#166 - Best Anime of 2025

#166 - Best Anime of 2025

Author: Third Impact Anime Podcast March 16, 2026 Duration: 4:14:42
While other podcasts did their end of year retrospective two months ago, why rush when you can take 3 months? In this episode, Sarah, Austin, Tori, and Bill break down the "best" anime of 2025, and by "best" we mean "the stuff we got around to, whether we liked it, finished it, or not". We've got Kowloons, we've got Kaisens, and do you finally want to know what the deal with Solo Leveling is? Well, I can't promise we'll tell you, but maybe we do! What were some of your favorite anime of 2025? Let us know by sending us an email at thirdimpactanime@gmail.com and we'll discuss it on the show. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Opening check in about how 2025 treated us despite everything and our aspirations for 2026 00:20:41 - Sarah hosts a game where we guess what anime were at the top of the popularity lists on various websites 00:55:28 - What anime did we just dabble in this year and not finish? Titles include things like Anne Shirley, New Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt, Gachiakuta, Ranma 1/2, The Dinner Table Detective, This Monster Wants to Eat Me, Pass the Monster Meat, Milady!, City, The Summer Hikaru Died, etc. 1:39:53 - Sequels!~ My Dress Up Darling, The Apothecary Diaries, Solo Leveling, Dandadan, etc. 02:10:19 - Lupin the IIRD: Zenigata and the Two Lupins & Lupin the IIIRD: Immortal Bloodline 02:22:08 - Black Butler: Emerald Witch Arc 02:30:46 - Chainsaw Man: The Movie -Reze Arc- 02:46:44 - Zombie Land Saga: Yumeginga Paradise 02:54:28 - Let's Play 03:05:01 - May I Ask for One Final Thing? 03:20:15 - 100 Meters 03:38:16 - Kowloon Generic Romance 03:53:23 - Apocalypse Hotel 04:01:27 - What anime are we looking forward to for 2026? Note that we talk a lot more about various other anime that were brought up in the lists/comments submitted to us from members of our Discord, so the timestamps above are not exhaustive (the list provided in the show notes on our website is exhaustive, though). If you enjoy this or any other episode, leave us a Rating and Review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or elsewhere! Show notes are available on our website: www.thirdimpactanime.com More helpful links: thirdimpactanime.carrd.co Follow us on Bluesky at thirdimpactanime.bsky.social Follow us on Instagram at instagram.com/ThirdImpactAnime Follow us on tumblr at thirdimpactanime.tumblr.com Listen & Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Podbean Support us on Ko-Fi | Patreon

Every other week, the conversation starts around a microphone with a group of longtime friends who have spent years hosting panels at anime conventions. Third Impact Anime Podcast is built from those late-night hotel lobby debates and packed conference room discussions, channeling that energy into a deep dive into the medium we love. This isn't just a review show; it's an exploration of the threads that connect classic series to today's trending hits, always with an eye on the artistic choices and cultural history that shape them. You'll hear us unpack new releases and revisit forgotten gems, share stories from the convention floor, and occasionally sit down with special guests from across the anime community. The result is a podcast that feels like hanging out with the most knowledgeable fans you know-the ones who can't help but talk a little too much about the details that make anime so compelling. Join us for a bi-weekly look at the artistry and passion that fuels this global phenomenon.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Third Impact Anime Podcast
Podcast Episodes
#147 - Winter 2024 Anime in Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:54
Our resident seasonal anime watchers, Sarah and Bill, are back once again for their review of the recently-wrapped winter 2024 anime season! With continuing smash hits like The Apothecary Diaries, popular adaptations lik…
#146 - Attack on Titan (Season 1, Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:08
On that day, this podcast feed received a grim reminder. Humanity lives in fear of yet another episode of the Third Impact Anime Podcast. Not only is this our first proper episode of 2024, it's the beginning of a retrosp…
Kotatsu Corner #6 - Our Favorite Things in 2023 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:26
Happy New Year, everyone! We hope your 2023 ended on a high note and your 2024 has begun with the same. Much like last year, Tobias presents a few segments from TIA members reflecting on a few of the anime, manga, video…
#145 - Anime Secret Santa 2023 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:28:41
And if youuuuu caaaaannnn believe it, it's Christmas once again! We're happy to present (ha) our 2023 Anime Secret Santa Special! If you're not familiar with this project, the kind folks over at the Taiiku Podcast (forme…
#144 - Con-versations: Anime Weekend Atlanta 2023 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:10
After a years-long absence, we one again returned to the hallowed halls of the Renaissance Waverly/Cobb Galleria in Atlanta, Georgia for the final year of Anime Weekend Atlanta... in that venue, at least. Austin, Tori, a…
A Grand Line Reborn | Cruise #06 - Davy Back Fight (Savage) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:00
Bill is still finishing up the 3.x Heavensward patches, but Tobias is encountering interparty conflict in Water 7, so we wanted to go ahead and get this one out as soon as possible. What did we think about the Davy Back…
#143 - Fall 2023 Anime Season SO FAR [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:54
Bill drops by to give you a rare solo episode where he gives a brief overview of his thoughts on the current Fall 2023 anime season. Titles he talks about include (in no particular order) Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, S…
#142 - Interview with Colleen’s Manga Recs on Shojo & Josei! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:55
How many times can Bill be recommended to watch Chihayafuru in a single podcast episode? Find out in this incredible new INTERVIEW episode with TikTok star, YouTube video essayist, and shojo/josei expert, COLLEEN from Co…
A Grand Line Reborn | Cruise #05 - Sin City of Gold [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:31:07
See, we really are a regular podcast! Tobias went to FanFest in Las Vegas! Bill’s been putting off the Heavensward patches to play Final Fantasy XVI! We talk about Skypeia and how it compares to the previous two One Piec…
A Grand Line Reborn | Cruise #04 - Recaps and Reimaginings [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:42:53
We’re back in our, uh, first episode of 2023, with a double feature at the movies! Tobias got his first taste of the One Piece anime adaptation with Episode of East Blue, while Bill watched the Noclip documentary on the…