The winter 2021animeseason is now over. While there were quite a few series released, only a few stood out over the rest. From brand new original series to the next seasons of modern classics, this past winter anime season is one for the books. There were more than a handful ofmemorable moments and shocking twiststhat gave audiences much to think about.
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The majority of shows released this season managed to maintain a high standard of quality despite everything going on in the world. They should all be commended for creating some fantastic shows and giving anime fans all over the world something to look forward to each week.
Updated June 25, 2025 by Mark Sammut:TheSummer 2021 anime seasonhas a couple of great shows, but it doesn’t quite compare to the rest of the year’s offerings. Winter and Spring 2021 both produced an insane amount of quality content; even if the rest of the year contains nothing but terrible shows, 2021 would still be considered a great year for anime just because of Winter and Spring. If someone is looking for a way to pass the time while waiting for new episodes of Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid S and Higurashi: When They Cry – SOTSU to drop, they can always go back and watch thebest Winter 2021 anime showsthey might have missed.
15The Promised Neverland Season 2
Beyond being a manga filled with intrigue, great characters, and a good storyThe Promised Neverlandis also a pretty popular anime. The series manages to capture the spirit and feel of the manga while also allowing the anime to add its own flairs. The animation is a joy to behold and the colors always seem to jump off the screen.
Season 1 gave audiences a taste of the larger story at play in addition to lendinga feeling of completion. Season 2 guides the story in quite a few interesting ways that vastly differ from the manga. This is a bold and controversial move that was met with a mixed reception.
14World Trigger Season 2
After a rather long wait,World Triggerreturned for its second season, and the anime picks up right where it left off. Permitting someone remembers enough about the first season to actually follow what’s going on,World Trigger’s season 2 is an engrossing action shonen anime with strong characters, solid world-building, and a sense of urgency.
With season 3 on the way, the future looks bright forWorld Trigger. This anime tends to get overlooked due to its first season having an underwhelming opening batch of episodes, but it picks up momentum quite quickly after that.
13Horimiya
A long-overdue adaptation of a popular manga,Horimiyais a must-watch for romance fans. Its title refers to the main couple, Hori and Miyamura, as the anime explores their relationship. From awkward strangers to comfortable partners,Horimiyahandles this subject with grace, dignity, and charm. Both characters are likable and bring out the best in each other.
Sadly, the anime loses steam as it goes along since the season’s latter half switches focus to its secondary characters, exploring their relationship instead of the main couple’s. Unfortunately, they aren’t as well developed or as interesting as Hori and Miyamura.
12Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
One of the most original series to arrive during winter 2021 wasMushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation. The tale of a homeless 34-year-old NEET that gets reincarnated ina mystical and magical realmwas filled with imagination. The world of the show feels fully realized while providing more than a few mysteries for viewers to speculate on.
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The animation is good and the characters are extremely likable. The overall theme of the show is both touching and poignant. The series comes to a satisfying conclusion that leaves just enough open for the recently announced second season.
11Kemono Jihen
A supernatural shonen anime with some great fight scene animation,Kemono Jihenis the full package.The genre the series resides inhas more than a few classic anime to its name but this still manages to leave its mark. There is a bit ofInuyashamixed withFullmetal Alchemistin the DNA of the show.
From likable characters to a fun story, this series really made its mark in just 12 episodes. If a second season is made then more and more anime fans are bound to give this show some attention. IfKemono Jihencontinues on its current path, it could very well be a classic one day.
10Beastars Season 2
Beastarspresents a unique and at times brutal look at a complicated world filled with anthropomorphic animals. The average anime would focus on these animals as cute beings that can easily resist their most basic instincts and urges. This series takes the opposite approach and makes one think of how hard it would be to live in a world that is deeply rooted in a survival of the fittest mindset.
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The first season allowed viewers to get acclimated to this stark world. The second season amps things up a bit and continues to provide numerous characters with difficult decisions that go against their very nature.
9The Quintessential Quintuplets 2
The harem genre is an acquired taste, and these shows can be hard sells for the uninitiated. If someone is looking to sample the genre at the height of its powers, then they cannot go wrong withThe Quintessential Quintuplets.
The premise boils down to a guy tutoring five siblings; contrived as that concept might sound,The Quintessential Quintupletsdoes an admirable job of exploring and developing each character so they feel like three-dimensional people. The show is funny, sweet, and well animated, and season 2 is even better than its solid predecessor.
8Yuru Camp Season 2
A beautiful follow-up to a beautiful first season,Yuru Camp’s comeback confirmed that it is one of the most relaxing and heartwarming slice of life anime of all time. Focusing more on Rin, season 2 explores the show’s core friendships while once again realistically diving into camping.
Naturally, season 2 goes through an array of stunning vistas and sights. In fact, this anime is so great at showing off nature’s beauty, it might just inspire someone to explore whether they can go on a camping trip.
7Re: Zero - Starting Life In Another World Season 2
The much-laudedRe: Zeroseries returned with a new season of unexpected turns. The first season was a good start and managed to gain quite a fan following. With many memorable and fun characters, it is no wonder why this series isheld in such high regard.
While the narrative choices of this season are a tad different from the previous one, it manages to work out well. The lynchpin of this series is the characters and their interactions. The dialogue is the biggest stand-out of the entire season. It is gripping and engaging, allowing this anime to rise above manyother Isekai series.
6SK8 The Infinity
It is a wonder why there haven’t been more anime series that focus on skateboarding.SK8 The Infinityis a fun series with more thana few wild moments. As with most sports anime, things can get absurd but still maintain a level of seriousness.
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Luckily, this series manages to balance both pretty well, even the absurd moments are done in a fun manner. The general tone of the series is humorous with a few heavy moments that can hit a viewer in the face. If people go into the series expecting a fun story then they will be more than satisfied.
