Anime Summer Season 2025
Which series are you most looking forward to?
The anime highlights of the summer
2.7.2025
Translation: Katherine Martin
The beginning of July marks the start of this year’s summer anime season. Here are the series highlight you’ll find on platforms like Crunchyroll and Netflix over the coming months.
Hey there, my name’s Cassie and I’ve been watching anime since I was a little kid. In fact, I like it so much that I did a degree in Japanese Studies. During my student days, I fell in love with the language and culture of Japan. Now, with this list of anime recommendations for summer 2025, I want to pass that love on to you.
Dan Da Dan, Season 2
Having got off to a refreshingly quirky start as an adaptation of the popular manga in autumn 2024, Dan Da Dan is back for a second season. Why «refreshingly quirky»? Because Dan Da Dan takes itself much less seriously as a shonen than the competition. Even so, the human way in which the characters are portrayed has struck a chord with audiences. I mean, just look at this wild opening.
Main characters Momo and Okarun want to prove to each other that ghosts and aliens exist. In the end, they make a bet that proves them both right. The chaos really ramps up a notch when Okarun comes across a ghost who steals his… ahem crown jewels. Meanwhile, Momo’s powers as a medium awaken for the first time when aliens try to operate on her. Momo and Okarun form a team with one clear goal in mind: to get Okarun’s crown jewels back.
The second season picks up right where the first left off: with Momo and Okarun taking a closer look at a haunted house. A new enemy’s waiting for them there.
When: 3 July, with new episodes released weekly
Where?: Crunchyroll and Netflix
Language: Japanese (with subtitles), English, German
My Dress-Up Darling, Season 2
My Dress-Up Darling is a rom com set in high school. This anime adaptation of the manga More Than a Doll comes from studio Clover Works.
The twist in the romance lies in student Wakana Gojo’s unusual hobby. Like his grandfather, he makes Hina dolls. These are traditional Japanese dolls displayed at the country’s doll festival on 3 March. Supposedly, they protect their owners by trapping evil spirits in their bodies. Unfortunately, Gojo’s clueless about trends and fashion. One day, Gojo’s classmate Marin Kitagawa happens to find out about his secret hobby. She’s a nerd and a passionate cosplayer.
From that point on, a synergy develops between the two as Gojo sews cosplay clothes for Marin, spending more and more time with her.
When: 5 July, with new episodes released weekly
Where?: Crunchyroll)
Language: Japanese (with subtitles), English, German
Gachiakuta, Season 1
Bones, the studio behind My Hero Academia, produces this anime adaptation of the eponymous manga, Gachiakuta. The plot revolves around protagonist Rudo, who lives in the slums of a rich city. One day, he’s condemned to be thrown away alongside the rest of the city’s rubbish into a seemingly boundless hole known as the Abyss.
Instead of the afterlife, however, Rudo finds himself in a whole new world. There, he encounters the Cleaners, a group that fights the monsters of the Abyss. In order to find a way out, he joins them – and the adventure begins.
When: 6 July, with new episodes released weekly
Where?: Crunchyroll
Language: Japanese (with subtitles), English, German
Nyaight of the Living Cat, Season 1
The title of this anime clearly alludes to the horror film Night of the Living Dead. Instead of zombies, this world’s overrun by cute four-legged felines. Suddenly, a plague strikes humankind, causing anyone who touches a cat to turn into one.
This makes Nyaight of the Living Cat the perfect zombie parody for cat lovers and owners alike. Instead of guns and chunks of flesh, it’s catnip and toys that are needed to escape these pesky little cuties.
The studio behind the adaptation of the eponymous manga is OLM, which has been active in the industry for over 30 years. It produced contemporary smash hits such as The Apothecary Diaries and Odd Taxi.
When: 6 July, with new episodes released weekly
Where?: Crunchyroll
Language: Japanese (with subtitles), English, German
Dr Stone, Season 4, Part 2
Dr Stone is a celebration of the wonder of science. One day, a mysterious phenomenon turns the earth to stone. Thousands of years later, the first humans are revived from their state of petrification. Among them is genius Senku Ishigami aka Dr Stone.
Senku makes it his mission to bring back human civilisation. It’s an ambitious undertaking – one initially only supported by his friend Taiju. In Part 2, we’ll see if they’ll succeed and how the story ends. The fourth season will reportedly consist of three parts, the second of which is starting now.
