The Annual Grand Prix: Gundam’s Uncontested Reign
Sweeping both the Trend Score and Fan Score categories for new works and overall titles, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX emerged as the “Absolute Champion” of 2025. Its dominance was particularly striking in the Fan Score, where it outpaced its closest competitor by more than five times, solidifying its status as the year’s undisputed anime king.
New Works TOP5
Trend Score (General Awareness):
- Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX
- Tako-P’s Original Sin
- SAKAMOTO DAYS
- Nukitashi THE ANIMATION
- Medalist
Fan Score (Fan Engagement):
- Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX
- Medalist
- Milky☆Subway Galaxy Express
- The Summer Hikaru Died
- Tako-P’s Original Sin
Notably, Medalist showcased a rare blend of widespread popularity and sustained fan devotion, appearing high on both lists. Tako-P's Original Sin, while widely discussed, displayed a different flavor of success compared to Medalist‘s deep support.
Overall TOP10 (Including Sequels)
When sequels entered the fray, their enduring power became evident, yet new works still shone brightly.
Trend Score (Overall TOP10):
- Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX (New Work)
- My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON (Sequel)
- The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 (Sequel)
- Kingdom Season 6 (Sequel)
- Tako-P’s Original Sin (New Work)
- Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 (Sequel)
- SAKAMOTO DAYS 2nd Cour (Sequel)
- Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- 3rd season (Sequel)
- One-Punch Man Season 3 (Sequel)
- Dandadan Season 2 (Sequel)
Fan Score (Overall TOP10):
- Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX (New Work)
- Medalist (New Work)
- The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 (Sequel)
- Milky☆Subway Galaxy Express (New Work)
- My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON (Sequel)
- The Summer Hikaru Died (New Work)
- Tako-P’s Original Sin (New Work)
- BanG Dream! Ave Mujica (New Work)
- Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- 3rd season (Sequel)
- Uma Musume Cinderella Gray (Sequel)
Sequels like My Hero Academia, The Apothecary Diaries, and Re:ZERO maintained strong positions, but the impressive showing of new works, particularly Milky☆Subway Galaxy Express at 4th in Fan Score, hinted at the next category’s revelation.
The Dark Horse Award: A Miracle of Growth
The “Dark Horse Award,” which measures the growth rate from the first week’s metrics to the highest point during broadcast, saw Milky☆Subway Galaxy Express achieve a phenomenal victory in both Trend Score and Fan Score. This series demonstrated a truly miraculous surge, growing 20.0 times in Trend Score and an astonishing 31.2 times in Fan Score.
Starting in the lower ranks of the 270 titles in its debut week, Milky☆Subway Galaxy Express steadily gained traction through word-of-mouth, eventually climbing to 7th in the Annual Grand Prix Trend Score and 4th in Fan Score. This trajectory proves that quality and genuine audience connection can foster growth beyond initial hype.
Growth Rate TOP5
Trend Score Growth:
- Milky☆Subway Galaxy Express (20.0x)
- Everyday Host (4.5x)
- The Legend of Hei (4.5x)
- Hiroshi Nohara’s Lunch Style (4.4x)
- There’s No Way I Can Be Your Lover! Or Maybe I Can?! (3.0x)
Fan Score Growth:
- Milky☆Subway Galaxy Express (31.2x)
- A Wild Last Boss Appeared! (8.9x)
- The Black History of the Reincarnated Villainess (8.0x)
- Everyday Host (4.5x)
- TO BE HERO X (4.2x)
Many of these dark horse titles, including Everyday Host and The Legend of Hei, didn’t boast high pre-broadcast expectations. Yet, the audience’s genuine appreciation, shared across social media, allowed their popularity to blossom organically.
The Future of Fandom: Beyond the First Impression
The 2025 Anime Awards illuminate the rich diversity of success stories in the industry. From Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, which met and exceeded its high expectations, to Medalist, which found both broad appeal and deep loyalty, and finally to Milky☆Subway Galaxy Express, a quiet starter that exploded through organic buzz – each carved its own path to prominence. The data speaks volumes: in 2025, anime proved that a captivating story, regardless of its initial splash, can truly resonate and build a passionate following. This highlights that a dazzling debut is not the sole indicator of success; rather, timely narratives and compelling content are paramount. This past year reaffirmed the boundless possibilities within the anime world, showcasing that both explosive initial buzz and slow-burning word-of-mouth hold immense value, shaping the future of Kawaii culture abroad by celebrating authenticity and genuine connection.
