Summer 2025 feels like a cracked code - like I finally
understood how to do it and what is good. I was surprised at how
smooth my watchlist was - with few drops and a lot of great
shows.
You know the drill:
Each episode will get a rating, that will hopefully help me
decide what to watch and what to skip. Those ratings are "💖" (keep watching), "👍" (not bad, but there are better), "👎" (this might get dropped).
With everything changing and me finding it difficult to balance
everything came another unexpected peril - a writer's block.
Adding few really really bad shows that I only half watched, I
entered a state, where even writing a few notes down isn't
easy.
Thankfully, where there's will, there is way. This post is
another experiment, another different approach (but such is
life).
Let me tell you about my Summer 2025 in anime and hopefully give you
a quick overview of what was hot and what was not.
╭────────── · 𓆩🌻𓆪 · ─╮
╰─ · 𓆩🌻𓆪 · ──────────╯
╭────────── · 𓆩🌻𓆪 · ─╮
╰─ · 𓆩🌻𓆪 · ──────────╯
9-nine- Shihaisha no Oukan
Notes:
- right away, it makes zero sense and you get lost = the episode
feels like it's a bunch of plastered moments together, but not a real
story
- the girls designs are very cute and very girly, it's nice to look at
[while the mc looks like everyday John]
- points off for having one girl immediately sexualized - having people
taking pictures of her ass (even if that was a cosplay)
- weird ass sibling relationship
- this is not worth it. The sexualization (even without much fanservice)
is not worth something that promises my favorite trope ever - murder
mystery. No.
- after doing a little dive in, I made the decision to try the games but
dropping the anime itself. It's just so bad.
Story:
- who knows? There isn't much concrete that I can grasp from the
first episode. It felt like we got something from everything this story
has to offer, but not enough to actually understand the whole point of
it.
All we know is that there are cute girls whose lives are going to be in
danger and the MC will get the girl. If he wants her.
Art & Animation:
- there is no depth to the animation and the art style is very "all over
the place" where they focus on all the wrong aspects and don't even try to
make the show look half-decent
Characters:
- the main character is just a nobody
- we get introduced to a lot of girls, but we don't actually know anything
about any of them
- there is this weird ass brother complex between the two main characters;
which I simply don't understand, because... why is she calling him a brother
when he is not, and when she is in love with him??
- the most shallow personality goes to MC's classmate, who's whole purpose
it to be the pervert of the show. Like, hello? What even
Entertainment value:
Can definitely be fun as a game, but as anime, it fails to entertain even
for the first episode. Or maybe I am setting my expectations high, there are
just certain factors I cannot longer ignore, and this show manages to hit a
lot of those.
It's a huge pity, that a murder mystery with supernatural elements didn't
catch me as tightly as I hoped, but all's not lost. Source material is the
last hope of this mistake of a show.
👎
𓆩🌻𓆪 ─────── 𓆩🌻𓆪
Food Court de, Mata Ashita.
This show is very simple and only stars two main characters - childhood
friends, who meet up at a food court every day after school and talk about
different stuff.
For an idea that simple, the execution of the first episode was brilliant and the somewhat unique face art style really spoke to me.
For an idea that simple, the execution of the first episode was brilliant and the somewhat unique face art style really spoke to me.
But I've been doing this for a while, and I was suspicious if the show will
manage to keep up the momentum, despite being only 5 episodes long. My
worried turned out to be justified, as the series quickly became boring
(while still charming).
I wasn't interested in the conversations the girls had, comedy was missing
the mark for me and practically nothing happened - as the show has no story,
it's just a collection of different topics.
However, and this was a huge deal, this series shows how important first
episode and first impressions are. Because despite me not loving the series,
the final episode left me with a bit of an open space in my heart, aching
for more - just for the sake of having more.
In short: not too bad, not too bad.
👍
𓆩🌻𓆪 ─────── 𓆩🌻𓆪
Ginga Tokkyuu Milky☆Subway
Milky Subway is a short anime about criminal alien beings that get
entangled into a really weird mess created by self-proclaimed "I am justice"
system.
Together, they have to find a way to save themselves and explain to the poor police lady what happened and that they're all innocent in it.
During that, we get introduced to life and mind of said 6 criminals and the police officer. Oh yeah, and we'll solve a murder mystery.
Together, they have to find a way to save themselves and explain to the poor police lady what happened and that they're all innocent in it.
During that, we get introduced to life and mind of said 6 criminals and the police officer. Oh yeah, and we'll solve a murder mystery.
If you think this is a lot for a total runtime of 48 minutes, you are
absolutely correct. HOWEVER, the timing is brilliant, and the story
perfect.
The way it's cut into episodes, the timing of jokes, voice acting job and fresh animation mixed with completely new universe and even the type of comedy itself...! Everything about this is top notch.
