The 20 most anticipated anime shows and movies of fall 2025

Returning anime will take point, with My Hero Academia airing its spectacular final season, and One-Punch Man finally returning with season 3 after an excruciating six-year wait. Spy x Family season 3 will be a highlight, because let’s face it, who doesn’t want more Anya in their lives?

There’s also plenty of novelty to look out for in this 2025 anime fall season. The outsider in this race is Star Wars: Visions volume 3. While this is a Disney Plus series, the episodes have been produced by a true all-star list of Japanese animation studios, so it’s more than worth including in our recommendations. If you’re a purist, however, you’ll want to check out Sanda, a new series based on the manga created by Beastars author Paru Itagaki, and animated by Science Saru, the studio that recently came into the spotlight for Dan Da Dan.

Check out the 20 most anticipated anime series and movies coming out this fall, curated by Polygon’s team of true-otaku, anime-obsessed editors and writers.

My Hero Academia Final Season (Oct. 4 on Crunchyroll)

I’m a grown man, and I’m not afraid to admit I cried reading the finale of the My Hero Academia manga by Kohei Horikoshi, and most likely, I’ll cry again watching the anime. Truly one of the best shonen series of the last decade, MHA has everything: action, comedy, drama, superpowered battles, character growth, and some of the most heart-wrenching scenes you’ll find in the medium. This final season brings it all to its climax, as Deku makes his final stand against the strongest villain, Shigaraki.

While fans who read the manga already know how this will end, BONES made a stellar work with this adaptation, and it’s well worth watching it to admire how they bring Horikoshi’s work to life on the screen. —Francesco Cacciatore

One-Punch Man season 3 (October on Crunchyroll in Europe; US platform still unconfirmed)

Season 3 of the One-Punch Man anime has to handle some very big expectations. Not only did fans have to wait six years for this, but season 2 was generally disliked for the drop in quality, which was attributed to the studio change as J.C. Staff took over from Madhouse. With the former studio returning for season 3, it’s safe to say that every frame will be under scrutiny.

Fans can at least rest assured that action won’t be lacking in this adaptation of the manga by ONE and Yusuke Murata. Season 3 will focus on the all-out attack of the Hero Association against the Monster Association, and all the S-Class heroes will have their time to shine. Meanwhile, Saitama will have to confront Garou, the Hero Hunter and Bang’s wayward disciple. In the process, he’ll stumble into more powerful foes and punch them into oblivion while being barely aware of what’s going on, as usual. —FC

Spy x Family season 3 (October on Crunchyroll)

Are you ready for more Anya? If you answered “no,” you’re a very bad person, and the secret police of Ostania would like to have a word. If you answered “yes,” then you’re not an enemy of the State, and you will be allowed to have the time of your life this October, when the Forgers return for the third season of the anime, produced by WIT Studios and CloverWorks, based on Tatsuya Endo’s comedy/action/romance/awesome manga.

In Spy x Family, Westalis super-spy Twilight has to build a fake family under the alias Loid Forger in the enemy country of Ostania to get close to the dangerous former prime minister, Donovan Desmond. Little does he know that the girl he adopts can read minds, and the woman he persuades to become his wife is Ostania’s greatest assassin, the Thorn Princess! In this season, fans will also get their first glimpse at Loid’s past, which will show the series’ capacity to mix irresistible humor with the sobering, serious themes of war. —FC

Ranma 1/2 (2024) season 2 (October on Netflix)

It’s never easy to pull off a reboot of a beloved series, but Ranma 1/2’s 2024 return is one of the few successful examples. Upgrading the classic anime based on Rumiko Takahashi’s manga with modern visuals and subtle-but-significant changes to the story, Ranma 1/2 was a success when it debuted in 2024, and its second season is promising more chaos, crazy martial-arts fights, and wacky characters who stand in the way of Ranma and Akane’s will-they-won’t-they romance.

