Best Free WordPress Themes for Anime and Manga Websites (2025 Picks)

Introduction

Creating an anime or manga website can be exciting, but choosing the right WordPress theme is very important. The right theme not only makes your site look great but also helps you showcase content like illustrations, videos, and fan art in the best way possible.

WordPress is ideal for anime and manga websites because it is easy to use, highly customizable, and has many free and premium themes to match the vibrant style of this niche. Even beginners can start quickly with a free theme and gradually customize it as they grow.

By selecting a theme that fits your content and style, you can:

Attract more fans and readers.
Display galleries, chapters, and videos beautifully.
Make your site easy to navigate on mobile and desktop devices.

For more info: Best Free WordPress Themes for Anime and Manga Websites

Key Features to Look for in Anime and Manga WordPress Themes

When picking a theme for your anime or manga website, consider these features:

1. Responsive Design for All Devices

Your site should look great on desktops, tablets, and smartphones.
Fans often browse anime and manga on their phones, so mobile-friendliness is essential.

2. Customizable Layouts and Color Schemes

A flexible layout helps you match the art style and color theme of your content.
Many themes allow you to change headers, menus, colors, and typography easily.

3. Support for Images, Galleries, and Video Content

Anime and manga websites often feature high-quality images, galleries, and video content.
Choose a theme that supports:

Full-width images and slideshows
Episode or chapter galleries
Embedded video players

4. SEO-Friendly and Fast-Loading Themes

A theme optimized for SEO helps your content rank better on Google.
Fast-loading themes also improve user experience, keeping fans on your site longer.

5. Compatibility with Popular Page Builders (Elementor, Gutenberg)

Using page builders like Elementor or Gutenberg makes customization easier without coding.
You can design unique pages, character profiles, or chapter layouts with drag-and-drop features.

Top Free WordPress Themes for Anime and Manga Websites (2025)

Choosing the right theme can make your anime or manga website look professional and appealing. Here are some of the best free WordPress themes for 2025 that are perfect for beginners and advanced users alike.

1. Astra

Astra is a lightweight and fast WordPress theme, perfect for anime and manga sites.

Key Features: Highly customizable, SEO-friendly, works with Elementor and Gutenberg.
Best Use Case: Ideal for sites that need fast loading times and flexible design options for galleries and videos.

2. OceanWP

OceanWP is a versatile theme with responsive layouts and many free demo designs.

Key Features: Mobile-friendly, multiple header options, supports WooCommerce.
Best Use Case: Perfect for anime blogs, manga libraries, or fan art galleries that want a modern look and feel.

3. Neve

Neve is a minimalist and mobile-friendly theme, easy to customize even for beginners.

Key Features: Lightweight, AMP-ready, integrates with popular page builders.
Best Use Case: Great for anime review sites, manga reading blogs, or small community websites.

4. Zakra

Zakra is a flexible multipurpose theme with demo content that can be imported easily.

Key Features: SEO optimized, responsive design, WooCommerce compatible.
Best Use Case: Best for websites that want pre-built layouts, including anime stores or content hubs.

5. Hestia

Hestia offers a modern one-page design with clean layouts and smooth navigation.

Key Features: Customizable sections, WooCommerce ready, compatible with page builders.
Best Use Case: Suitable for portfolio-style anime sites or fan blogs focusing on visual storytelling.

6. Sydney

Sydney provides a professional look and full compatibility with Elementor.

Key Features: Live customization, responsive layout, social media integration.
Best Use Case: Great for professional anime projects, artist portfolios, or fan community websites.

7. Customify

Customify is a highly customizable WordPress theme that works perfectly with WooCommerce.

Key Features: Drag-and-drop header/footer builder, responsive design, page builder compatibility.
Best Use Case: Ideal for anime stores, fan merchandise shops, or websites that want full design control.

8. GeneratePress

GeneratePress is a lightweight and performance-optimized theme, focusing on speed and reliability.

Key Features: SEO-friendly, mobile-ready, integrates with Elementor and Gutenberg.
Best Use Case: Perfect for content-heavy anime or manga blogs where fast loading times are crucial.

9. ColorMag

ColorMag offers a magazine-style layout, which is great for blogs and news websites.

