Top 10 Anime to Watch This Summer
Summer is a fantastic season for anime because it often brings a fresh lineup of highly anticipated series, new seasons of fan favorites, and original titles that take advantage of the vibrant energy and themes of the season. With students on break and longer days, it's the perfect time to relax and dive into captivating stories, from action-packed adventures to heartfelt romances. This list includes a mix of the hottest new releases, sequels with strong followings, and standout originals that are making waves in the anime community this summer.
Here’s a curated list of Chinese anime (donghua) released or scheduled in 2025, spanning adaptations, sequels, and original series that are capturing fans worldwide:
🎥 Already Released in 2025
To Be Hero X (凸变英雄X)
A Chinese‑Japanese co‑production that premiered on April 6, 2025. It brings back the absurd comedy and superhero satire of the To Be Hero franchise, with high‑energy animation by BeDream and collaborators across studios. Licensed globally by Crunchyroll and airing in China via Bilibili (Wikipedia).
Super Cube (超级立方体)
Released March 21, 2025 on iQIYI. A sci‑fi donghua featuring a teenager discovering a mysterious artifact that grants superpowers in a high‑stakes rescue mission with dazzling fight animation (CBR).
Lord of the Mysteries
Premieres June 28, 2025, with a two‑episode launch across Crunchyroll, Tencent Video, and Muse. Adapted from the dark‑fantasy novel by Cuttlefish That Loves Diving, this Lovecraft‑tinged Victorian story promises deep world‑building and multi‑language dubs (ComicBook.com).
Ling Cage – Season 2 (灵笼第二季)
Formally released starting May 23, 2025, continuing the post‑apocalyptic world and thought‑provoking sci‑fi themes from the first season (donghua-news.com).
The Legend of Hei II
Sequel to the beloved The Legend of Hei film, scheduled for release on July 17, 2025 in Chinese theaters (Wikipedia).
🔜 Upcoming or Scheduled in 2025
Based on announcements from Standard Anime and iQIYI’s 2025 lineup:
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Martial Universe – Season 5 (Wu Dong Qian Kun S5) – Released Jan. 1, 2025 (Standard Anime)
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Great Journey of Teenagers – Season 4 – Premiered Jan. 8, 2025 (Standard Anime)
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A Record of Mortal’s Journey to Immortality – Season 4 – Released Jan. 18, 2025 (Yu Alexius)
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Jade Dynasty – Season 3 – Premiered May 12, 2025 (Standard Anime)
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Twin Martial Souls – Scheduled May 15, 2025 (Standard Anime)
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Renegade Immortal – Expected May 2025 (anime4i.in)
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Perfect World – Season 4 – Released around June 2025 (Standard Anime)
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The Legend of Tang Sect – Season 3 – Targeting July 2025 (anime4i.in)
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Stellar Transformations – Season 6 – Expected August 2025 (anime4i.in)
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Soul Land – Season 4 – Expected October 2025 (anime4i.in)
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The Richest Player, Above the Kingdom of Gods, Threads of Fate, God of Wealth Dou Zhanlong, World of Sphira, Ascension Day — all newly announced donghua titles rolling out through mid‑2025 (Standard Anime)
Also mentioned in fan‑curated lists: Dragon Raja Season 2, Honor of Kings (Chapter of Glory & Destiny), Under the Three Rivers, Sword and Fairy 3, The Chosen One, The Ruins of KunLun LingLong, Lonely Hero, among others debuting in 2025 (Reddit).
📋 Summary Table
| Title | Status | Release Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| To Be Hero X | Released | April 6, 2025 | Comedy‑superhero, global license via Crunchyroll |
| Super Cube | Released | March 21, 2025 | Sci‑fi action with artifact‑based powers |
| Lord of the Mysteries | Premiered | June 28, 2025 | Dark‑fantasy, Lovecraft‑inspired Victorian world |
| Ling Cage S2 | Released | Starting May 23 | Post‑apocalyptic sci‑fi sequel |
| Legend of Hei II | Scheduled | July 17, 2025 | Sequel theatrical film |
| Martial Universe S5 | Released | Jan 1, 2025 | Cultivation action saga |
| Great Journey of Teenagers S4 | Released | Jan 8, 2025 | Wuxia adventure |
| Mortal’s Journey to Immortality S4 | Released | Jan 18, 2025 | Cultivation/fantasy continuation |
| Jade Dynasty S3 | Released | May 12, 2025 | Epic martial adaptation |
| Twin Martial Souls | Upcoming | May 15, 2025 | Fantasy/action adaptation |
| Renegade Immortal | Upcoming | May 2025 | Cultivation drama |
| Perfect World S4 | Upcoming | June 2025 | Fantasy adventure sequel |
| Legend of Tang Sect S3 | Upcoming | July 2025 | Xianxia romance/adventure |
| Stellar Transformations S6 | Upcoming | August 2025 | Sci‑fi cultivation continuation |
| Soul Land S4 | Upcoming | October 2025 | Martial arts romance/action |
| Other New Titles (e.g. Richest Player, etc.) | Upcoming | Through mid‑2025 | Assorted genres from fantasy to historical drama |
✨ Why 2025 is a strong year for Chinese anime
Donghua in 2025 showcases a thrilling blend of mature fantasy, sci‑fi, martial arts, and quirky comedies. From big-budget adaptations like Lord of the Mysteries and To Be Hero X, to nostalgic cult favorites and cinematic follow‑ups like Legend of Hei II, the variety and production quality reflect China's rapidly growing role in global animation (Yu Alexius, Wikipedia, Diario AS, CBR, ComicBook.com, donghua-news.com, Wikipedia, Standard Anime, anime4i.in, Standard Anime, Wikipedia).
If you’d like recommendations filtered by genre—e.g. cultivation, sci‑fi, comedy—or details about where to stream them, just let me know!
1. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Season 3
Why it’s worth watching this summer:
"Demon Slayer" returns with its highly anticipated Season 3, also known as the Swordsmith Village Arc. This season dives deeper into the lore of the Demon Slayer Corps and introduces powerful new Hashira—Mist and Love Hashira—alongside intense battles against upper-rank demons. The animation, once again handled by Ufotable, is visually stunning and raises the bar for action sequences. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to the series, this season delivers emotional depth, breathtaking visuals, and thrilling storytelling that make it a standout pick for summer anime viewing.
Image:
Source: Crunchyroll
Link: Watch on Crunchyroll
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