Solo Leveling was an enormous phenomenon for abroad anime followers, and it was fairly evident during 2025’s Anime Awards at Crunchyroll. Solo Leveling Season 1 was awarded the title of Anime of the Yr, however followers are much more in love with the most recent season that aired earlier this 12 months. Quite a few followers think about Solo Leveling Season 2 one of the best anime that aired in 2025, however general rankings appear to disagree. Solo Leveling is nowhere near being 2025’s best-rated anime on MyAnimeList. That honor as a substitute goes to the enduring sequence, The Apothecary Diaries Season 2. The Apothecary Diaries is shortly turning into probably the most beloved sequence, each in Japan and overseas, and it has a robust probability of profitable Anime of the Yr in 2026.
Solo Leveling Is Huge, However The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 is the Highest Rated Anime of 2025
- The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Has a Score of 8.91 on MAL
- Solo Leveling Season 2 Has A Score Of 8.65
Solo Leveling definitely turned many heads this year throughout the Crunchyroll Awards. In any case, this sequence, which many consider lacks plot, ended up going residence with 2025’s Anime of the Yr award. Whereas the award itself was given in 2025, it’s truly for an anime sequence from 2024. So this award was given to Solo Leveling season 1, despite the fact that a number of bias got here from its second season airing on the identical time. However, because the 12 months went on, higher anime sequence have returned or come out, together with the likes of Takopi’s Unique Sin, To Be Hero X, and The Lord of the Mysteries.
“My position doesn’t allow me to officially confirm Season 3 in front of the media. We need everyone’s support for the next season. […] My favorite technique by Son Goku is the Spirit Bomb. Spirit Bomb, the technique that combines everyone’s power to defeat the enemy. So, for the next season of Solo Leveling to come to fruition, we need everyone’s power and support for the series across the world.” — Atshushi Kaneko
Whereas all these sequence are nice, the #1 sequence this 12 months, based mostly on MAL rankings, is definitely none aside from The Apothecary Diaries Season 2. The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 has an 8.91 score on MAL, making it the nineteenth highest rated anime of all time, and the #1 of 2025. In the meantime, Solo Leveling Season 2 is at 8.65 on MAL, which places it fairly low, at 79th general, and not even in 2025’s prime 5.
“While thrilled with the response, I personally don’t feel like the series is known by everyone at this point. Solo Leveling isn’t as universally recognized in Japan yet. As a Japanese person living in Japan, the anime is not at the level of Dragon Ball, One Piece, or Naruto. But if season three happens, that’s when I want to truly break that boundary.” – Atsushi Kaneko
The Apothecary Diaries is certainly the higher sequence out of the 2. It should even be saved in thoughts that Solo Leveling is simply actually large abroad, whereas The Apothecary Diaries is big each overseas and in Japan, with the latter being the larger anime market.
May The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Win Anime of the Yr 2026?
It’s Doable, However it Has Heavy Competitors
With 2025 midway achieved, there have already been many nice sequence that would go on to win next year’s Crunchyroll Anime of the Year 2026 title. The Apothecary Diaries is certainly one of many strongest contenders for this title, nevertheless it has some competitors. Solo Leveling, regardless of having fewer rankings, continues to be large. However since Solo Leveling season 3 received’t be popping out anytime near the Crunchyroll Awards in 2026, it won’t profit from the identical benefit it had in 2025’s awards.
Different anime like Takopi’s Unique Sin may even be laborious to beat, particularly because it’s 2025’s second-highest rated anime at 8.84, which is not too far behind Maomao’s sequence.
Solo Leveling has two seasons out proper now, one with 12 episodes, and the opposite with 13, for a mixed episode depend of 25 episodes accessible to look at proper now. The sequence might be streamed on Crunchyroll for followers to take pleasure in whereas awaiting any extra information regarding the third season.