(We don't talk about the creative choice they made at the end. Because it's a double edge sword - either you loved it, or you didn't understand it.)
I loooooved it.
The way it's cut into episodes, the timing of jokes, voice acting job and fresh animation mixed with completely new universe and even the type of comedy itself...! Everything about this is top notch.
(We don't talk about the creative choice they made at the end. Because it's a double edge sword - either you loved it, or you didn't understand it.)
I loooooved it.
💖
𓆩🌻𓆪 ─────── 𓆩🌻𓆪
Karaoke Iko!
This is just a secret yaoi, that is trying very hard not to give away any
sorts of romantic feelings, while hitting all your yaoi fantasies,
stereotypes and whatnots.
The characters are a school boy and mafia guy - which on itself is a great start. I will not mention that I completely predicted half the plot during the second episode, and I'll tell you that it did a great job at introducing it's story... until the 4th episode.
Then it kind of went... drama! watch out! oh no! what will happen! and they completely messed it up. It was as if they tried to give themselves creative freedom and forgot they only have 24 minutes to wrap the story up.
(This excuse is incorrect, because it's a manga adaptation... in which case I do not understand it at all.)
The characters are a school boy and mafia guy - which on itself is a great start. I will not mention that I completely predicted half the plot during the second episode, and I'll tell you that it did a great job at introducing it's story... until the 4th episode.
Then it kind of went... drama! watch out! oh no! what will happen! and they completely messed it up. It was as if they tried to give themselves creative freedom and forgot they only have 24 minutes to wrap the story up.
(This excuse is incorrect, because it's a manga adaptation... in which case I do not understand it at all.)
If I had to guess... they wanted to age up the school boy to be at least
17 so they could go with more complex story and feelings.
Still, it was a pleasant, stupidly funny watch. And while it could be
better, it's a simple BL story that will warm up your heart in state of
need.
👍
𓆩🌻𓆪 ─────── 𓆩🌻𓆪
Ruri no Houseki
Ruri no Houseki had a huge chance of becoming on of the best shows
this season. With beautiful art, smooth animation, cute character
design & personality match, educational content and fine music,
there was nothing that could loose it points.
And then the fanservice began. What started off as a innocent college girl with big chest became bouncing animation and fall-on-your-boob joke. Not to mention the unnecessary maid outfit out of nowhere.
It had drama, it had passion, it has simply explanation and advice that we can use in everyday life - while also showing off the hard college life and pointing out the number of research that goes into things. It had a character that was passionate and misunderstood... only to bury it all in ecchi that had no business being there.
And then the fanservice began. What started off as a innocent college girl with big chest became bouncing animation and fall-on-your-boob joke. Not to mention the unnecessary maid outfit out of nowhere.
It had drama, it had passion, it has simply explanation and advice that we can use in everyday life - while also showing off the hard college life and pointing out the number of research that goes into things. It had a character that was passionate and misunderstood... only to bury it all in ecchi that had no business being there.
Still, I would suggest everyone to watch it, just to see if it's your
cup of coffee. It wasn't bad!
👍
𓆩🌻𓆪 ─────── 𓆩🌻𓆪
Dandadan 2nd Season
Second season of Dandadan brought more action, more fun, more
romance... and less perverted stuff that only hurt Momo Ayase.
I was so excited about everything that was happening. The relationships, the changes, the characters....
Last three episodes were a tough watch though. Leaning into Kaiju and Mecha, with Sakata probably becoming a part of the main gang... it was just icky, annoying, uninteresting and worrying.
My joy was killed so fast. I did feel sorry for him a bit, but what a freaking dumbass!
In the end, they leaned into what every B- show does: cliffhanger that will get resolved in the first episode of another season.
Why, oh, why.
I was so excited about everything that was happening. The relationships, the changes, the characters....
Last three episodes were a tough watch though. Leaning into Kaiju and Mecha, with Sakata probably becoming a part of the main gang... it was just icky, annoying, uninteresting and worrying.
My joy was killed so fast. I did feel sorry for him a bit, but what a freaking dumbass!
In the end, they leaned into what every B- show does: cliffhanger that will get resolved in the first episode of another season.
Why, oh, why.
👍
𓆩🌻𓆪 ─────── 𓆩🌻𓆪
CITY THE ANIMATION
I never, not once laughed. But I had so much fun. This wasn't
boring for a second - and if the story lacked, you could focus
on the artistry that went into every single frame.
This is a masterpiece in it's own category. If you haven't seen
it yet, what are you doing? This will be talked about, and it
will bring many many changes - if it gets into correct hands of
skilled artists.
