
Written by Daniel
A nerd from day one, who will talk about his love for fiction and printed stories for hours!
There are many reasons to look forward to summer… Some people get excited about their well-deserved holidays, while others simply enjoy the warmer and sunnier weather at home. But for us manga and anime fans, there’s another reason: THE SUMMER SEASON OF ANIME!!!
For those of you who aren’t as familiar with anime and its release schedule, let me explain: Anime is usually released in seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter. Each season, several new anime series air, with episodes released weekly, typically on different days. That means for a few weeks (depending on how many episodes each show has), almost every day brings a new episode from a brand-new series or a returning favorite. This can be especially exciting when a season is packed with your favorite shows or most anticipated premieres!
So… is the Summer Season 2025 really that special? YEEES! I thought you’d never ask!There are so many amazing adaptations of popular manga coming out in the next few weeks — ones fans have been waiting on for ages!
That’s why, for this special occasion, I’ll break down the most anticipated Anime of the season, tell you what they’re about, and let you know how good they are. This opinion is mostly based on the Manga – the source material, basically! This way, you’ll not only get a perfect summer watchlist, but also some great Manga recommendations. You can either dive into the Manga right away without watching the Anime or having to wait weekly (the Manga is almost always better anyway hehe :P), or pick it up afterward to avoid the annoying wait for new episodes…
Without further ado… let’s see what this summer has in store!
Dandadan – The funniest and most random Comedy ever!
When people claim that a Manga will be one of the greatest within just a few volumes, it usually raises suspicions for me. Nonetheless, I’m the last person to jump on a hate bandwagon just because something is hyped. Most of the time, I give the series a chance for the first 5 chapters, basically the first volume, and decide after.
And… oh boy… I’m so glad I have this rule, especially when it comes to the time I first heard of Dandadan and the hype it was generating in Japan.
In Dandadan, we meet two students, Momo and Okarun, who couldn’t be more different. Okarun is a socially awkward nerd who believes in aliens and UFOs, while Momo is a popular girl from a family that hunts and calms spirits. Neither of them has ever encountered the thing they believe in, but both are absolutely convinced that their own belief is real and the other is nonsense. So… what do they do when their argument gets too heated? Okarun sends Momo to a UFO hotspot, and Momo sends Okarun into a haunted tunnel…
What could go wrong?
As you may have guessed, this story is a mixture of different things. Not only do we see science fiction, but we also encounter the occult. The same goes for the vibe. While most of the story is a crazy comedy with moments that will make you laugh for hours on end - because it is just soooo random - there is an underlying romance with your favorite tropes!
And on top of that, the art is just gorgeous. It jumps back and forth between funny minimalism and surprisingly realistic detail. I would have never guessed that I’d pick up a comedy slice-of-life manga and end up using every second page as a phone wallpaper and every other page as a meme to reply to my friends' messages!
It’s one of the funniest, most wholesome, and most beautiful experiences I’ve ever had, and I definitely see it as one of the greatest in its genre. Quick disclaimer though: this manga is only recommended for mature audiences, as some jokes are a bit more vulgar than others.
So, if the idea of the spirits of Beethoven, Bach, Mozart, and Schubert fighting two teenagers over golden balls sounds like your kind of humor, definitely check this one out!
Dr. Stone – Saving the world through Science!
Another highly anticipated show returning this season is Dr. Stone! When the first season aired in 2019, the anime — based on the manga illustrated by the legendary mangaka Boichi — took the world by storm.
In this manga, every human on Earth is suddenly turned to stone — especially tragic for high-schooler Taiju, who was just about to confess his love to his classmate. After thousands of years, Taiju suddenly awakens from his rocky slumber and finds that almost all of humanity is still trapped. However, one of his friends, Senku, woke up a bit earlier and is convinced he can save humanity and rebuild society with his greatest ally: SCIENCE!
So, if you're a big fan of smart problem-solving and/or post-apocalyptic scenarios, this is definitely a story you should check out. I’d also recommend reading the manga instead of watching the anime. Not that the anime is bad, but the manga is drawn by, as I said, the legendary mangaka Boichi. His art is unmatched and something you’d miss by only watching the anime. So, the manga is the go-to choice here!
