These new characters came in and stole our hearts.
The Summer 2025 anime season is in full swing with each title having multiple episodes to hook the audience in. This season is completely stacked with some amazing titles, including new and returning ones. Other than amazing animation and storyline, all these shows have one other thing in common: fascinating characters. From charming lovers to battle ready warriors and besotted pet owners, this season introduced a horde of characters that we’re already in love with.
10. Shiki Ichinose (Tougen Anki)
The protagonist of Yura Urashibara’s manga and its anime adaptation is the tenth on the list. Although his character seems like a typical shonen protagonist’s, maybe it’s why you can’t help but love him. He is shown as a hotheaded yet kind teenager. After learning about his Oni origin and losing his adoptive father to a Momotaro attack, Shiki is hell bent on taking revenge.
So far he has enrolled into an Oni school and shown great potential. Shiki is brash and hotheaded, but doesn’t shy away from laying his life down for those around him, making him an incredibly lovable teenager.
9. Fuji and Kimi (Ame to Kimi to)
We cannot talk about one of the main characters of Ame to Kimi to without mentioning the other. Fuji is a calm and peaceful novelist who finds a strange animal one day while coming home in the rain. Although it looks like a Tanuki, the strange animal behaves like a dog, and can even write his own name on paper (something dogs decidedly don’t do). The serene day to day life of Fuji and her new pet Kimi is incredibly peaceful to watch.
If you watch this anime, you can’t help but fall in love with the protagonists. Especially Kimi, who, with his quirky cuteness, will win your heart in seconds. Watching him grow closer to Fuji while also being an adorable nuisance makes you wonder exactly what kind of animal he is. But no matter what (or who) Kimi is, in our hearts, he’s just an adorable fluffball who enjoys eating and being pet.
8. Gen Narumi (Kaiju No. 8 Season 2)
The captain of the first division of the Kaiju Defense Force was first introduced back in Kaiju No. 8 Season 1. But with Season 2 in full swing, we are finally getting to know him properly. At first, the man comes off as incredibly childish and messy. His room is a wreck when Kikoru first meets him, and it seems like he was awake all night playing a video game like a teenager.
But soon, we learn that when it’s time to lock in, nobody does it better than Gen Narumi. Thanks to his numbered weapon from Kaiju No. 1 that gives him incredibly enhanced vision, he can identify the weak spot of a Kaiju and take it down within minutes. The manchild character loves to show off his skills and is often seen to be jealous of how popular Mina is. But that doesn’t stop him from being a superhero when it comes to Kaiju eradication. Fans will see more of him in the future as we enter a more battle heavy part of the story.
7. Ruri Tanigawa and Nagi Arato (Ruri no Houseki)
The new anime Ruri Rocks (Ruri no Houseki), based on Keiichirō Shibuya’s manga is one of the most underrated gems of this season. Focusing on a niche topic such as mineralogy, the series has already won the hearts of fans with its beautiful depiction of nature. However, what makes you emotionally invested in the storyline are the two central characters Ruri and Nagi.
The titular protagonist Ruri is shown as a bubbly and frivolous girl who loves accessories and precious stones. She meets mineralogy student Nagi during her quest to find crystal ores and starts learning more about the rocks where her favourite jewelries come from. The chemistry between the two is impeccable, with one assuming the role of a kind mentor while the other becomes their eager mentee. Their personalities shine in every situation and take the audience on an almost-ethereal journey through nature.
6. Himeno Amane (My Dress-Up Darling S2)
Although he appeared only in one episode so far (Season 2 Episode 3, Episode 15 overall), Himeno Amane stole everyone’s heart with his beauty and personality. Protagonists Gojo and Marin meet the cosplayer in a con when he’s dressed as a favourite female character of Marin. When they learn that he’s actually a guy, the two are shocked but start asking him questions about how he got his costume and makeup to be so immaculate. The way Himeno, who’s 20 years old, interacts with the two teenagers is heartwarming.
But what made everyone tear up was the character’s story. After Gojo helps him with the costume, Himeno tells him how he took an interest in female clothing ever since his sister dressed him up as a child. His family was supportive of his choices, and it felt like the only way he could be himself. But in college things didn’t go so well. However, no matter how pressured he felt, he never gave up on this hobby. His declaration makes both Marin and Gojo feel immense respect for Himeno. Even with a short screentime, the beautiful cosplayer became everyone’s favourite.