The heir of the Saotome martial arts school, Ranma fell in a magic spring while training with his dad in China, and now transforms into a girl every time he touches cold water. Things get even harder when he returns to Japan and finds out he’s been unwittingly betrothed to Akane, the heir of the Tendo school. MAPPA returns to animate this season, which will see the debut of Mousse, Ukyo, Cologne, Hikaru, and the most infamous character of all, Happosai. It will be interesting to see whether the old panty-stealing pervert will be updated for modern sensibilities, but from the trailer, it seems he’s still up to the usual debauchery. —FC

Kingdom season 6 (Oct. 4, platform TBD)

Probably the best series most of you have never read or watched, Kingdom is a fantastic historical seinen set during the Warring States era that led to the unification of China. Suffering from the lack of an English license for the manga until 2025 (thanks, VIZ — better late than never!), this series never gained the same popularity in the Western world as some of its contemporaries, but that doesn’t make it less relevant. With more than 100 million books in circulation, Kingdom is one of the bestselling manga ever, and the anime is a good way to catch up with this 76-volume series.

Produced by Studio Pierrot of Naruto and Bleach fame, season 6 of Kingdom will focus on the Western Zhao Invasion Arc from the manga, showing the first major-scale conflict between the kingdoms of Qin and Zhao, and the final confrontation between Shin and the mighty warrior Hou Ken. If you like massive-scale battles, heroic tales of courage, and dramatic developments, don’t miss this. —FC

Sanda (Oct. 4 on Amazon Prime Video)

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It’s not easy for shonen to get creative, but leave it to Paru Itagaki, author of the critically acclaimed Beastars (and daughter of Keisuke Itagaki of Baki the Grappler fame), to find a way to do that. Sanda takes place in a future Japan, where draconian measures to face the declining birth rate led to the disappearance of Santa Claus and its legend. One day, middle-school student Kazushige Sanda finds out he’s actually the descendant of Santa Claus and has inherited his powers, which he will use to protect children and restore hope — and Christmas — in Japan.

If this wild premise isn’t enough, know that Sanda is animated by Science Saru, hands-down one of the best currently producing anime studios, with hits such as Devilman Crybaby, Dan Da Dan, and Scott Pilgrim Takes Off in its portfolio. —FC

Star Wars: Visions volume 3 (Oct. 29 on Disney Plus)

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Season 3 of the Disney Plus anthology series Star Wars: Visions will feature nine original anime shorts, some from Japanese studios that contributed to volume 1, plus several new contributors like ANIMA, David Production, Polygon Pictures, Project Studio Q, and WIT Studio. This season channels the spirit of the original anthology, bringing together both new and returning anime studios to explore the franchise’s Japanese influences and themes, like bushido, the feudal era, and the universal life force of qi, all while laying the foundation of the Old Republic, an era of Star Wars the franchise will be breaking new ground in. —Isaac Rouse

Disney: Twisted-Wonderland The Animation – Episode of Heartslabyul (Oct. 29 on Disney Plus)

Adapted from a Japanese mobile game by Aniplex and Walt Disney Japan, Disney’s Twisted Wonderland follows a young man who’s mysteriously transported to a magical academy, despite believing he has no powers. The school, Night Raven College, features dormitories inspired by iconic Disney worlds, and is overseen by a familiar magical mirror. It’s wild to see a Disney gacha game get its own original anime, especially just a couple of years after its March 2020 release. (2022 in North America.) Fingers crossed that we see a Kingdom Hearts anime next. —IR

Zombie Land Saga Movie: Yumeginga Paradise (Oct. 24 in Japan)

This 2025 Japanese animated film from MAPPA continues the story from Zombie Land Saga’s second season. Idol group Franchouchou are set to serve as ambassadors for the 2025 Saga Expo, but their plans are thrown into chaos when an alien spaceship attacks. Amid the crisis, legendary zombie idol Tae Yamada awakens and leaves the group to face the invaders alone, forcing the fractured Franchouchou to come together to defend their home prefecture. It’s a pretty bombastic trailer, to say the least, and is not for any casual viewer to just drop into. So it’s best to catch up on the series before proceeding. —IR

