The world of anime and manga continues to captivate audiences, and North America is no exception. This week, from January 19th to 25th, 2025, sees a range of new releases hitting shelves and screens. From highly anticipated series continuations to exciting new titles, there’s something for every fan to enjoy. Let’s delve into the details of what’s new in the anime and manga landscape.
Anime Releases: What’s New on Screen
The anime scene is bustling with activity, with several highly-anticipated series continuing their runs and new titles making their debut.
Ongoing Series
Several popular anime series are continuing their runs into the new year. Among them:
- Blue Box is continuing its second cour, having premiered January 2nd.
- Blue Exorcist: The Blue Night Saga continues from January 4th.
- Dragon Ball Daima is ongoing.
- Solo Leveling Season 2, a highly anticipated series, is ongoing from January 4th.
- Zenshu is ongoing from January 5th.
- Dr. Stone Season 4 continues from January 9th.
- The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 is ongoing from January 10th.
- Sakamoto Days continues from January 11th.
These ongoing series provide a reliable stream of entertainment for fans eager to see the latest developments in their favorite stories.
New Anime Premieres
January is also seeing the premiere of several new anime series, including:
- Honey Lemon Soda, a romance series, premiered on January 8th.
- Anyway, I’m Falling in Love with You also premiered on January 9th.
- Medalist, a sports manga adaptation, is also making its debut this month.
- Babanbabanban Vampire, a BL comedy, has also premiered in January 2025.
- NEET Kunoichi to Nazeka Dousei Hajimemashita, a romcom manga adaptation, is another new series for this month.
These new titles showcase the diversity of the anime landscape, offering a range of genres from romance and comedy to action and sports.
Anime Films
For fans of the big screen, there are also some new anime films to look out for:
- The Colors Within, released on January 24th.
- Cute High Earth Defense Club Eternal Love!, also released on January 24th.
- Make a Girl, released on January 31st.
These films offer a more cinematic experience for anime fans, with higher production values and self-contained storylines.
Manga Releases: Fresh Stories on the Shelves
The manga world is just as vibrant, with a plethora of new releases hitting stores this week.
New Manga Series
Several new manga series are making their debut in North America, such as:
- Embers, a new sports manga from Weekly Shonen Jump focusing on football.
- B No Seisen is another new Shonen Jump series, the plot is currently unknown.
- The Color of the End: Mission in the Apocalypse, a manga about a girl searching for survivors in a post-apocalyptic world.
- I’m Here, Beside You, a story about a man who gets a second chance at his first love.
- Takahashi from the Bike Shop, a manga about a woman who finds solace in a bike repair shop owner.
These series are just a sample of the exciting new stories being introduced to North American audiences.
Continuing Manga Series
Many ongoing manga series are also releasing new volumes, including:
- Toilet-bound Hanako-kun, Chapter 122 released this week.
- Kakegurui – Compulsive Gambler, Chapter 113 was released this week.
- Übel Blatt II, Chapter 11 was released this week.
- Boy’s Abyss Volume 8 is available at the end of the month.
- Numerous other titles, such as A Certain Scientific Railgun, Choujin X, Cat + Gamer, and many more will be getting new volumes in the coming months.
These releases ensure that fans of established series have plenty to look forward to.
Notable Manga Publishers
Several publishers are bringing a variety of manga titles to North American audiences. These include:
- Yen Press, who are releasing several new manga and light novel titles in January 2025, including a deluxe complete collection of the Solo Leveling novel.
- Kodansha, who are releasing several new print licenses in Spring 2025.
- Seven Seas Entertainment, who have a robust release schedule including The Missing “O” and various audiobooks in January.
- Viz Media, which is one of the largest manga publishers, although specific releases for this week were not detailed in the provided context.
Each publisher brings its unique selection of titles, ensuring a diverse range of manga for readers to enjoy.
Blu-Ray Releases: Bringing Anime Home
For collectors and home theater enthusiasts, there are a number of new Blu-ray releases to look out for this month:
- BASTARD!! Heavy Metal, Dark Fantasy, a complete season Blu-ray set was released on January 21st.
- The Dangers in My Heart Season 2 was released on January 28th.
- Ninja Scroll will be released on January 28th.
- Shangri-La Frontier Season 1 Part 2 will be released on April 8th.
- Classroom of the Elite Season 3 will be released on April 29th.
- Berserk of Gluttony will be released on April 1st.
- Chillin’ in Another World with Level 2 Super Cheat Powers will be released on April 8th.
These releases offer fans the chance to own their favorite anime series in high definition, complete with extras and special features.
Popular Anime and Manga: Trends and Sales
It’s worth noting some of the most popular and best-selling anime and manga titles. These titles often drive the industry and influence new releases:
Top Selling Manga
- One Piece continues to be the best-selling manga of all time, with over 500 million copies in circulation.
- Jujutsu Kaisen has consistently been a high-ranked bestseller and is considered a major contender in the “Big Three” anime/manga category.
- Demon Slayer has sold approximately 150 million copies and had its sales skyrocket after the premiere of the anime adaptation.
- Other top-selling manga include: Naruto, Dragon Ball, Attack on Titan, Slam Dunk, and My Hero Academia.
These titles represent some of the most successful franchises in the manga world, with dedicated fanbases and significant cultural impact.
Top Grossing Anime Franchises
- Pokemon is the highest-grossing anime franchise.
- Hello Kitty is another top-grossing anime franchise with significant merchandising revenue.
- Dragon Ball also ranks high due to its diverse revenue streams, including video games, merchandise, and movies.
- Demon Slayer has generated substantial revenue, especially after the success of Mugen Train, which became the highest-grossing anime film of all time.
These franchises demonstrate the enormous commercial potential of anime, with revenue streams that extend far beyond the original series.
Conclusion
The period of January 19th-25th, 2025, is proving to be an exciting time for anime and manga fans in North America. With a mix of new series premieres, ongoing series continuations, new manga releases, and Blu-ray launches, there’s a wealth of content available to enjoy. Whether you’re a seasoned otaku or new to the scene, there’s something for everyone in the diverse and dynamic world of anime and manga. This week’s releases are a testament to the continued growth and global appeal of the medium, promising more excitement for fans in the future.