When: 10 July, with new episodes released weekly
Where?: Crunchyroll
Language: Japanese (with subtitles), English, German
Kaiju No. 8, Season 2
Giant beasts and monsters are referred to as «kaiju» in Japan. These include legendary film characters such as Godzilla and Mothra. And this very category of giant monsters is what Kaiju No. 8 is all about.
Protagonist Kafka Hibino has the job of cleaning up remains of dead monsters after they’ve been killed off by special units. One day, he’s injured in the line of duty. A tiny «kaiju» then penetrates his wound, giving him superhuman powers. With his newfound strength, Kafka’s able to fulfil a childhood dream and a promise. He joins the army to fight the «kaiju», but has to keep the origin of his monstrous powers a secret.
I.G produced the previous season and is on the credits for this one too. The studio’s known for anime such as Kimi ni Todoke, Kuroko’s Basketball and Psycho-Pass.
When: 19 July, with new episodes released weekly
Where?: Crunchyroll
Language: Japanese (with subtitles), English, German
The Summer Hikaru Died, Season 1
Manga readers say The Summer Hikaru Died could be one of this summer’s top picks. This adaptation of the eponymous comic tells the story of childhood friends Yoshiki and Hikaru.
Hikaru disappears one day in a nearby forest. When he reappears a week later, Yoshiki realises there’s something up with his friend. As revealed by the anime title, Hikaru died in the forest that week. Now, another person or creature is impersonating him. The situation becomes increasingly tense as more and more people in the village die following Hikaru’s return.
The Summer Hikaru Died is produced by studio Cygames Pictures, which is also behind the doomsday series Apocalypse Hotel. It’s currently unclear whether every episode of the anime will be released at once, as is typical for Netflix, or on a weekly basis, as is typical for anime.
When: 5 July, with new episodes released weekly
Where?: Netflix
Language: Japanese (with subtitles), English subtitles, German subtitles
The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity, Season 1
This is the second romance that Studio Clover Works is venturing into alongside My Dress-Up Darling – and it looks very promising. The anime adaptation of the eponymous manga centres on the love story of Rin and Kaoru, who go to neighbouring schools.
Rin’s school is known for tough guys with bad grades and gets a bad reputation. By contrast, Kaoru’s elite girls’ school is known for its high-achieving students with wealthy parents. With this in mind, it feels obvious that kids from these schools would never mix. At least until Kaoru comes into Rin’s family’s café one fateful day.
After the two immediately take a liking to each other, they’re forced to confront obstacles from their respective backgrounds in order to stay friends.
When: 5 July, with new episodes released weekly
Where?: Netflix
Language: Japanese (with subtitles), English subtitles, German subtitles
Sakamoto Days, Season 1, Part 2
Contract killer Taro Sakamoto quits his old «job» when he falls in love with sales clerk Aoi. He trades in committing murder for marriage, parenthood and working in his own little shop. Unfortunately, this idyllic lifestyle doesn’t last. After all, Taro’s past often catches up with him.
He has to protect the quiet life he’s built with his wife. Fortunately, he’s helped by a fellow former assassin who happens to be able to read minds.
The premise of Sakamoto Days sounds like an action-packed, spy-style spectacular. That’s certainly true, but it’s also mixed with a good dose of spy parody. Following the eleven-episode first season released in winter 2024, animation studio TMS Entertainment is now bringing us Part 2. Having been in the business since the 1960s, it’s a true veteran of the medium.
When: 14 July, with new episodes probably released weekly
Where?: Netflix
Language: Japanese (with subtitles), English dub, German dub
Pokémon Concierge, Season 2
Summer, good vibes and relaxation: that’s Pokémon Concierge in a nutshell. New Pokémon Resort temp Haru has got to grips with her job and even found a partner Pokémon. Now, it’s time for a second round of adventures. Instead of action-packed Pokémon battles, you can expect sugary-sweet, touching moments.
The charm of this short series clearly lies in the well-conceived stop-motion graphics. As a Pokémon fan, I love watching my favourite pocket monsters in everyday situations. As a result, I’m slightly envious of Haru, whose day-to-day life revolves around meeting the needs of the Pokémon. The ending theme alone is enough to ignite my wanderlust.
Pokémon Concierge is the result of a collaboration between The Pokémon Company and Dwarf Animation Studios.
When: September 2025, all episodes probably to be released at once
Where?: Netflix
Language: Japanese (with subtitles), English, German
Cassie Mammone
Freelance Editor
cassie.mammone.freelance@gmail.comI wrote my first text about video games when I was eight years old. I haven't been able to stop since. The rest of my time is spent on my love for 2D husbandos, monsters, my cats and sport.
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