Anime Spring 2025 Season Preview: The Most Anticipated New Shows

The Spring 2025 anime season brings over 30 new and returning series to Crunchyroll, Netflix, and other platforms. This is one of the strongest seasonal lineups in recent memory, with major franchise returns alongside promising new originals. Here is everything worth watching and where to find it.

The Big Returns

One Piece (Crunchyroll) returns on April 6 after a six-month hiatus, picking up with brand-new episodes that continue the manga’s final saga. One Piece is the longest-running anime in Crunchyroll’s library, and the return after such a long break has fans worldwide counting down. The series remains one of the most-watched anime globally, and the post-hiatus episodes are expected to feature upgraded animation quality from Toei.

Fire Force Season 3 (Crunchyroll) begins Part 1 of its two-part finale on April 4, bringing the action-packed supernatural firefighting series to its conclusion. The show has been building toward a massive climax, and creator Atsushi Ohkubo has promised an ending that ties together the mythology he has constructed across three seasons. The animation from David Production continues to set a high bar for action sequences.

Wind Breaker Season 2 (Crunchyroll) gets right into the action as Sakura and his friends from Furin High School begin all-out war against rival delinquent groups. The first season was a surprise hit in Spring 2024, combining classic delinquent anime tropes with strong character development and stylish fight animation. The second season picks up the momentum immediately.

The Most Anticipated New Series

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes (Crunchyroll) premieres April 7 as a prequel set five years before the main My Hero Academia story. The series follows Koichi Haimawari, a college student with a minor quirk who becomes an unlicensed hero alongside the professional hero Knuckleduster and a pop idol with explosive powers. For fans of the main series, Vigilantes offers a street-level perspective on the superhero world that the original show rarely explored.

To Be Hero X (Crunchyroll) is a new original from Haolin, the creator of the critically acclaimed Link Click. Premiering April 5, the series blends 2D and 3D animation in a style that Link Click fans will recognize but with an entirely new story and setting. Given Link Click’s reputation as one of the best Chinese-Japanese co-productions in anime, expectations are high.

Kowloon Generic Romance (Crunchyroll) adapts the manga about an office worker in a fantastical version of the Kowloon Walled City who discovers she has lost her memories. The series blends slice-of-life workplace comedy with mystery and romance, and the unique setting sets it apart from the typical anime backdrop.

Genre Standouts

Apocalypse Hotel (Crunchyroll) is an original series set in a hotel that serves as the last refuge during the end of the world. The premise gives the show freedom to explore character drama and dark comedy in an unusual setting.

Maebashi Witches (Crunchyroll) brings magical girl themes to a fresh context, and early previews suggest a show that plays with genre expectations while delivering genuine character drama.

SHIROHIYO (Crunchyroll) has one of the longest titles in anime history: Reincarnated as a Neglected Noble: Raising My Baby Brother With Memories From My Past Life. The isekai genre continues to produce variations, and this one focuses on family relationships rather than the typical power fantasy, which could make it a standout in a crowded category.

Where to Watch the Spring 2025 Season

Crunchyroll dominates the spring season with the largest selection of simulcast titles. Most shows will stream new episodes weekly, usually on their Japanese broadcast day with subtitles available within hours. English dubs follow within one to two weeks for major titles.

Netflix will pick up several spring season shows but will typically release them in batch drops rather than weekly simulcasts. Specific Netflix spring titles will be announced closer to their premiere dates.

HIDIVE carries several titles not available on Crunchyroll, particularly shows from Sentai Filmworks’ distribution catalog. It is worth checking if a specific show you want is exclusive to HIDIVE.

How to Follow the Season

Anime seasons run roughly 12 weeks, with most spring shows premiering in the first week of April and concluding in late June. The best way to keep up is to pick three to five shows from this preview, watch the first episodes of each, and then commit to the ones that grab you. Trying to follow everything leads to burnout.

For recommendations on where to start with anime if you are new to the medium, check our anime beginners guide. For platform comparisons, see our breakdown of Crunchyroll vs Netflix for anime.