image sourced from original article at 2025 was a standout year for animated films and series, with a diverse lineup that showcased both innovative storytelling and stunning visuals. Highlights included the much-hyped 'KPop Demon Hunters', which captured audiences with its vibrant style and sharp take on fandom, as well as 'Ne Zha II' and 'Iyanu', both of which drew deeply from cultural mythologies to deliver fresh takes on heroism.
Other notable entries explored timely themes: 'Common Side Effects' and 'Lazarus' tackled the ethics of miracle cures and the fallout from medical breakthroughs, while 'Arco' and 'Long Story Short' used time travel to reflect on family and technology in an ever-changing world. More introspective works like 'Little Amélie or the Character of Rain' and '100 Meters' delved into questions of identity, belonging, and personal growth through evocative animation and nuanced storytelling.
Genre-bending series such as 'The Summer Hikaru Died' brought emotional depth and supernatural intrigue, rounding out a year that proved animation can be both boundary-pushing and deeply resonant. Honorable mentions went to a range of series and films that continued to expand the possibilities of animated storytelling.
