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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallFor the January 2025 anime season, The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 is the strongest all-around pick across the available audience evidence: it placed second in Anime Corner’s fan poll and first in ABEMA’s own views ranking. Re:ZERO −Starting Life in Another World− Season 3 took the top spot in Anime Corner’s poll, while Solo Leveling Season 2 is a standout action choice and Medalist leads the sports-drama options. The season’s rankings include returning shows as well as new series, so the recommendations below identify which stories require catching up.
What counts as “best” for the Winter 2025 anime season?
Here, “winter 2025” means anime that began in the January 2025 season. “Best” depends on the measure: Anime Corner’s seasonal poll reflects the preferences of its participants, while ABEMA’s ranking uses viewing and comment data from its own service. Those results are useful audience signals, not a single objective quality ranking, and they should not be compared as though they used the same method.
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The two sources overlap on The Apothecary Diaries Season 2, which makes it a particularly well-supported broad recommendation. The other picks offer different draws: a fan-poll favorite, a high-profile action sequel, a figure-skating drama, and two new-season entries that performed strongly on ABEMA.
Six Winter 2025 anime to put on your shortlist
1. The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 — the broadest recommendation
Returning series. Anime Corner ranked the second season second in its final Winter 2025 poll; ABEMA placed it first in its views ranking. It also topped Anime Corner’s storytelling category. That combination makes it the most defensible all-around pick in this shortlist, especially for viewers who already enjoyed the first season. Newcomers should start with Season 1 rather than treating this as a standalone entry.
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#1 Best Overall
2. Re:ZERO −Starting Life in Another World− Season 3 — the fan-poll leader
Returning series. Re:ZERO ranked first in Anime Corner’s final seasonal poll, with a displayed score of 6.97%. That is a poll result, not a quality rating or a measure of all anime viewers. Its placement in ABEMA’s views ranking was fourth, a reminder that platform viewing data and poll preferences produce different orders. This is a continuation, so it suits viewers willing to catch up on the earlier seasons.
3. Solo Leveling Season 2: Arise from the Shadow — for action and fantasy
Returning series. Anime Corner ranked Solo Leveling Season 2 third in its final poll, with a displayed score of 5.32%. It is the clearest action-forward recommendation among the poll’s top three. As a second season, it is best approached after the first rather than as a fresh starting point.
Rank #2
4. Medalist — the sports-drama pick
New series. Medalist focuses on figure skating and was Anime Corner’s winner in its best-sports category, receiving 72.11% of that category’s votes. That percentage describes the category poll, not the overall seasonal vote. Viewers who want to continue with the story in print can start with Medalist, Volume 1; Kodansha lists a print edition and names Amazon among its retailers, but that does not establish current stock.
5. Orb: On the Movements of the Earth — a strong ABEMA views pick
New-season entry. Orb ranked third in ABEMA’s views ranking. That makes it a worthwhile choice for viewers looking beyond sequels and toward a historical, idea-driven drama. The ranking establishes its performance on ABEMA, not how it compares with other titles on services the list does not measure.
Rank #3
6. Sakamoto Days — an action-and-comedy alternative
New series. Sakamoto Days placed fifth in ABEMA’s views ranking. It gives the shortlist a new entry alongside the returning-franchise picks, and is a natural option for viewers looking for an action/comedy choice.
How the rankings were measured
ABEMA’s final Winter 2025 list covered both new and continuing anime from the January season. Its views ranking was: The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 first, Bogus Skill Fruitmaster second, Orb: On the Movements of the Earth third, Re:ZERO Season 3 fourth, and Sakamoto Days fifth. ABEMA Times / ANIME FREAKS says the rankings were calculated separately for views and comments, using average per-episode live and on-demand views and average comments during broadcasts. The data came from ABEMA’s anime channel, from each title’s first episode to its final episode; it is service-specific rather than an industry-wide measurement. Read ABEMA Times / ANIME FREAKS’ final ranking and methodology.
Rank #4
Anime Corner’s April 15, 2025 final poll ranked Re:ZERO first at 6.97%, The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 second at 5.72%, and Solo Leveling Season 2 third at 5.32%. Anime Corner reported 37,166 contributors to the final results. These figures describe that outlet’s poll and participants, not all anime viewers. See Anime Corner’s Winter 2025 poll results.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where and when to watch
Streaming schedules vary by territory and can differ from Japanese broadcast dates. A December 2024 U-NEXT announcement described that service’s planned Winter 2025 lineup in Japan, including more than 35 titles and selected first episodes available free without registration at the time. It is a historical, Japan-specific schedule announcement—not a current worldwide availability guide. Check the services available in your country for each show’s present listing and release schedule. U-NEXT’s December 2024 lineup announcement.
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For a broader view of what was starting that season, ORICON’s Japan Anime News published a January 2025 slate overview on December 11, 2024. View the Winter 2025 anime list from ORICON / Japan Anime News.
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