2025 was a peculiar year for anime releases, with many focusing on new 4K transfers, classics being issued on Blu-ray, or numerous recap films, as well as the first three episodes of shows being screened in theatres rather than releasing entirely new titles. Nevertheless, the final quarter of 2025, as the film festival season kicked into full swing, brought some exceptional films to the UK. Before we dive into the list, let’s set out some ground rules.
My eligibility criteria for this list remain the same as last year. To qualify, an anime film must have been released in UK cinemas, on physical media or streaming platforms, or shown at festivals in 2025, and must not have appeared on previous top ten lists. This means that films like The Colors Within, which was featured on the 2024 list because it was shown at festivals that year but had a theatrical release in 2025, are not eligible for this list. If you missed last year’s list, you can read the 2024 list here and the 2023 list here. This also means older titles released on Blu-ray for the first time, or brought back into print, or new transfers in cinemas, are eligible. I aim for my coverage of anime to serve as a love letter to the medium, showcasing both past gems and current offerings. However, as 2025 was a year of re-releases, first-time releases will generally be rated above older titles. Before presenting the list, let’s mention a few honourable mentions.
Tekkonkinkreet received a new Blu-ray release after being out of print for some time, and is a must-have for your collection. It’s a fascinating film that confirmed Studio 4°C as a studio to watch.
Three acclaimed Mamoru Hosoda works, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Summer Wars, and Wolf Children, were released in the UK with fresh 4K transfers, while the US saw 4K Blu-ray editions from GKids, with upcoming releases from Anime Limited. These definitive versions are essential.
My final honourable mention goes to the four Takeshi Koike’s Lupin the IIIrd OVAs: Jigen’s Gravestone, Goemon’s Blood Spray, Fujiko’s Lie, and Zenigata and the Two Lupins. These are genuinely thrilling adventures that look stunning and are a joy to watch. It’s just a shame that the conclusion, The Immortal Bloodline, felt lacklustre and bizarre after such a strong run of OVAS.
With the honourable mentions covered, here are my top ten anime films of 2025.
Number 10 – Princess Mononoke
Hayao Miyazaki’s classic Princess Mononoke returned to UK cinemas in both IMAX and a 4K re-release, bringing the best version of this masterpiece to the big screen. The film follows Ashitaka, who is cursed after battling a demon boar and must journey west to seek a cure while attempting to reconcile the conflict between Princess Mononoke and Iron Town, as their escalating struggle threatens the world.
You can read our review for Princess Mononoke – Read our Review
Number 9 – Perfect Blue
Satoshi Kon’s masterpiece of a directorial debut, Perfect Blue, got a brand new 4K transfer, bringing new life to this timeless and poignant classic. Mima Kirigoe is a former pop idol who is pursuing a career in acting. While pursuing this career change, she faces a disturbing descent into paranoia as stalkers, a revealing website, and murders blur the line between her real life and her roles.
You can read our review for Perfect Blue here – Read our Review
Perfect Blue is available now on Deluxe Edition 4K Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD from Anime Limited
Number 8 – ChaO
Rom-coms are not usually my cup of tea, but ChaO’s absurdist approach to comedy, gorgeous animation, and endearing romance won me over by the time the credits rolled. Set in a future Shanghai, the story follows Stephan, a junior ship designer determined to redesign ship propellers. His life takes an unexpected turn after surviving a mermaid attack—only to discover she’s a princess who wants him as her fiancé.
You can read our review for ChaO here – Read our Review
You can also read our interview with ChaO director Yasuhiro Aoki here – Read our Interview
Number 7 – All You Need Is Kill
Diverting from the source is a risky move, but All You Need Is Kill proves that staying true to its core principles can result in an incredible film, one even better than its American counterpart. On the anniversary of Darol’s arrival, volunteer Rita joins a team collecting samples. Suddenly, Darol unleashes deadly creatures. Amid the chaos, Rita is killed, only to wake up at the start of the same day.
You can read our review for All You Need Is Kill here – Read our Review
You can also read our interview with All You Need Is Kill director Kenichiro Akimoto here – Read our Interview
Number 6 – Demon Slayer Infinity Castle
Becoming the highest-grossing anime of all time is no small feat, and Infinity Castle truly deserves this honour as it’s a cinematic epic. Following the Hashira Training Arc, Tanjiro and the Demon Slayer Corps are thrust into Muzan’s Infinity Castle, a vast, shifting stronghold. To escape, they must find and kill Muzan before his immortality is fully restored, battling Upper-Rank demons along the way.
You can read our review for Demon Slayer Infinity Castle here – Read our Review
Number 5 – 100 Meters
Rotoscoping is a unique animation technique, and 100 Meters proves why it can be a powerful tool for emotionally impactful storytelling. Togasha, a prodigy sprinter, meets Komiya, a transfer student who runs to escape his problems, driven by determination rather than talent. Hoping to help, Togasha trains him. Over the next fifteen years, their paths intertwine from school tracks to the big leagues.
You can read our review for 100 Meters here – Read our Review
Number 4 – Junk World
Stop Motion is a rarity within anime, so Junk World visually stands out as one of a kind, but its animation is part of what makes this bizarre odyssey a mesmerising watch. The film follows Tris and her robot partner Robin on a joint mission with Marigans, led by Dante. They must investigate an anomaly, but their mission is soon threatened by a Marigan cult called the Gura.
You can read our review for Junk World here – Read our Review
Number 3 – Chainsaw Man- The Movie: Reze Arc
A visual masterpiece by MAPPA, Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc showcases the series’ emotional depth and intense action, cementing its place as one of the best shonen anime today. The film follows Denji, a Public Safety devil hunter who dreams of a normal life and falling in love. His life is changed forever, though, when he meets Reze, a café worker whom he might fall for.
You can read our review for Chainsaw Man- The Movie: Reze Arc here – Read our Review
Chainsaw Man- The Movie: Reze Arc is available digitally from Sony Pictures UK.
Number 2 – Detective Conan Oye-eyed Flashback
Even after 28 films, Detective Conan remains one of anime’s strongest long-running franchises, with One-eyed Flashback standing out as one of its best entries. Ten months after surviving an avalanche and a gunshot that left him scarred, Detective Yamato investigates a break-in at an observatory linked to his past. During this, Conan investigates a former colleague of Kagoro’s murder that is connected to Detective Yamato’s case.
You can read our review for Detective Conan One-eyed Flashback here – Read our Review
Number 1 – The Last Blossom
A masterpiece, there is no other way to describe The Last Blossom a once in a lifetime piece of art that is a visually striking and gut-wrenching work. The film follows a dying Akutsu while he ponders on his past with his love Nana and her newborn son Kensuke, and how his decisions and sacrifices in the past have led him to being in prison and alone.
You can read our review for The Last Blossom here – Read our Review
Coming soon to UK cinemas from Anime Limited.
Related
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
