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Nowhere to go however up from right here (hopefully)…
No sugarcoating it – Winter 2025 appears to be like fairly barren for my tastes. There are a few high-end prospects, however when it comes to depth it’s one in every of weakest seasons in years on paper. The same old caveats apply – seasons can shock you. However they normally don’t. At this level my radar is fairly well-honed, however I’m going into each season with an open thoughts.
As you most likely know, my benchmark for previews is one-third. That’s to say, nearly invariably I wind up previewing a couple of third of the brand new collection on the schedule – by no means by design, that’s simply the way it falls. Properly, this winter it’s barely 20% – 11 reveals out of 53. And that’s not with an particularly rigorous display both (the weaker the prospect group the extra I decrease it). Which will very nicely be the bottom preview proportion of any season since I’ve been doing this, although I wouldn’t swear to that. It’s definitely a sign that this season aligns very poorly with my anime profile.
What actually stands out for me – sadly – is simply what number of isekai manga are being tailored. We’re used to a crush of isekai in fact, a scourge of anime. Solely not often are they fascinating and the overwhelming majority of them are just about generic. However that’s been pushed by LNs primarily. It was inevitably that the isekai pattern would bleed into manga extra closely provided that it’s principally a simple buck – it’s been occurring for a couple of years. However I’ve by no means seen this many isekai manga variations in a single season. We have now the standard LNs too in fact, which makes the pool of doubtless good reveals loads shallower in case your tastes align with mine.
I’m not likely in a position to level to anybody aspect and say it’s a powerful swimsuit. Sequels are skinny on the bottom for me, although there are a few very large ones (Jibaku Shounen Hanako-kun being the largest). There are a number of romcoms I’ll at the very least trial – I suppose that will be the strongest style on paper. Straight-up comedy, sports activities, sci-fi, fantasy – it’s only a collection or two right here and there and that’s it. It’s additionally a skinny season for unique collection, and fairly missing in big-name administrators. All in all I haven’t seen a crop this naked because the COVID seasons of 2020-2021.
Winter does are usually a weaker season in a typical yr, so I’m not as fearful as I’d be if there have been a spring or fall season. Nonetheless, in comparison with the final couple of winters it’s tough. With stuff like Rurouni Kenshin, Dandadan, and Ao no Hako carrying over I’ll definitely keep busy. However for stuff just like the Patron Choose, it may very well be slim pickings certainly. That is the type of season the place you desperately hope one thing emerges from utterly off your radar and seems to be an enormous winner.
That is my fifty fifth (I believe) Season Preview right here at LiA. Because of everybody who’s joined me for a part of that experience. Right here’s hoping efforts to make the positioning financially sustainable bear fruit, and these previews will proceed to be free for anybody who finds them helpful and entertaining. As we embark on one other yr my working prices proceed to skyrocket – internet hosting alone is greater than doubling – so greater than ever I’m going to be dependent in your monetary help to maintain LiA alive. To everybody who’s pitched in to assist that trigger – you could have my honest gratitude.
Let’s transfer on to Winter 2025. As normal, the ballot is within the sidebar – please go vote!
Highest Expectations:
Jibaku Shounen Hanako-kun 2 – Lerche: (PV) Make no mistake, Jibaku Shounen Hanako-kun is a massively well-liked manga. The shock is to not see it get a second season, however that it took so long as it did. Higher late than by no means is the operative phrase right here I suppose, and a season has by no means wanted a tentpole collection greater than Winter ’25. That is completely my prime expectations collection and it’s reassuring realizing it’s going to ship.
There are some fascinating questions right here. The primary season, which total did a superb job capturing the surrealistic visible model of the manga, skipped a good quantity of fabric. Very high quality materials at that. May we see a few of that restored to the narrative now? There was even hypothesis that this may be a reboot, however that’s nearly definitely not the case primarily based on previews. The present can maintain the general narrative with out what was lower, however it’s nonetheless a disgrace if that’s the tip of it. There’s additionally Andou Masaomi’s departure as director, which is a priority. Fukui Youhei is untested as a director however has definitely labored in different roles on some great collection.
Ogata Megumi’s towering efficiency as Hanako-kun (and Tsukasa-kun) is definitely the engine driving this car. She’s great right here in a really demanding position. However total it’s an excellent forged, and loads is requested of them as a result of this can be a shockingly darkish collection lots of the time. In that it shares some qualities with its stable-mate at GF Fantasy, Kuroshitsuji. Each are business giants – this collection has not obtained the identical stage of anime help that Black Butler has. However it is sensible to consider that finally each are going to obtain full variations.
