Director and animator Nowoka has been in the business of making or contributing to the realm of short-form anime for a good few years, with their works including the ZUTOMAYO music video “Pain Give Form” with its exquisite color palette and the cozy, 2D-girls-in-the-real-world MyGO!!!!! music video “Egakumirai.” With 2025 coming to an end, Nowoka has shared a YouTube playlist containing their picks for the 10 best short-form anime of the year.
Here’s what the playlist contains (and for clarification, “short-form” here refers to content like animated commercials and music videos, rather than anime series with short episodes):
Eve’s “Underdog” Music Video
Author’s thoughts: Released on November 28, “Underdog” features strong animation from Ian Zhang, with the primarily black-and-white look further drawing attention to the drawings and the manipulation of the subjects.
Momone Chinoi’s “Arata na Iroha” music video
Author’s thoughts: Created by the Hamumeta duo of HuMuu and Metabo, “Arata na Iroha” feels lightly whimsical. Like HuMuu’s previous efforts, it seamlessly mixes stylized and simple 2D designs with real-world footage, with a physical, handheld feel from the latter.
Author’s thoughts: Speaking of mixing 2D with the real world, the video for “Sunfaded,” an indie rock tune performed by the Gakuen Idolmaster character Hiro Shinosawa (Reina Kawamura), does that in an equally impressive manner. There’s not much animation, but it has visually pleasing direction that also draws upon director Shun Yamaguchi‘s talent for graphic design and typography.
Shigure Ui’s “Hihhifu” Music Video
Author’s thoughts: A vividly colored and energetic video from the video production team Hurray!
My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 Opening Animation
Author’s thoughts: The Yuki Yonemori-storyboarded and directed opening for My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 is creative and fun to watch, with elaborate backdrops, imaginative credits integration, great drawings, and a strong serving of Marin’s personality. Plus, the two-Marins-in-a-single-shot section makes for a delightful opening salvo.
Blue Archive 6th PV
Author’s thoughts: An action-packed trailer with plenty of mechanical goodness. Storyboarded and directed by gesoikuo and Tatsuya Fukumoto, who are also credited for pre-visualization and project management.
Witch Watch! Opening Animation
Author’s thoughts: Another opening sequence that delightfully integrates credits into the animation, and more. Storyboarded and unit directed by Megumi Ishitani, who’s known for her great visual sense and work on One Piece, the Witch Watch! opening bursts with smart ideas and delivers on the visual front.
SHOSHIMIN: How to become Ordinary Season 2 Opening Animation
Author’s thoughts: The Kyohei Ishiguro-directed (Your Lie in April) opening for SHOSHIMIN‘s second season, an animated gallery of fancy visual ideas that gels with how unordinary protagonists Kobato and Osanai are.
Author’s thoughts: A dreamy, magical introduction to Genshin Impact‘s psychologist character Yumemizuki Mizuki.
Zenless Zone Zero’s “Wonderland Reverie” Astra Yao Music Video
Author’s thoughts: A grand, enthralling music video for Zenless Zone Zero character Astra Yao.
Looking for more short-form anime? Some recent releases include a 2D mecha-filled fan animation for the Mobile Suit Crossbone Gundam Ghost manga and an enticing opening animation for the upgaming otome game Salvus: Aries.
Source: @nowoka_sub
