Kara Dennison
February 16, 2025 
From pottery to airsoft, from music to art, anime explores all sorts of great hobbies. And the winter anime season is no different! Sports, games, and other hobbies populate this season, helping our heroes form friendships and improve their skills. Read on to learn about just a few of the ways your favorite characters are learning and growing.
Golf… But for Fun
The winter anime season has plenty of sports-minded characters going for the gold, from Medalist to Blue Box. But Sorairo Utility takes a different approach: encouraging its protagonist, Minami, to play for fun rather than for perfection.
This adorable gamer is looking for a new way to become the protagonist of her own story. She wasn’t expecting to take up a sport, but she discovers that golf gives her exactly what she’s looking for. From choosing her “partner” (golf club) to deciding on her own goals, she can customize her experience. And while we love an intense sports adventure, it’s lovely to see a sports anime primarily about fun, friendship, and relaxation.
Gaming
Shangri-la Frontier is a returning series in the winter anime season, and we’re all pretty familiar with it by now. But, as we’ve mentioned before, this new season is focusing a lot more on the joy of gaming as a group hobby. Granted, Sunraku largely got into this team mentality accidentally, but he’s starting to appreciate it.
Long-time gamers know that, when it comes to MMOs, teams you know and trust are a great way to make your way through the world. It’s also a great way to share a hobby you love with others. If you’re an achievement hunter, trusting in others or revealing your secrets may feel counterintuitive. But the fun and excitement of sharing the adventure is worth it!
Recitation
The winter anime season’s Flower and Asura touches on something most of us have experienced at least once: the joy of reading aloud and being read to. Islander Kana starts out reading to local kids, but soon discovers there’s a place for her in her new school’s broadcast club. And by expanding her horizons, she discovers even more about her hobby that she loves.
Whether you’re reciting or announcing, the craft of speaking aloud requires both technical skill and a lot of heart. Finding the middle ground between those two, and learning where her voice really shines, is a major part of Kana’s journey. And as she learns, we the viewers are treated to lots of stunning recitations!
Looking for something a little more intense? Check out the winter anime season’s wildest powers!
