The Japanese animation scene is ever-evolving, with new series constantly vying for viewership and established classics maintaining their appeal. This report dives into the TV animation rankings for the week of January 6-12, 2025, providing insights into the most-watched shows in Japan. While new series are making their mark, a beloved Studio Ghibli film demonstrates enduring popularity.
Howl’s Moving Castle Soars in Ratings
Hayao Miyazaki’s enchanting film, Howl’s Moving Castle, aired on NTV on Friday, January 10th, at 9:00 PM and captured an impressive 11.0% rating. This performance highlights the continued love for Ghibli films in Japan, even years after their initial release. The film’s timeless themes and beautiful animation continue to resonate with audiences of all ages.
The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Makes a Strong Debut
The second season premiere of The Apothecary Diaries also made a notable entrance, earning a 4.8% rating. This series, which follows a knowledgeable heroine navigating the mysteries of the inner palace, has quickly become a fan favorite. The protagonist’s unique approach to solving mysteries, particularly involving poison and dangerous substances, combined with the political intrigue of the royal court, continues to captivate viewers. The return of the series is eagerly anticipated by many.
Other Notable Series
While Howl’s Moving Castle and The Apothecary Diaries took the top spots, other series are also generating significant buzz. The rankings, which measure the percentage of the population watching a program, based on a survey of households in Japan’s Kanto region, show that these series are also doing well:
- Sazae-san, a long-running family-oriented anime, remains popular with a consistent audience, though specific ratings for the January 6-12 period are not available in the current search results, the show generally does very well in ratings
- Detective Conan, known for its intriguing mysteries, also continues to draw viewers.
- Chibi Maruko-chan, a classic slice-of-life anime, maintains its place as a family favorite.
- Wonderful Precure!, a magical girl series, is also in the top ratings.
- Doraemon and Crayon Shin-chan also maintain their popularity, especially among younger viewers.
It is important to note that these ratings don’t include recordings watched later.
Winter 2025 Anime: New Series to Watch
The Winter 2025 anime season is bringing a variety of new and returning series to the forefront. Based on recent data, here are some of the most anticipated titles:
Top Contenders
- Medalist: This sports anime focuses on figure skating, following an 11-year-old girl with big dreams and a coach on the verge of quitting. It is currently ranked #1 by NicoNico, a major Japanese video service, based on views and hits of posted episodes and live broadcasts.
- Zenshu: An original anime by MAPPA, known for their work on Attack on Titan, Zenshu explores the anime industry and the challenges faced by animators.
- Momentarily Lily and Sakamoto Days: These titles also rank high on the list, showcasing the diversity of popular anime genres in the current season.
- Solo Leveling Season 2: A highly anticipated return, Solo Leveling is set in a world where hunters battle monsters in dungeons.
- The Apothecary Diaries Season 2: As mentioned, the return of this series is making a big splash.
Other Notable Series
- Fire Force (Season 3): This popular action-packed series is also highly awaited by fans.
- Wind Breaker (Season 2): The return of Wind Breaker is also something to look forward to for anime fans.
- Gachiakuta: A new series for the 2025 winter season that is anticipated by many.
- Witch Hat Workshop: Another series that is gaining interest from anime fans.
- Omniscient Reader: The anime adaptation of this popular web novel is on the horizon.
- Undead Unluck (Season 2): This is another popular series that will have a second season this winter.
- Lord of Mysteries: Another hotly anticipated anime adaptation that will be released this winter season.
- Douse, Koishite Shimaunda.: A drama-romance series that focuses on a girl whose childhood friend asks her out.
- Dr. Stone The Final Season: The final season of the beloved anime series Dr. Stone.
- My Happy Marriage Season 2: The second season of this popular show.
- I’m Getting Married to a Girl I Hate in My Class: A new series that is garnering interest from fans.
- Medaka Kuroiwa Is Impervious To My Charms: This series is also one of the most popular of the winter 2025 lineup.
Anime Industry Trends
The anime industry continues to grow, with a significant number of new series being produced each year. Here are some notable trends:
Genre Diversity
There is a wide range of genres gaining popularity, from the classic shonen to sports, slice-of-life, romance, and mystery. This diversity ensures there is something for every viewer.
Manga Adaptations
Many of the most popular anime are adaptations of manga, highlighting the importance of the manga industry. Sakamoto Days is a prime example of an anime that has its roots in a popular manga.
Original Anime
Original anime projects, such as Zenshu, are also gaining traction, demonstrating the creative potential within the anime industry. These projects allow for unique storylines and concepts.
Global Popularity
The global appeal of anime is increasing, with many studios outside Japan producing anime-inspired works. However, this report focuses specifically on series produced in Japan.
Manga We Want To See Animated
AnimeJapan, a major event in the anime industry, is also gathering votes for manga that fans would like to see animated. This ranking allows fans to express their preferences, and the top 10 titles will be exhibited at AnimeJapan 2025. Some of the nominated titles include:
- IDOL×IDOL STORY！
- Honeko Akabane’s Bodyguards
- Akuyakureijou no nakanohito
- She is fed up with her siscon brother
- USOTSUKI! GOKUO-KUN
Conclusion
The Japanese animation scene continues to thrive, with both classic favorites and new series drawing significant viewership. The week of January 6-12, 2025, showed the enduring appeal of Howl’s Moving Castle alongside the promising debut of The Apothecary Diaries season 2 and the popularity of new series like Medalist and Zenshu. With a wide range of genres and new releases on the horizon, the anime industry is poised for another exciting year. The continued interest from both domestic and international audiences underscores the global impact of Japanese animation.