5. Takopi (Takopi's Original Sin)
Based on Taizan 5’s manga, Takopi’s Original Sin is a 6-episode long anime that left everyone in emotional ruin. Despite being short, the series has a 9+ rating on every episode, making it one of the highest rated anime in history. The heartbreakingly sad story of the young girl Shizuka and the naive alien Takopi is enough to make you bawl into your pillow. And the titular character Takopi is someone who will remain in people’s memories for a long time.
The small, pink alien Takopi might look like a silly octopus at first glance, but he’s actually an extraterrestrial being from “Happy Planet”. Being a Happian, Takopi doesn’t always understand the twisted nature of the human psyche and lands Shizuka in fatal trouble. But slowly, he starts to understand negative emotions, situations, and all the misery on earth. His mental development throughout the story and his ultimate sacrifice feels like a stab through the heart.
4. Kaoruko Waguri and Rintaro Tsumugi (The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity)
Based on Saka Mikami’s manga, this adorable romance anime is one of this season’s highlights. Protagonists Rintaro and Kaoruko go to Chidori High and Kikyo Private Academy. While the former is home to delinquent boys, the latter houses the most elite girls of the city. Despite being situated side by side, the students and teachers of both schools despise each other. But when Kaoruko and Rintaro meet, none of them understand why they’re supposed to hate one another.
The story of two people falling in love is a tale as old as time. But you will fall in love with every aspect of the two protagonists. They are both sweet, kind, and immensely protective of the ones they love. Rintaro’s friendship with his closest classmates also blossoms in a really amazing way that would make you understand the value of self-reflection, forgiveness, and understanding. Thanks to their incredible personalities, the relationship between Kaoruko and Rintaro is a wholesome treat from the beginning to the end.
3. Monica (Secrets of the Silent Witch)
The anime adaptation of Matsuri Isora’s novel series rose in popularity due to its protagonist Monica. The 16 year old is a genius witch who became one of the Seven Mages of her country at the age of 15. But there’s one hurdle in Monica’s life, and it’s her crippling social anxiety. It’s so bad in-fact, that she mastered chantless magic which doesn’t require the user to speak, something previously unheard of. But this handicap doesn’t stop Monica from doing her job.
People who watched Bocchi the Rock! and Komi Can’t Communicate related Monica a lot to Bocchi and Komi, both characters with social anxiety. Although Monica is afraid of speaking, she tries hard to overcome this mental barrier to help others. It doesn’t stop her from being unendingly kind, or even take up the offer to keep an eye on the second prince when it would require her to attend a school and interact with people. Throughout the series, we see proof of her brilliant mind and magical prowess and can’t help but respect the little mage.
2. Yoshiki Tsujinaka and Hikaru Indo (The Summer Hikaru Died)
Yoshiki and Hikaru are the central characters of Mokumokuren's manga and its anime adaptation, The Summer Hikaru Died. The story follows Yoshiki, a teen in a rural town in Japan, whose best friend Yoshiki goes missing in the forest. Yoshiki comes back after a week but Yoshiki realises that something else is in his friend’s body. After finding that an ancient eldritch horror now possesses his friend's body, Yoshiki struggles with his feelings for his friends and the monster.
The anime is an amazing mix of BL and horror, known for its disturbing imagery. But the characterisation of both Yoshiki and the new Hikaru is amazing. While the monster Hikaru is excited to experience the world as a human much like a child, Yoshiki is constantly torn between his love for Hikaru and the immense fear he feels for the monster. Despite being an eldritch horror, the new Hikaru is extremely attached to Yoshiki. The tug-of-war of reality, fantasy, and feelings make both characters feel realistic yet fantastical at the same time.
1.Rudo Surebec (Gachiakuta)
The anime adaptation of Kei Urana’s manga is one of the best shows of the season. From extraordinary animation to a gripping storyline, this anime has it all. But above all else, it has a protagonist that you can’t help but root for. Rudo Surebec, who lives in the outskirts of the Sphere, is one day accused of killing his own adoptive father while the actual assassin runs away. Rudo vows revenge before he’s thrown into the Underground, where all the trash accumulates. But instead of dying, Rudo finds out a magical system that lets him use his beloved gloves as a powerful weapon to kill trash beasts.
Rudo’s journey so far has been heartbreaking to say the least. But one thing about him is that he never gives up…on anything. Rudo is a person who sees the potential in things others throw away as trash. The power he wields doesn’t come only from the gloves, but the love he feels for every little thing around him. Although he’s short-tempered, he is eager to learn and help others in the ground. His drive to get stronger and help more people makes him a character you can’t help but love and cheer for.