Gachiakuta – This one is about Street Art and Trash (no really – like literally!)
Gachiakuta is one of the most random concepts in a while that just worked out perfectly and gained a loyal fanbase within months. Alongside Dandadan, Sakamoto Days, Kaiju No. 8, and Kagurabachi, it’s seen as one of the new big players in the Shonen genre of the 2020s!
In Gachiakuta, we meet a young boy named Rudo, who is framed for murder and thrown into the abyss below the floating, wealthy city. While the rich consume all the resources, they dump their trash over the edge, leaving it to become the problem of the poor living below. Over the years, the trash has piled up so much that it began to evolve into hungry monsters haunting the people beneath. Now, Rudo, who has just discovered a new power, joins a group known as “The Cleaners” and tries to help the people fight back against the garbage monsters.
I think you now get what I mean by “literal trash” haha! :P
Once again, similar to Dr. Stone, I have to recommend the manga over the anime. While I can’t say how good the anime will be, the manga is not only beautifully drawn but also has a unique feature: all the graffiti you see in it is actually designed and sprayed by a popular street artist called Hideyoshi Andou.
So, if you want to see a unique art style and appreciate street art, you should definitely check out Gachiakuta!
Kaiju No. 8 – It is never too late to be a Hero!
While the other manga I mentioned are definitely good, this one, alongside Dandadan, is my clear favorite this season!
I haven’t watched the anime yet, but I’m thankful it helped spread the word about this amazing journey.
In Kaiju No. 8, we meet Kafka, a kaiju corpse cleanup worker who always dreamed of joining the Japanese Defense Force to fight kaiju. But as the years went by, he kept getting older, which made him less and less suited for the job. However, one fateful day on what should have been a regular cleanup changes his life forever — and maybe gives him the chance to finally fulfill his dream of becoming a hero.
While Kaiju No. 8 is your classic action Shonen and uses a few familiar tropes, it pulls them off perfectly and with a modern touch! The story doesn’t try to act like it’s better than other Shonen, instead, it confidently takes its place alongside them. This makes it incredibly fun and easy to read, especially for beginners and even seasoned Shonen fans who aren’t looking for something completely new, but rather a fresh remix of what they already love.
Another reason this manga is a must-read is how well-paced it is. Pacing isn’t the most important element of a story, of course, but if something gets me to read 66 chapters in one sitting without getting bored, it doesn’t need to be deep or life-changing, it just means I had a great time and it was totally worth it!
So, if you're looking for a classic Shonen with a modern vibe, then Kaiju No. 8 is a must-read! But be careful: picking up only Volume 1 might leave you mad that you didn’t get all of them at once :P
My Dress Up Darling – More than just Fashion!
Okay! Enough with the action-packed Shonen… Not everyone enjoys those shows, and that’s completely valid. Even better that the summer season isn’t just packed with classic Shonen, but also offers other stories that might suit some of you even better. A highly anticipated show that already went viral when the first season came out in 2022 is My Dress-Up Darling.
In My Dress-Up Darling, we meet Wakana, a lonely boy who dreams of becoming a craftsman for traditional Japanese “Hina dolls.” Although he’s passionate about this craft, his antisocial nature means he’s not very in touch with current trends or how to interact with others. That all changes when one day, a popular girl from his school named Marin reveals that she’s into cosplay. Despite their different personalities and lifestyles, their hobbies collide and lead these two young individuals on a journey of passion and love.
The story is highly praised not only for its exciting romance and romantic tropes but also for its relatable themes. Topics like following your dreams, dealing with self-doubt, and struggling to fit in are just a few of the deeper issues explored throughout the story.
Once again, I highly recommend the Manga over the Anime. The Anime is well adapted and definitely worth watching, but as you may have noticed, this season took three years to come out. For me, that's definitely a bit too much waiting time, time I could spend reading it instead!
Toilet Bound Hanako
Of course, I also want to present something suitable for younger audiences that also appeals to a wide range of demographics. This description fits Toilet-Bound Hanako perfectly.
In Toilet-Bound Hanako, we meet Nene Yashiro, a high school girl who is not only obsessed with romance but also fascinated by the Seven Mysteries that haunt her school. One of these mysteries is a spirit named Hanako, said to occupy the third stall of the girls’ bathroom on the third floor and grant a wish to anyone who summons it. But to her surprise… Hanako is not only a spirit, but also a boy her age!
