
- HIDIVE: Specializing in niche and underappreciated anime, HIDIVE offers a unique catalog for discerning viewers.
- Amazon Prime Video: While not as focused on anime as Crunchyroll, Amazon Prime Video does offer a selection of titles, including Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX.
What’s Trending? A Look at International Rankings
Beyond Japanese TV ratings, international anime communities also have their own ways of ranking and rating series. Here’s a glimpse at what’s trending in the wider anime world:
- Anime Corner Polls: Anime Corner conducts weekly polls to rank the most popular anime episodes of the Spring 2025 season. Recent polls have shown Witch Watch and The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 consistently ranking high. More recent polling from Anime Corner shows To Be Hero X holding onto the top spot for the first time, and bumping Witch Watch down to second.
- IGN’s “Best New Anime to Watch”: IGN has compiled a list of the best new anime to watch in Spring 2025, including To Be Hero X, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, Wind Breaker Season 2, One Piece Egghead Arc Part 2, Fire Force Season 3, and Lazarus.
- Game Rant’s “Best Spring 2025 Anime”: Game Rant has also published a list of the best anime of the season, including A Ninja and an Assassin Under One Roof, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, Yaiba: Samurai Legend, and Witch Watch.
The Ever-Evolving Anime Landscape
The world of anime is constantly evolving, with new series, genres, and platforms emerging all the time. The Spring 2025 season is a testament to this dynamism, offering a diverse range of titles that cater to a wide variety of tastes. Whether you’re a longtime anime fan or a curious newcomer, there’s never been a better time to explore this vibrant and captivating medium.
As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see which series continue to dominate the charts and which new contenders emerge. One thing is for sure: the world of anime is full of surprises, and there’s always something new to discover.