This Monster Wants to Eat Me (Oct. 2 on Crunchyroll)

This original work from newcomer Sai Naekawa sees a high-school girl with a troubled past living in a sleepy seaside town. The creepy trailer showcases the dreary girl and her dull daily life getting disrupted by a cannibalistic mermaid disguised as a woman. She saves Sai from a monster attack, but it comes with a price. The mermaid’s protection will only last until the girl ripens into the “perfect meal.” However, instead of being afraid, Sai begins to develop feelings for her predator. It has a pretty haunting vibe, perfect for spooky season, but I can also detect a bit of romance brewing between the lines as well. The only way to confirm those suspicions is to let Naekawa and Studio Lings take us for a ride. —IR

The Warrior Princess and the Barbaric King (Oct. 2025 on Crunchyroll)

Based on the manga The Barbarian’s Bride by Noriaki Kotoba, this romantic comedy follows a barbaric king who defeats a warrior princess in battle and claims her as his prize. Just as she braces herself for torment and torture, the king instead proposes marriage. It turns out her blade struck true in more ways than one—and it was love at first sight for the king.

Naturally, the princess wants nothing to do with it, and even some of the king’s own people disapprove of her background. But the princess’s resistance crumbles the moment the gruff king shaves his beard… and suddenly looks hot. This one looks like an extremely cute replacement for My Dress Up Darling once the season is over. I’m looking forward to watching with my girlfriend when it premieres. —IR

The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity (Sept. 7 on Netflix)

I believe that every season must have a good romance show to really shine. Although technically The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity is part of the summer season, the show had its Western release delayed, making it one of the great romances you can watch in fall.

While The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity is a simple high-school coming-of-age romance story, it’s a very good one. We meet these two high-schoolers, Rintarou Tsumugi and Kaoruko Waguri, whose relationship develops from the act of understanding and respecting the differences between them. Responsible for giving the right colors to this romance, we have CloverWorks, a studio that has multiple visually exciting shows under their belt — The Elusive Samurai, Spy x Family, and Bocchi the Rock!, just to mention a few. —Paulo Kawanishi

Let’s Play (Oct. 2 on Crunchyroll)

Instead of a classic tale about how feelings stem from an innocent meeting between adolescents, Let’s Play tells a story about Sam Young, an adult woman who always loved games and became a game developer. After finally releasing her game, she needs to face the puzzles of love, romance, and three handsome men — a part of her life she has ignored for too long. I’m all in for romance anime with adult protagonists where they need to juggle not only their feelings, but also their professional lives.

Let’s Play is the anime adaptation of the webcomic of the same name, which has millions of readers. In addition to the astronomical numbers it has reached, Let’s Play is also the first work written by an American woman to get an official anime show. Polygon had a nice chat with Leeane M. Krecic (a.k.a. Mongie), the webcomic author, about Let’s Play early this year. —PK

Digimon Beatbreak (Oct. 5, platform TBD)

2025 is about to become the year of Digimon, and a new anime series from Toei Animation is all we need to consolidate that. While we don’t know much yet about the story of Digimon Beatbreak, you should expect to see some interesting situations coming up from the relationship between humans and Digimon.

Based on what we have seen from the trailers released so far, Beatbreak has a somber tone, a vibe that’s distinct from what we’ve seen in previous shows. It’s been interesting to see how the Digimon series has been changing, especially when it comes to what Digimon really are and how to interpret the existence of the DigiWorlds. Digimon Beatbreak seems like a promising addition to this endlessly evolving series. —PK

To Your Eternity season 3 (Oct. 4 on Crunchyroll)

I remember watching the To Your Eternity trailer for the first season and getting hooked by the premise, with an immortal being that has to live among humans. An immortal’s perspective on human life is interesting, and it takes on a more serious tone in To Your Eternity than we see in Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. Now, in this third season, Fushi will awaken in the modern era, which comes with its own challenges and trials.