Medalist – ENGI: (PV) Medalist is a manga that’s been on the forefront of important acclaim nearly since its debut. It gained the Subsequent Manga Award in 2022, and the Shogakukan Manga Award in 2023, and has a boatload of different nominations on prime of that. None of which means something in a vacuum in fact, however it’s truthful to say that the majority of opinion on this collection is overwhelmingly constructive and it’s been garnering a ton of buzz because it first bought observed.
I do love me a superb sports activities anime, and a seinen a lot the higher. I’m not particularly a fan of determine skating however that’s most likely not an issue given my observe report. The main focus of Medalist is on the youth growth facet of the game – and this can be a sport the place champions are normally fairly younger to start with (particularly on the ladies’s facet). The 2 essential characters are a fifth-grade woman attempting to make it to the highest in ice dancing (most likely the least well-known of the main determine skating disciplines), and the previous hotshot prospect who takes it on himself to teach her to the highest.
There’s a great deal of potential there, clearly. Is Tsukasa attempting to stay vicariously via Inori? What in regards to the different children she competes with? The downer right here is that ENGI is hardly a studio with a formidable observe report, and this figures to be a sport that’s robust to animate nicely. However the previews look fairly first rate, and director Yamamoto Yasutaka and author Hanada Jukki are skilled and usually superb as their jobs. On steadiness Medalist figures to be one of many higher variations of 2025, and it’ll be a disappointment if it doesn’t end up that means.
Mid-table:
Kusuriya no Hitorigoto 2nd Season – OLM, TOHO: (PV) To completely nobody’s shock, its anime adaptation turned The Apothecary Diaries right into a (extra) huge hit. Already well-liked as a light-weight novel after which a manga, it actually exploded after this adaptation hit the airwaves. It ranked simply being Sousou no Frieren as a business powerhouse, and it’s definitely going to obtain a completer adaptation except one thing very unusual occurs.
I don’t like that many LN variations, as anybody who’s adopted this website even somewhat will know. However I actually did like this one. It’d also have a shot at 2024’s High 10 (I haven’t floor the numbers but), and that’s in a reasonably good yr. A few of the mysteries had been fairly skinny gruel however Maomao is a superb protagonist, with Yuuki Aoi completely nailing the position. I additionally actually favored Lakan as a facet character (and her father, because it turned out), and his arc was the excessive level of the season for me. Additionally, my physician’s workplace has a poster for the collection up within the ready room and that has to rely for one thing.
Sakamoto Days – TMS Leisure: (PV) Sakamoto days has advanced into one in every of Weekly Shounen Bounce’s hottest collection. My podcast cohost Samu considers it a possible “subsequent large factor” (and it’s one in every of his favorites within the journal as well). I’ve sampled it a bit and to be sincere, it by no means did that a lot for me. However typically it’s completely different as soon as the transition to anime occurs. We will see.
Contemplating that it is highly regarded, it’s odd that it’s taken so lengthy (19 volumes) for Sakamoto Days to hit the display. It additionally doesn’t appear to be receiving the first-class anime remedy you’d count on, if the previews are something to go by. Alternatively it has a two-cour (cut up) dedication out of the field. And it figures to get a protracted adaptation even when the anime doesn’t considerably enhance manga gross sales (that are already copious).
Story-wise that is the story of a former murderer who’s grown contended (and fats) together with his peaceable household life. However (cease me in case you heard this earlier than) he receives a suggestion he can’t refuse to be drawn again into the underworld. I’m absolutely conscious that battle shounen (not least in WSJ) are legendary for gradual begins, and perhaps I simply didn’t give Sakamoto Days sufficient play on the lead. I’ll definitely give the anime each likelihood to win me over.
Kono Kaisha ni Suki na Hito ga Imasu – Blade: (PV) In a season that appears fairly bereft of sleepers – and creatively formidable prospects usually – Kono Kaisha ni Suki na Hito ga Imasu actually stands out. It checks lots of bins – office comedy, grownup forged, well-regarded supply materials. Blade is a studio with which I’m truthfully not that acquainted however aside from that the indicators are constructive (and any port in a storm).
The story here’s a pair of fellow workers who’re completely into one another to the purpose of being unable to maintain their palms off one another, desperately attempting to cover their relationship. That may very well be lots of enjoyable or may very well be fairly spinoff, however as famous the manga appears to be well-liked. It’s additionally accomplished, which is a constructive – although it was 15 volumes, which may pose a major problem if this can be a single cour.
Honey Lemon Soda – J.C. Workers: (PV) This can be a collection that will surely have obtained an adaptation sooner if it had been a shounen. Honey Lemon Soda has bought at the very least 12 million copies of its 26 volumes, making it one of many best-selling shoujo manga of the previous decade. However shoujo doesn’t pull the identical weight in anime (many well-liked titles wind up with live-action dramas – HLS has had a movie already), and it’s taken nearly a decade for this adaptation to lastly hit. It’s at J.C. Workers too, which lately has normally meant filth low cost and CG-heavy. However the previews look fairly first rate, for what it’s price.
