In 2025, the anime landscape underwent a significant transformation, driven by shifting distribution models and evolving global tastes. To determine which series truly led the field, I utilized Powerdrill Bloom, a data-driven analysis tool, to aggregate and weight millions of data points across five key dimensions:

• Streaming & Viewership (30%): Viewing intensity and watch-time signals across major global and regional streaming platforms.

• Social Media & Community Activity (25%): Engagement volume and interaction momentum across large-scale discussion and short-form content platforms.

• Ratings & Audience Reception (20%): Score levels, consistency, and rating volume across leading anime community and review platforms.

• Commercial Performance (15%): Sales and monetization indicators including source material performance, box office results, and licensing activity.

• Search Interest & Trend Momentum (10%): Search interest trends reflecting regional and global attention over time.

Based on the above criteria, here is Powerdrill Bloom’s data-driven Top 10 Most Popular Anime of 2025：

The Ranking

1. Sakamoto Days (Score: 88.50)

2. The Apothecary Diaries (Score: 85.30)

3. Solo Leveling (Score: 82.10)

4. Takopi's Original Sin (Score: 80.70)

5. Dandadan (Score: 79.40)

6. My Hero Academia (Score: 76.80)

7. One Piece (Score: 75.90)

8. Demon Slayer (Score: 74.60)

9. Jujutsu Kaisen (Score: 73.20)

10. Dr. Stone (Score: 71.50)

Individual Anime Breakdown

1. Sakamoto Days (88.50) This series secured the top spot largely through Netflix’s global distribution, which generated 24.4 million views and 106.4 million hours streamed in the first half of 2025. It maintained strong artistic execution and a fresh premise, leading to consistent trending on weekly charts and projected manga sales of 2.3 million volumes.

2. The Apothecary Diaries (85.30) Ranking second, this series is the year's prestige leader. It holds the highest score consistency with a MyAnimeList rating of 8.61. While it performed well on multi-platform streaming (135.5 million total hours), its score was heavily bolstered by its high-quality narrative discourse and its position as the #2 top-trending anime in Japan.

3. Solo Leveling (82.10) As the most popular anime 2025 on Crunchyroll, Solo Leveling reached "most-watched of all time" status by March. Its score is driven by phenomenal viewership velocity and record-breaking theatrical success, though its momentum peaked early in the year compared to the top two entries.

4. Takopi's Original Sin (80.70) This ONA (Original Net Animation) achieved the #1 highest engagement on Reddit during the Spring season. With an elite rating of 8.79 and the #1 spot on Google Trends in Japan, its cultural impact was immense, though its rank was slightly capped by the limited commercial scale of the ONA format.

5. Dandadan (79.40) Commercial breakthrough was the key signal for Dandadan. Its theatrical release grossed $3.55 million in North America, surpassing Solo Leveling’s film earnings. While its streaming metrics were solid, its theatrical and manga tie-in success solidified its place in the top five.

6. My Hero Academia (76.80) Despite holding the highest absolute rating on MyAnimeList (8.81), this legacy franchise suffered from "audience saturation." While the quality remains exceptional, its social and streaming growth signals were lower than the new, concentrated hits of 2025.

7. One Piece (75.90) One Piece remains a commercial powerhouse with 4.22 million manga volumes sold, the highest of the year. However, its ongoing nature creates a "platitude effect" in streaming metrics, where it maintains a high baseline but lacks the explosive trending momentum of newer seasonal releases.

8. Demon Slayer (74.60) This arc benefited from massive back-catalog viewership (240 million annual streams), but 2025-specific signals showed a decline in social engagement. The data indicates that animation spectacle continues to attract casual viewers, though community discussion has moderated.

9. Jujutsu Kaisen (73.20) While Jujutsu Kaisen maintained strong fundamentals and ranked #2 in manga sales, its 2025 performance represents maintenance rather than new growth. With a score of 73.2, it remains a staple of the industry but was outperformed by titles with fresher engagement spikes.

10. Dr. Stone (71.50) Rounding out the list, Dr. Stone maintained its niche enthusiasm and consistent quality with a rating of 8.4. Its dedicated fanbase and steady streaming presence on Netflix kept it within the top ten, despite having less mainstream crossover appeal than its peers.

Ranking Interpretation & Conclusion

The most popular anime 2025 were defined by a mix of streaming accessibility and high-quality community engagement. Through Powerdrill Bloom, I was able to transform complex metrics into a clear framework, showing that while legacy franchises provide stability, new hits like Sakamoto Days and Takopi’s Original Sin are the true drivers of growth and cultural conversation.

Information Source: Data analysis was provided by Powerdrill Bloom, and the ranking is for informational purposes only. It’s based on real data and not personal opinions.

Disclaimer: This ranking is based on objective data analysis and is not a subjective opinion or personal endorsement of any series.