Written by Yoshitoki Ooima, the author of A Silent Voice, To Your Eternity is capable of mesmerizing by showing the power of human kindness, but also leads to deep conversations about the passage of time and what really matters. Although this is the third season, you can watch the first two on Crunchyroll in preparation for the new saga. —PK

Campfire Cooking in Another World with my Absurd Skill season 2 (October, platform TBD)

Since the first season of Delicious in Dungeon ended, many anime fans might be eager to jump into a new cozy show that mixes a fantasy setting with cooking. If this is you, then look no further. The second season of Campfire Cooking in Another World with my Absurd Skill might be the replacement you have been waiting for.

The catch in this isekai series is the protagonist’s ability “Online Supermarket,” which allows him to buy food from Japan after being transported to another world. This is a light-toned, funny show that you can quickly catch up on before the second season starts, perfect for some relaxing, low-stakes escapism. —PK

3rd Year Class Z Ginpachi-sensei (Oct. 6, platform TBD)

Gintama is one of the most beloved anime franchises in history — and that’s an understatement. As of this writing, five of the top 15 anime shows on MyAnimeList are occupied by a Gintama title. So it only makes sense that 3rd Year Class Z Ginpachi-sensei is one of the most anticipated shows this fall.

Adapting a light-novel spin-off, 3rd Year Class Z Ginpachi-sensei brings back the humor and jokes that make the main show famous, but now with Gintoki and other familiar characters from the main series in a high-school setting. And for those who have never watched Gintama, don’t worry. 3rd Year Class Z Ginpachi-sensei may work as the perfect gateway into such a classic series. —PK

Kakuriyo: Bed and Breakfast for Spirits Season 2 (October on Crunchyroll)

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The work of preparing meals and serving tea to spirits and gods is the backdrop Kakuriyo: Bed and Breakfast for Spirits uses for a fantastical story about Aoi Tsubaki, who is taken to the Hidden Realm because of her grandfather’s hundred-million-yen debt with Oodanna, the Master Innkeeper.

Scratching the itch left by the lack of a new Kamisama Hajimemashita season, Kakuriyo: Bed and Breakfast for Spirits has the kind of story made for binge-watching. If you’re curious, the first season is 26 episodes long, and the second season is coming in October. — PK

Gnosia (October, platform TBD)

Gnosia is a science fiction story about a crew trapped in the same place as a dangerous being. To make things worse, they can’t identify who the enemy is, since they are indistinguishable from regular humans. This sounds like John Carpenter’s 1982 movie The Thing, but while the idea isn’t new, I have other reasons to add this one to our list. This show is based on a visual novel of the same name that has a score of 82 out of 100 on Metacritic, a level of recognition that’s rare for visual novels. Other anime gems like Steins;Gate and Clannad were also anime adaptations of visual novels. If you’re looking to spice up your watchlist with a mystery this fall, it sounds like Gnosia is the show for you. —PK

Golden Kamuy: Sapporo Beer Koujou-hen (Oct. 10 in Japan)

Telling the story of Saichi Sugimoto and Asirpa in their search for a hidden treasure, Golden Kamuy‘s first season achieved considerable success in 2018. Because of this anime’s historical setting, which involves the region of Hokkaido after the end of the Russo-Japanese war, I was instantly sold. Now, Golden Kamuy: Sapporo Beer Koujou-hen, a two-part movie, is about to be released in Japan in October, and it will hopefully soon make its way West too.

If you haven’t been watching Golden Kamuy, this movie is not for you. Sapporo Beer Koujou-hen works as a prologue for the final arc, which was announced at the end of season 4, and is slated for next year. For older fans, this is the beginning of the end, making Golden Kamuy: Sapporo Beer Koujou-hen a must-watch. But if the premise caught your attention, consider checking out the show on Crunchyroll, where you can find all the previous seasons. —PK