Story wise, it's a collection of short stories, that are canonically connected. Everyone lives their own life, while still managing to be a part of the bigger picture. Great characters, great music, great animation... 10s, 10s across the board!
To be a bit negative though, during the last 2 episodes, I was really struggling, because I didn't think they chose the right content to adapt. It just didn't make much sense to me, honestly.
Story wise, it's a collection of short stories, that are canonically connected. Everyone lives their own life, while still managing to be a part of the bigger picture. Great characters, great music, great animation... 10s, 10s across the board!
To be a bit negative though, during the last 2 episodes, I was really struggling, because I didn't think they chose the right content to adapt. It just didn't make much sense to me, honestly.
💖
𓆩🌻𓆪 ─────── 𓆩🌻𓆪
Turkey!
I never took anything this stupid so seriously.
So... I am going to try and do justice to this show, because I
cannot believe the reasons people are trashing this show
for.
"In bowling, there's always a second throw."
This is not just a repeated quote from the show, but it's
also a life lesson that they're giving us, opening our eyes
with. It carries with us the whole time and the story's
conclusion is so perfectly sweet, much like goumi.
This show spoke to me the most, and people don't seem to see
it's quality. So I made a special review. You can read it:
here.
💖
𓆩🌻𓆪 ─────── 𓆩🌻𓆪
Ame to Kimi to
Apart from an adorable tanuki-pretending-to-be-a-dog, the main character Fuji is a hottie with good heart. Following their lives, we see a lot of cute encounters, new friendships and unexpected stories.
All about a cute tanuki and a girl that has a heart full of love. At the same time, it's an ad for the manga - because it introduces a few things that will probably be covered in the manga itself.
Still though, what a decent watch!
👍
𓆩🌻𓆪 ─────── 𓆩🌻𓆪
Yami Shibai 15
Yami Shibai is getting good! I don't know if I'm just too used to them, or if this is a sign of the show coming to an end and wanting to leave a mark... But the whole season was more interesting than ever before.
We got the old narrator back, the ending was a bop... what's there not to love!
And the ending episode played into the storyteller's background, which was a bite I gladly took.
👍
𓆩🌻𓆪 ─────── 𓆩🌻𓆪
Nukitashi THE ANIMATION
WARNING: AGE RESTRICTION
This thing... is so impossible to review.
Surreal comedy in the world where lewd s*x is the only thing that matters... to the point where it becomes normal. Who fights them? Anti-copulation force, of course!
I cannot talk about this show. It would get me banned from the internet. Anything I'd say would mean online death.
So let me try it this way: it's freaking ridiculous. To the very point where world and comedy looses it's meaning and you suddenly find yourself thinking "this show is actually presenting a serious story and I am digging it" with the occasional mix of "was this supposed to be wholesome? because it is not..." - yet, the way they presented the whole show...
It is good, okay? Somewhere in the middle of these 11 episodes I got so lost it became quite decent and I couldn't stop watching even if I wanted to.
I cannot talk about this show. It would get me banned from the internet. Anything I'd say would mean online death.
So let me try it this way: it's freaking ridiculous. To the very point where world and comedy looses it's meaning and you suddenly find yourself thinking "this show is actually presenting a serious story and I am digging it" with the occasional mix of "was this supposed to be wholesome? because it is not..." - yet, the way they presented the whole show...
It is good, okay? Somewhere in the middle of these 11 episodes I got so lost it became quite decent and I couldn't stop watching even if I wanted to.
That being said, the ending was stupid and few of the moments made me groan with "ofc. nothing original to see here." but I still thought it was worth my time.
👍
𓆩🌻𓆪 ─────── 𓆩🌻𓆪
Watashi ga Koibito ni Nareru Wake Naijan, Murimuri! (※Muri ja Nakatta!?)
This is a show that I really really wanted to like.
Yuri harem, which seemed to be fuelled by interesting characters, nice friendships, funny plot line... It was a set up for success.
However, they decided to go around in in a bad way. Mai is a picture example of bad yuri - sexually assaulting her girlfriend. Renako is even worse, she pulled Sakura Trick with "kisses between friends don't count".
If that wasn't bad enough, they introduce a love triangle that... hmm.
And to add fuel to the fire, Satsuki has a whole "arc" that can be retold as "I like the main character and hate her love interest, so I am going to take revenge".
And I cannot not talk about Satsuki's mother, who wants to be called "onee-chan".
And I cannot not talk about Satsuki's mother, who wants to be called "onee-chan".
This show has so many problems, and I wanted to push through so badly. But I just couldn't.
👎
╭────────── · 𓆩🌻𓆪 · ─╮
╰─ · 𓆩🌻𓆪 · ──────────╯
This was actually a decent season. I wish I could watch more, but I got at least 10 shows down. So wohoo!
Next up: awards.
Next up: awards.