I haven’t learn any of the manga, so I’m stepping into fairly chilly right here. By popularity it appears to be seen as a reasonably by-the-book shoujo romance with higher than common execution, however I’ll reserve judgment till now we have precise episodes to contemplate. The story follows a shy, bullied woman who meets a flashy yellow-haired boy (thus the title) when she will get to highschool. He slowly encourages her to speak in confidence to the world, and romance blooms. Sounds high quality, if fairly acquainted.
Modestly :
Hana wa Saku, Shura no Gotoku – Studio Bind: (PV): Truthfully, there’s not a lot on this tier that appears like an actual prospect to me. However Hana wa Saku, Shura no Gotoku has nearly as good an opportunity as any of them I suppose. It’s the story of a genki woman on a tiny island (inhabitants 600) who joins the broadcasting membership as a result of she loves storytelling. This has greater than a whiff of “therapeutic” and CGDCT to it, however the manga is decently reviewed. Studio Bind is principally “Studio Mushoku Tensei” up thus far, so I’ve little familiarity with them.
Übel Blatt – Satelight: (PV) Übel Blatt is sort of a preferred manga. It completed in 2019, which as soon as upon a time would have made an adaptation in 2025 a longshot. However adapting long-finished manga is a factor now, and Satelight is in command of this one. Übel Blatt chronicles the travels of a mysterious scarred man wielding a black sword in a dystopian world. I’ve heard it known as a poor man’s Berserk, amongst different issues, and total along with being a good vendor the collection appears to be fairly well-regarded. Once more, not conversant in the manga instantly however it’s good an opportunity as any of those backside feeders.
Zenshuu. – MAPPA: (PV) An unique from MAPPA a couple of rising younger anime director assigned to do a collection about past love, coping with the truth that she’s utterly inexperienced romantically. Collection about making anime might be hit or miss however there’s at all times potential there. LiA quiz: who’s crucial employees member on an unique collection? With Zenshuu. that individual is Ueno Kimiko, who’s been fairly good with variations however has a really skinny observe report with unique collection.
Sousei no Aquarion: Fantasy of Feelings – Satelight: (PV) Properly, that definitely got here out of nowhere. A sequel to an unique anime from 20 years in the past that I by no means thought was all that well-liked? Fascinating – perhaps that is conceived as a twentieth Anniversary undertaking. The unique was a post-apocalyptic sci-fi set on Earth after an alien invasion, so I’m assuming Fantasy of Feelings will observe that theme (particulars are scarce). All I can say for certain is that the artwork model is wildly completely different.
Babanbabanban Vampire – Gaina: (PV) A complete stab in the dead of night. This one is a curiosity at the very least because it’s the primary collection by post-Gainax studio Gaina in ages. It’s primarily based on a manga a couple of part-timer vampire working at a bathhouse attempting to maintain the proprietor’s son a virgin so he can take pleasure in his blood when he turns 18. The issue is that the boy is in love with a lady in school and progressing means too quick. Perhaps some comedian potential there, although it’s a longshot.
Will certainly weblog: Jibaku Shounen Hanako-kun 2, Medalist, Kusuriya no Hitorigoto 2nd Season. A small listing for a small season.
Sleepers: Kono Kaisha ni Suki na Hito ga Imasu is truthfully the one one I can embody right here. That doesn’t imply nothing else will shock me however I’m not vibing the rest as an actual menace stepping into.
OVA:
Two seasons in a row with an precise entry within the OVA class is uncommon today.
SK∞ OVA: Additional Half – 03/19/2025: (PV) I fairly favored SK∞, although the ultimate arc significantly misplaced its means for me. It’s the type of collection that ought to lend itself to an OVA, because it’s greatest when it doesn’t take itself too significantly.
Theatrical:
Two movies this winter, not usually the largest season for theatrical anime.
Versailles no Bara (Film) – 01/31/2025: (PV) The Rose of Versailles is definitely one of many all-time legends of shoujo romance. I suppose rebooting it now’s simply a part of the overall pattern to revive previous chestnuts in new anime type. MAPPA has put collectively a reasonably good employees right here together with director Yoshimura Ai, however we’re speaking a couple of ten quantity manga being tailored in a single movie. I’m skeptical.
Mononoke Film: Dai Ni Shou – Hinezumi – 03/14/2025: (PV) I used to be by no means as large a fan of Mononke as some. However we don’t see a lot of Nakamura Kenji’s work today, so something new is notable. That is the second within the new movie sequence, the primary (Karakasa) receiving usually favorable evaluations.
