Every year, anime fans argue about awards, studios, and hype. But when the noise fades, one thing matters more than anything else: what fans actually loved watching. Not what critics pushed. Not what marketing promised. Just the shows that people couldn’t stop talking about, rating highly, and recommending to friends.
Based on fan scores, audience reviews, community discussion, and overall reception, these are the five anime that truly owned this year.
5. The Apothecary Diaries (Season 2)
The Apothecary Diaries quietly became one of the most consistently praised anime of the year. It didn’t rely on flashy fights or over-the-top twists. Instead, fans loved it for its smart mysteries, calm pacing, and Maomao’s sharp personality.
What really stands out in fan reviews is how relaxing yet engaging the show feels. Every episode rewards attention, and the character interactions feel natural and thoughtful. It’s the kind of anime people describe as “comfort food,” but still clever enough to keep you guessing.
For many fans, this season proved that anime doesn’t need constant action to be memorable.
4. Dan Da Dan (Season 2)
Dan Da Dan continued to surprise people in the best way possible. Season 2 leaned even harder into what fans loved the most: unpredictable energy, wild supernatural concepts, and emotional moments that hit when you least expect them.
Fan ratings stayed strong because the show never feels safe. One episode can make you laugh, the next can get genuinely intense, and somehow it all still works. Viewers constantly praise how creative the animation and pacing feel compared to other action anime.
Dan Da Dan isn’t just entertaining — it feels different, and fans value that more than ever.
3. Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle (Movie)
Whether you’re a long-time fan or someone who just appreciates great animation, Infinity Castle was impossible to ignore. Fan reviews consistently highlight how intense and polished the movie feels from start to finish.
What pushed this release so high in fan rankings wasn’t just visuals. It was the emotional payoff. Viewers felt the weight of every battle, every decision, and every loss. Social media reactions were filled with people calling it one of the most unforgettable anime experiences they’ve had in years.
This wasn’t just a movie people watched once. It was one people kept talking about.
2. Chainsaw Man – The Reze Arc (Movie)
Chainsaw Man’s Reze Arc earned some of the highest fan scores of the year, and it didn’t take long to see why. Fans praised its darker tone, tighter storytelling, and emotional depth that goes far beyond typical action anime.
What stands out in reviews is how personal the story feels. The relationship dynamics, the quiet moments, and the brutal reality of the world all landed hard with viewers. Many fans described it as the point where Chainsaw Man truly levels up as a series.
It wasn’t just entertaining — it left people thinking long after it ended.
1. Solo Leveling (Season 2)
No anime dominated fan ratings this year like Solo Leveling. Across platforms, Season 2 pulled massive viewership numbers and incredibly high audience scores, with fans praising nearly every aspect of it.
What pushed Solo Leveling above everything else was consistency. Every episode delivered hype moments, clean animation, and steady character growth without losing momentum. Fans loved watching Sung Jin-Woo’s rise feel earned, not rushed, and the action sequences constantly delivered on expectations.
Most importantly, people weren’t just watching Solo Leveling — they were excited to watch it every week. That kind of anticipation is rare, and it’s why Season 2 clearly stood above the rest in fan reception.
Why Solo Leveling Beat the Rest
At the end of the day, Solo Leveling won because it did everything fans wanted without overcomplicating itself. It respected its audience, delivered on its promises, and never lost sight of why people fell in love with the series in the first place. While other anime excelled in specific areas, Solo Leveling stayed strong across the board — and fans rewarded it for that.
