EmberChime's Spring 2025 Anime Wrap-Up
- Ashe
- Jun 27
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 11
As the Spring 2025 anime season draws to a close, it's time to spotlight the series that truly captured our attention and earned a permanent spot in our busy schedules.
For our community of working professionals and students, finding a show that respects our downtime is paramount.
From intricate mysteries to grounded fantasy and complex hero narratives, these are the series that delivered compelling stories worthy of your time.
Here are our top picks from the Spring 2025 season, perfect for catching up on before the summer rush begins.
The second season of The Apothecary Diaries continues to deliver on its promise of sharp, intelligent storytelling. Set against the stunning backdrop of ancient China's Imperial Palace, the series follows Maomao, a brilliant and pragmatic apothecary's daughter roped into solving the court's most perplexing medical and criminal mysteries.
Season 2 masterfully expands on the intricate court politics and the simmering relationship between Maomao and the enigmatic official Jinshi, all while presenting viewers with a fresh slate of baffling cases.
Each episode is a carefully crafted puzzle, inviting the audience to piece together clues alongside the endlessly resourceful protagonist.
Our Take: As huge fans of mysteries and clever storytelling, we were consistently impressed. The show leads the audience to genuinely think and attempt to solve cases using logic and deduction.
It’s a fantastic brain teaser populated with lovable characters whose backstories only add to the intrigue.
From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman
Beryl Gardinant is a humble, middle-aged sword instructor in a rural village who believes his best days are behind him. His quiet life is upended when his former students, now some of the kingdom's most elite knights and adventurers, return to seek his wisdom.
What makes this series stand out is its commitment to a surprising degree of realism in its swordplay. The narrative thoughtfully explores how a master of traditional swordsmanship would adapt his skills to face a world of magic and monsters, creating a unique and grounded take on the fantasy genre.
Our Take:
As HEMA practitioners, we love that the creators incorporated techniques from historical manuals with practical applications.
While some might find it too realistic for a fantasy anime, we found it to be an admirable blend of grounded combat and fantastical elements.
It really makes you think what would you do if you had to face a mage with only a sword? How do you make decisive actions in the safest way possible?
In a world where public faith grants heroes their powers, the line between celebrity and savior is dangerously thin. To Be Hero X dives headfirst into this complex reality, exploring the immense pressure and moral ambiguity that comes with the cape.
The story follows a diverse cast of characters navigating a hero-ranking system where public perception is everything. The series isn't afraid to show the darker, more complicated side of heroism, from the burden of maintaining a public image to the sacrifices required to do the right thing when no one is watching.
Our Take:
We often see the idealized side of heroes, but To Be Hero X takes us on a rollercoaster ride through what it truly takes to be one.
We love that the authors dare to showcase the unpleasant side of these circumstances, making for a refreshingly honest and thought-provoking narrative.
The latest entry in the legendary Gundam franchise, GQuuuuuuX offers a thrilling new story that is accessible to newcomers while still providing depth for long-time fans. The series follows Amate Yuzuriha aka Machu, a high school student in a space colony who gets drawn into the world of illegal mobile suit duels known as "Clan Battles."
When she encounters a mysterious Gundam and its pilot, she is thrown into a conflict that could change the fate of her world. With stunning animation and a tightly paced plot, this series captures the essence of Gundam high-stakes mecha combat, compelling characters, and a universe rich with history.
Our Take:
Needless to say, the Gundam series are our favourite. If you're new to the fandom or wondering where to start, GQuuuuuuX is a fantastic entry point. It's brilliantly animated, with progressive storytelling that doesn't get bogged down in politics or history lessons.
The series balances these elements well enough to leave veterans and newbies wanting more. If you haven’t watched past Gundam series, don't worry you won't be too lost, but you will probably end up watching GQuuuuuuX again in the future.
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