A new year means new anime, and I couldn’t be more happy to share Kongbakpao’s Anime Favourites For 2025! I’ll go through my top 5 picks for anime that are either brand new or getting a new season. Fan of anime features? Check out my post where I rank every Hunter x Hunter Arc.
Black Butler
The Emerald Witch Arc is finally being adapted into the anime, and I couldn’t be more excited. I loved the Public School Arc that was released this year, so imagine my surprise when I saw the teaser for one of my favourite arcs! Originally from the manga, the Emerald Witch Arc introduced tons of new characters and also included some of the originals from the series.
Black Butler is my all-time favourite anime, and I’m so happy more of the manga is going to be animated, especially as it is on hiatus at the moment. However, I’m most excited to finally see William T Spears animated again! I’m well aware he’s only in this arc for a few pages, but I’ll take what I get. So don’t mind me drinking from my William mug, in my William shirt, with my William figures, with my William tattoo waiting for it to release.
Twisted Wonderland
Made by Yana Tobaso (the creator of Black Butler… seems I have favourites) the franchise is finally getting an anime adaptation which has a planned release in October 2025. Twisted Wonderland was first released as a mobile game in March 2020, and then made into a manga in 2021. The story follows Yuu (which funny enough, is you, the player) as you join a magic school called Night Raven College. The school has 7 different dorms, all inspired by Disney villains.
Unable to remember how you got here, your job is to find your way home. I’m so excited to see the characters of Heartslabyul Dorm animated, as that is the Alice in Wonderland-inspired dorm! Sadly, there isn’t an official trailer yet. But, you can visit the Official Website.
Sakamoto Days
Following the story of former hitman Taro Sakamoto, Sakamoto Days is a mix of action and comedy. After he retired, Sakamoto wanted to settle down and live a mundane, normal life. This goes well… for a while, at least.
But one day, his old colleagues and acquaintances (or should I say enemies) want revenge. His goal is to now protect his family from the threats that face them by using his combat skills that he never thought he would have to use again.
Gachiakuta
The Tribesfolk are a group of people who live in the slums away from those in upper-class society. Rudo, a boy who is a part of this group, hates the wealthy. The rich throw anything they do not want (including people) into a dump site called ‘The Pit’. One day, someone throws Rudo’s father Regto into The Pit. Rudo is accused of committing the crime and is thrown into the pit himself.
Is it just me who is thinking of Chrollo Lucilfer’s backstory here? Living in a slum, neglected by society, but then they come back to avenge the ones they lost? Gachiakuta sounds like the perfect dark fantasy thriller… and I love a good revenge arc!
Witch Hat Atelier
Coco dreams of being a witch. The only issue? She wasn’t born with the gift of being able to use magic… so she thinks. However, everything changes when she meets a traveling magician called Qifrey. Coco watches his performances, and after seeing how he uses magic, she accidentally casts a spell that turns her mother to stone.
Qifrey and Coco set out on a journey to undo the spell and teach her how to both use and control her magic. This whole show makes me think of the whimsical and charming Studio Ghibli feel, and I’m so excited to enter this magical world for myself!