Toilet-Bound Hanako is one of those series I don’t hear much about. However, when someone does mention it, they only have good things to say, which definitely sparked my interest. This series is not only fun and exciting for younger audiences aged 13 and up, but it also charms older viewers who want to relive the energy of young adventure and love.
If that sounds like something you may enjoy, you should check it out right away and spend a beautiful afternoon with wholesome adventures. One way to do it is to just read it regularly, volume by volume. But what I would recommend is to pick up the beautiful box sets that resemble the bathroom stalls of the story.
How cool is that???
Just a perfect addition to any collection!
Night of the Living Cat – Meow!
What do almost all post-apocalyptic stories have in common?
Zombies… booooo! We want something new!
Fear not — there’s something new on the horizon!
In this post-apocalyptic world, a virus has spread across the globe, transforming all of humankind into wild, hungry, and furry… cats?
Yes, you heard that right! If you're bitten, cuddled, or licked it’s over. You turn into a furry goofball. But don’t be fooled by their cuteness! The remaining humans are only alive because they resisted it and hid in different places, trying to survive while avoiding these beasts.
Our protagonist, Kunagi, could be humanity’s best hope, if it weren’t for his undying love for cats. Although he has lost all memories of his past, he’s an expert on cats and could help humanity learn to survive this apocalypse. But his love for cats is strong… will he be able to resist cuddling these animals, or will he become one of them?
I just love recommending this series because it’s so incredibly funny and goofy right from the concept. But it doesn’t stop there — it takes the reader on a unique and hilarious journey through this weird cat-astrophe. (Yes… I had to do it.)
To finish this article off, my cat wants to say a few words aswell.
Meow meow meow. Meow meow meow meow meow meow meow.
Meow meow: Night Of Living Cat
Yeah. I agree!
Takopi’s Original Sin – Darkness in Summer…
We’ve had a lot of funny and action-packed stories in this article. But even in summer, there are moments when you want to enjoy a deep and meaningful story. That’s where this beautiful one-shot Manga comes into play!
One day, the incredibly cute alien Takopi lands on Earth. The mission of his species is to spread happiness across the galaxy. However, this task proves to be far from easy when he meets fourth grader Shizuka, whose life is difficult and filled with trauma. Nonetheless, Takopi is determined to make her smile. While his intentions are pure and noble, his focus on making her happy, combined with the rash use of his advanced technology, leads to death and mayhem.
Will Takopi be able to make everything good again? And what is that odd feeling he’s experiencing? Did he forget something important?
Takopi’s Original Sin is definitely one of the darkest stories I’ve ever read. It starts off so cute and wholesome, but it turns dark incredibly fast. What makes it even more unsettling is that the art stays cute, even as everything goes downhill.
However, despite its dark tone, the story tackles important topics and themes like mental health, bullying, domestic violence, and the abandonment of children. It also sheds light on the consequences of these traumas and explores how one might overcome them — or help someone else do so.
If you’re looking for a darker story with important themes this summer, this one’s for you! However, be aware of the violent and heavy content, which might be difficult for some readers — it’s definitely only for mature audiences!
Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon
Yes… you read that right! This is the funniest meta-satire of Anime and Manga, especially Isekai, I have ever seen.
It’s exactly what it sounds like: a guy is reborn as a vending machine and now has to beat dungeons in a fantasy world. Nothing more, nothing less, but it’s so incredibly funny and clever! And yes, the main character can generate items and throw them out like a real vending machine. It’s that kind of clever and funny!
So, if you’re looking for a quick laugh this summer, you can pick up the first two volumes right now!
Time to enjoy the Sun and a good Story!
No matter if you're into funny stories, amazing action, weird and unique concepts, or some romance sprinkled in, this Anime season offers everything you could want for a wholesome and fun summer! And since screens can be a bit tricky to use while the sun is shining, I recommend checking out the Manga versions of all these amazing stories. They just work way better while sunbathing or spending time outside \:P
With these titles, the perfect summer is just around the corner! \:D
Happy reading and happy summer to y’all! <3