First Blood of Winter 2025!

I started the new year with a pretty ambitious watchlist, but I didn't get to half the shows I thought I would.

One I did try though was Honey Lemon Soda. It's a big deal in the manga world, so I was sure it would be a win for me. After three episodes, though, I just couldn't vibe with the heavy middle school drama and bullying themes.

Life's too short to watch something that doesn't click, so I moved on.

On the flip side, I'm having a blast with Zenshu. It's totally my thing!  Great pacing, solid humor that appeals specifically to artists and people interested in the anime industry, and plenty of emotional depth to keep me hooked.

I've also been binging Blue Box, which I missed the start of last season, and My Happy Marriage Season 2. Both are romance titles with their own unique twists, and they've reminded me why I love this genre. If time allows, I'll add Apothecary Diaries to the queue soon.

Overall, I'm still not watching as much new anime as I'd like, but that's okay. There are plenty of titles waiting for me when I'm ready to dive in. Sometimes, you just have to drop a show or two to make space for the ones that really speak to you.

As for my 100 Anime Challenge in 2025, this one is temporarily counting toward that goal since I met the 3-episode rule for currently airing anime. As I get closer to the end of the year though, I’ll likely replace this one on my list with something else. Gotta reach 100 completed somehow, right? To join me on my 100 Anime Challenge, check out my kick-off post and my ever-growing list on Anime-Planet.

Have you dropped anything this winter, or found a surprise favorite? Let me know in Discord!