The summer anime season of 2025 is going to be one of the coolest ones in a long time. There are lots of major sequels and some highly anticipated new series premiering, so anime enthusiasts have plenty to look forward to. No matter if you’re into those fast-paced shonen series, brain-twisting thrillers, supernatural fantasies, or spooky horror series, this season’s got something for you.
We have the returning favorites Sakamoto Days, Kaiju No. 8, and Dandadan, along with some really interesting new series such as Lazarus and The Summer Hikaru Died. Trust me, the anime community is just swimming in diversity and creativity. Take a look at the top must-watch anime shows releasing during Summer 2025 and why each and every one of them is so special.
1. Sakamoto Days Season 2
Release Date: July 2025
Platform: Netflix
The action-packed adaptation of Sakamoto Days continues into its second cour, which will be treated as Season 1B. With that not-so-good performance in the first cour, fans are expecting that the studio will work their flaws and deliver a quality season 2 of Sakamoto Days anime.
The anime is an adaptation of the popular manga by Yuto Suzuki, which follows the life of the legendary hitman Taro Sakamoto, who has retired to live as an ordinary man with his family while running a convenience store. Trouble, however, has a way of finding him, and he is pulled back into the world of high-stakes battles and lethal enemies.
Sakamoto Days is an absolute must-watch for Shonen fans, full of great fight scenes, cool spy action, and plenty of humor.
2. Dandadan Season 2
Release Date: July 2025
Platform: Crunchyroll
Hey! So, the supernatural action-romance anime Dandadan is coming back for its second season, and it’s going to be tackling those Cursed House and Evil Eye arcs. The whole show is about this guy Ken Takakura who’s all about believing in aliens, and Momo Ayase who finds that absurd but believes in ghosts a lot.
They meet when they both try to debunk the other and guess what? They both end up finding out that ghosts and aliens are real! Dandadan is completely one of the coolest sequels this season, due to its fantastic animation by Science SARU, lightning-fast action, and that offbeat combination of horror and comedy.
3. Kaiju No. 8 Season 2
Release Date: July 2025
Platform: Crunchyroll
Guess what then? Production I.G.’s amazing anime Kaiju No. 8 is coming back with its super exciting second season! All about this guy, Kafka Hibino, who really wants to join the Defense Force and battle those giant kaiju that are destroying Japan. But then, things get wild when he gets infected and can transform into a kaiju too!
Kaiju No. 8 is certainly worth watching for monster-battling anime enthusiasts, with its spectacular fight scenes, detailed character development, and tense storyline.
4. The Summer Hikaru Died
Release Date: Summer 2025
Platform: Netflix
For horror and psychological thriller enthusiasts, The Summer Hikaru Died is a frightful ride. This Lovecraftian horror anime revolves around Yoshiki, whose friend Hikaru becomes gravely injured during a mountain climb. But Hikaru is back, except he is no longer himself.
A sinister presence has inhabited his body, and Yoshiki finds himself doubting whether the figure in front of him is actually his real friend. This series has this creepy atmosphere and some really creepy subject matter, so it’s one of the darkest anime you can watch this year.
5. Lazarus
Release Date: April 2025
Platform: Prime Video
From Cowboy Bebop’s director Shinichirō Watanabe, Lazarus is a cyberpunk original anime with explosive action. Set against a miracle cure that gives humanity health and longevity, until its real side effects are discovered, and a frantic search begins to locate the cure.
With John Wick director Chad Stahelski choreographing the action, Lazarus should provide some of the most visually stunning and energetic fight scenes in anime history.
6. Devil May Cry
Release Date: April 2025
Platform: Netflix
The Devil May Cry series makes its return after all these years with a fresh anime series produced by Studio Mir. Another interesting thing is that we will get to hear Kevin Conroy, the legendary voice behind The Batman for the very last time in the series.
The anime will focus on a younger Dante as he battles demon forces against the human realm. The fans of the video game series are completely hyped up about this adaptation, and with its awesome action and iconic lead character, it’s going to be an incredible ride.
7. Moonrise
Release Date: April 2025
Platform: Netflix
Developed by WIT Studio, the same studio behind Attack on Titan, Moonrise is a science fiction war drama between Earth and the lunar colonies that are at war. It is about Jack, a newly recruited military man after his family was killed in the lunar rebellion, and finds that his best friend from the past is now among the enemy.
Moonrise has incredible animation and a genuinely deep emotional feel and it could easily be the sleeper hit of the year.
8. Gachiakuta
Release Date: July 2025
Platform: Crunchyroll
Bones Studio, the same studio behind Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, My Hero Academia, is adapting the hit manga Gachiakuta, a dystopian revenge story set in a world where criminals and trash are thrown into a seemingly endless abyss.
The series chronicles a young man cast into the depths of this bizarre world as he seeks revenge and justice. Gachiakuta does have that awesome graffiti-style artwork and some really intense fight scenes, so it could very well be one of the season’s biggest hits.
Summer 2025 is totally amazing, with both the old favorites and some great new shows. Whether you’re hyped up for more of Sakamoto Days and Kaiju No. 8, or just can’t wait to check out some of the new stuff like Lazarus and The Summer Hikaru Died, there’s obviously something for every anime enthusiast to dig their teeth into.
So, mark your calendars and get ready for an action-filled, emotionally stimulating, and visually stunning summer season of anime!
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
