Image: Toei Animation
One Piece, Demon Slayer, Blue Lock, and many other series published new year illustrations for their fans.
The year 2025 is going to be great for anime fans, at least that’s what the upcoming line-up of shows suggests. And to celebrate the new year, the artists behind these popular manga and anime wanted to make their fans feel extra-special and released several beautiful illustrations featuring their favorite characters. Many of these illustrations also feature snakes, as 2025 is the year of the Snake according to the Chinese zodiac, which symbolise transformation, renewal, and spiritual growth.
One Piece
The latest One Piece illustration to commemorate the new year has been hand-drawn by the mangaka Eiichiro Oda. It features Luffy riding on a massive red snake. One Piece will be back with a brand new season on April 6, 2025.
Dragon Ball
Dragon Ball also followed the same path and posted a picture with Son Goku walking along a snake path. Moreover, the series also revealed two different 2025 calendars featuring the fan-favorite characters. Fans can watch the Dragon Ball: DAIMA series on Netflix and Crunchyroll.
Naruto/ Boruto
The Year of the Snake would be incomplete without the beloved Naruto character Orochimaru, known for his ability to summon snakes. The stunning blue and pink-toned illustration also included Sasuke and multiple adorable white snakes.
Jujutsu Kaisen
The official JJK X (formerly Twitter) account, celebrated the new year with a funny drawing of Sukuna being eaten by a massive white snake. Moreover, the anime’s season 2 animation director Souta Yamazaki posted an illustration of Yuji and Sukuna.
My Hero Academia
Straying from the Snake path, the MHA anime decided to put Midoriya, Todoroki, and Shoji in traditional garbs. Midoriya and Shoji also seem to be locked in an intense card game. The 8th and final season of the popular anime, based on Kohei Horikoshi’s manga, will air on October 2025.
Demon Slayer
On December 31, 2024, the official Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba X (formerly Twitter) account posted a brand new illustration. It featured Obanaai, who has a white snake companion, along with Gyomei, Giyuu, Shinobu, Sanemi, Tanjiro, and Nezuko, all in traditional attire with white snakes around their necks. The Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle movie will be released some time in 2025.
Bleach
The animators behind Bleach’s latest season gave the fans an adorable new wallpaper to celebrate 2025. It shows Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi as the sun while his underlings look up to him from the ground. Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3 is available for fans to watch on Netflix worldwide, while Part 4 is confirmed to be in production.
Apothecary Diaries
The lovely duo Maomao and Jinshi were the subjects of the Apothecary Diaries new year illustration. Based on Natsu Hyuuga’s popular novel series, the second season of the anime is set to air on January 10, 2025.
Oshi No Ko
A lovely picture of one of the most beloved characters from Oshi No Ko, Akane Kurokawa, was posted on the anime’s official X (formerly Twitter) account. Although Aka Akasaka’s manga has come to an end, the show is set to make a comeback with its third season soon.
Blue Lock
The Blue Lock World Champion game’s official X (formerly Twitter) account released a stunning artwork of Isagi, Rin, Bachira, Reo, Nagi, Chigiri, and Kunigami to wish fans a happy new year. Moreover, the manga’s illustrator Yusuke Nomura posted a sketch of Kaiser on his own account. You can watch the first and second seasons of the anime on Crunchyroll.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Fans got to see the series’ protagonist Frieren in a lovely traditional attire while being surrounded by Himmel’s symbolic blue flowerst. Another illustration featuring her and Fern was also posted on the show’s X (formerly Twitter) account. If you want to check out one of the best anime series of 2024, you can watch Frieren on Crunchyrol and Netflixl right now.
My Happy Marriage
Romance fans were glad to learn that the popular anime My Happy Marriage is coming back on January 6, 2025. To celebrate the new year and another season, the people behind the series released an artwork of the main couple Kiyoka and Miyo asking for blessings at a shrine on New Year’s Day. The audience can rewatch the series on Netflix!
Sakamoto Days
Adapted from Yuto Suzuki’s popular Shounen manga, the Sakamoto Days anime is one of the most-awaited titles of this year. The new illustration includes both the thin and fat forms of the former assassin Taro Sakamoto. You will be able to stream the series on Netflix from January 11, 2025.
Re: Zero
Emilia, Crusch, and Felt were the main attractions of the Re:Zero New Year artwork. All three beautiful girls were decked out in traditional garments, perfect for the holiday season. Season 3 Cour 2 of the popular isekai anime will start airing on February 5, 2025.
Skip and Loafer
The adorable romance anime Skip and Loafer won the hearts of fans when it first aired in 2023. Matching the fluffy nature of the story, the celebratory artwork features the main characters Mitsumi and Sōsuke visiting a shrine together. The snowy backdrop only adds to the festive mood. The second season of the popular series has already been announced.
The new season is jam-packed with popular titles. Here are the best Winter 2025 anime series that you shouldn’t miss out on.