Key Features: Multiple post layouts, category colors, WooCommerce compatible.
Best Use Case: Best for anime news sites, manga review blogs, or websites that share frequent updates.

10. Writee

Writee is designed for story-focused websites and manga blogs.

Key Features: Clean typography, featured sliders, multiple blog layouts.
Best Use Case: Ideal for manga writers, fan fiction blogs, or chapter-by-chapter manga sites.

How to Install and Customize Free WordPress Themes

Choosing the right theme is just the first step. Next, you need to install and customize it to make your anime or manga website unique and engaging.

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

Go to WordPress Dashboard → Appearance → Themes → Add New.
Search for your chosen theme (like Astra, OceanWP, or Neve).
Click Install and then Activate.
If using a premium theme or downloaded zip file, click Upload Theme → Choose File → Install → Activate.
Check your website to make sure the theme looks correct on both desktop and mobile.

Customizing Colors, Fonts, and Layouts

Once installed, customize the theme to fit your anime/manga style:

Colors: Match your theme to the anime art style or manga series palette.
Fonts: Choose clean and readable fonts for chapters, reviews, or blog posts.
Layout: Adjust headers, footers, and sidebars to showcase galleries, latest updates, or featured chapters.
Use Appearance → Customize in WordPress or a page builder like Elementor for more control.

Adding Anime/Manga Content and Galleries

Use Posts for reviews, updates, or fan blogs.
Use Pages for series lists, character profiles, or story chapters.
Create galleries for images or manga chapters using free plugins like Envira Gallery or NextGEN Gallery.
Organize content with categories and tags for easy navigation.

Tips for Enhancing Your Anime and Manga Website

1. Use Plugins for Galleries, Sliders, and Content Updates

Sliders showcase featured chapters or news.
Content update plugins help you schedule posts or automate manga updates.
Example plugins: MetaSlider, Smash Balloon Social Feed, WP Manga.

2. Optimize Images for Fast Loading

Large anime images can slow down your website.
Use plugins like Smush or ShortPixel to compress images without losing quality.
Fast-loading pages improve SEO and keep fans on your site longer.

3. Create a User-Friendly Navigation Structure

Use clear menus for categories like Anime Reviews, Manga Chapters, Fan Art, and Videos.
Add breadcrumbs and search bars so visitors can find content easily.
Consider sticky menus for easy access while scrolling.

4. Integrate Social Media and Community Features

Encourage fans to share content on Twitter, Instagram, or Discord.
Use plugins to display social feeds or allow comments and fan discussions.
Building a community keeps readers engaged and returning to your site.

Conclusion

Building an anime or manga website is exciting, and choosing the right WordPress theme is the first step to success. In 2025, free themes like Astra, OceanWP, Neve, Zakra, Hestia, Sydney, Customify, GeneratePress, ColorMag, and Writee give you powerful options to create a fast, responsive, and visually appealing site.

When selecting a theme, focus on:

How it fits your content style and audience
Customization options for colors, fonts, and layouts
Performance, SEO, and mobile responsiveness

Even as a beginner, you can start building your website today. With the right theme and plugins, you can showcase anime galleries, manga chapters, videos, and community features efficiently. Don’t wait — your audience is ready to explore your creations!

FAQ: Anime and Manga WordPress Themes (2025)

1. Which theme is best for beginner anime bloggers?

Themes like Neve, Astra, and Writee are very beginner-friendly. They are easy to install, customize, and work well with page builders like Elementor or Gutenberg.

2. Are these free themes SEO-friendly?

Yes! Most free themes like GeneratePress, Astra, and OceanWP are optimized for SEO. They are lightweight, fast-loading, and follow WordPress coding standards, which helps your site rank better on Google.

3. Can I switch themes later without losing content?

Yes. WordPress separates content from themes, so posts, pages, and media remain intact. However, you may need to adjust widgets, menus, and layouts when switching themes. Always test on a staging site before making changes live.

4. Do these themes work with page builders like Elementor?

Absolutely. Most themes mentioned — Astra, OceanWP, Neve, Sydney, Customify, and GeneratePress — are fully compatible with Elementor, Gutenberg, and other page builders, allowing you to create custom pages and layouts without coding.