The Winter 2025 season is upon us and we’re ending 2024 with few recommendations for those watching this season in the new year. In upcoming/ongoing works to consider watching this season, I (Peggy Wood, Editor of The Anime View) recommend:

Ore dake Level Up na Ken Season 2: Arise from the Shadow / Solo Leveling Season 2: Arise from the Shadow

It’s no surprise that I recommend Solo Leveling, right? With Season 2 just around the corner, I know some fans felt Season 1’s storytelling approach fell short. However, I genuinely believe the adaptation has done a great job building hype for what’s coming next. It’s definitely worth keeping on the watchlist for Winter 2025!

Kusuriya no Hitorigoto 2nd Season / The Apothecary Diaries Season 2

Earlier this year, Kathy—our copyeditor—recommended that I check out the Apothecary Diaries (she also wrote a post on it!). Although I love historical romances, I didn’t have high expectations for this adaptation, especially after reading the first volume and not enjoying it much. However, Kathy was right! The pacing, which felt much better while watching than reading, and the happy ending really won me over. As such, I can confidently say I’m now looking forward to Season 2 and happily recommending it here as well!

Akuyaku Reijou Tensei Ojisan / From Bureaucrat to Villainess: Dad’s Been Reincarnated!

This is a comedy that I was really surprised to see getting an adaptation this season. It is a series of shorts that explore what happens when a middle-aged to senior aged man is reincarnated as the villainess in a classic otome game. A bit of a refreshing take on the reincarnation trope with a heavy mix of humor as a “Dad” navigates aristocratic drama with his stuck-in-his-ways businessman perspective.

Medalist

Medalist seems like it will follow the journey of a young figure skater with big dreams and a dedicated coach who believes in her potential. As an ice skating anime, it has to be on my list for this season!

Fuguushoku “Kanteishi” ga Jitsu wa Saikyou Datta / Even Given the Worthless “Appraiser” Class, I’m Actually the Strongest

This one is another trope-y anime for the isekai/reincarnation story-lover in me. As it usually goes, the idea is that sometimes the weakest-seeming abilities hide the most incredible potential. This fantasy series makes a promise that the protagonist’s “worthless” appraiser class will become the key to unlocking immense power and that means it will be right up my alley.

Kisaki Kyouiku kara Nigetai Watashi / I Want to Escape from Princess Lessons

This romantic comedy series is one I’ve been eagerly anticipating. The story follows Leticia “Lettie” Dorman, a duke’s daughter preparing to marry Crown Prince Clarke, who has been deeply in love with her for years. Engaged since childhood, the plot picks up when Lettie mistakenly believes their engagement is over after the prince escorts someone else to a ball. The series unfolds as a collection of short episodes where Lettie realizes two things: (1) there’s no escaping this marriage, and (2) the prince truly loves her—and she loves him too! It promises to be a light-hearted and enjoyable watch this season!

Mahoutsukai no Yakusoku / Promise of Wizard

What appears to be a back to basics type isekai, featuring a female lead transported into a new world with an otome/reverse-harem setting. As an adaptation of a game, from what I understand, the female lead of this story is thrust into the role of a potential hero. I’ve never played the game but I’m hoping for some magical girl moments! Also if I can’t get that from this series, I’m not to worried because the Cute High Earth Defense Club Love! seems to be getting another addition this season as well!

Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu Eternal Love! / Cute High Earth Defense Club Eternal Love! Movie

The Cute High Earth Defense Club is back with a new movie, Eternal Love! Who doesn’t love magical boys saving the world? Seeing this parody anime return makes me excited for what is sure to add humor, charm, and over-the-top fun as a great start to the 2025 anime year.