The best animes of 2026 (so far)

The best animes of 2026 (so far)

Crunchyroll classics-to-be and Netflix animated epics to savour

With the return of popular animes likeJujutsu KaisenandFrierenin January, this year in anime kicked off pretty early with heroic characters, cutting-edge animation, and rave reviews from dedicated fanbases. But if the spring anime calendar offers any hints for what is to come, anime fans (or otakus and weebs, as the vernacular goes) are eating good in 2026.

New titles likeWitch Hat AtelierandDaemons of the Shadow Realmhave already won over audiences with their early episodes, while cult favourites likeHell’s ParadiseandDorohedoroare returning to our screens after an overlong hiatus. There’s a lot to catch up on. So, here’s how to get started with the best anime of the year so far. 

📺 The best TV and streaming shows of 2026 (so far)
🇯🇵 The best anime movies of all time, ranked
🔥 The best movies of 2026 (so far)

Best animes of 2026 (so far)

11. The Darwin Incident (Prime Video)

Fans ofPlanet of the Apesrejoice. This cerebral anime focuses on a chimp-human hybrid, aka a ‘Humanzee’, named Charlie. As the teenage ape comes to terms with his impressive intelligence and physical strength, he also finds himself in the midst of an eco-terrorist plot. Balancing high-stakes drama with Charlie’s adorable high-school shenanigans,The Darwin Incidentis an anime that goes bananas in all the right ways.

10. Dorohedoro <a href="https://comicvibe.com/daredevil-born-again-will-end-with-season-3-but-its-not-all-bad-news-from-marvel-television/” title=”Daredevil: Born Again will end with Season 3 — but it's not all bad news from Marvel Television”>season 2 (Crunchyroll)

Head back to the grimy, industrial hellscape simply known as ‘The Hole’ as Dorohoedoro returns after a six-year gap. The new season yet again brims with dark humour and punk visuals as our amnesiac reptilian hero Caiman and his accomplice Nikaido explore the rest of the Hole while taking down evil sorcerers. If body horror and chaotic comedy are your jam, then Dorohedoro’s new season needs to be on your Crunchyroll (and Netflix) watchlist. 

9. Nippon Sangoku season 1 (Prime Video)

As seen in timeless series like Attack on Titan and Samurai Champloo, anime’s strength lies in uniting the past with the future. Nippon Sangoku is a prime example of this, set in an alternate future where Japan is broken into three kingdoms following a nuclear catastrophe. The technology has gone back to Meiji-era Japan, and the population has drastically decreased from earlier. In this hybrid landscape, a hero rises to unify the country once again. The dark, gory action, along with its exploration of real-world themes like nationalism and class warfare, makes this a promising cult favourite to watch out for.  

8. Scarlet

Blending timelines and boasting impressive hand-to-hand combat,Scarletworks as both a riveting dark fantasy anime film and a subversive Shakespearean adaptation. At the core of thisHamletremix is Scarlet, a pink-haired, sword-wielding princess hell-bent on slaying her uncle after he usurps the kingdom from her righteous father. But when she gets teleported from 17th century Denmark to  the purgatorial dimension known as ‘Otherworld’, she questions her violent intentions. With a complex heroine and kinetic action in a hybrid of 2D and 3D animation styles,Scarletproves that director Mamoru Hasoda has still not lost his spark since his 2018 Oscar-nominated fantasyMirai. 

7. Hell’s Paradise season 2

Much likeDorohedoro, the surreal and violent Hell’s Paradise makes for another highly-awaited offering from anime studio MAPPA. Set in a cursed island that harbours the elixir of life, the anime first aired in 2023 with a concise 12-episode run. The acclaimed series returned with 12 more episodes in which reckless ninja Gabimaru and dutiful samurai executioner Sagiri cross paths with new monsters on their hellish island.

6. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle I

If you’re new to the Demon Slayer saga, it’s best to step into the interdimensional vastness of the ‘Infinity Castle’ with some homework. Granted, that homework includes bingeing 60+ episodes of the dark fantasy anime, but you’ll get your patience’s worth with a likeable protagonist in the titular demon slayer, Tanjiro. Pair up the cutting-edge, gravity-defying fight sequences with morally grey villains like Infinity Castle’s Akaza, and you’ll know why this 2025 epic is the highest-grossing anime film of all time.

5. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run (Netflix)

The most unabashedly bizarre anime of recent times has spanned many eras, with a new ‘JoJo’ employing physics-defying punches and striking diva poses in every season. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure takes things into late-19th century America and a $50 million horse race across the country. A worryingly topical subplot involves US President Funny Valentine using the race as an excuse to collect body parts of a holy being to his own nefarious ends. So far only an extended first episode is out on Netflix, but expect a follow-up in the autumn. 

4. Daemons of the Shadow Realm

Any anime watcher can tell you that Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood ranks among the best of all time. While that dark steampunk classic has long ended, another title by manga artist Hiromu Arakawa has just got the anime treatment. Centered around two estranged twin brothers who can control demons, Daemons of the Shadow Realm grabs your attention with morally complex protagonists plunged into shadowy scenarios. The first batch of episodes is so immersive, it points to Fullmetal-like glory ahead.

3. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End season 2 (Crunchyroll)

While it has no dearth of magic tricks and dramatic combat,Frieren: Beyond Journey’s Endhas quickly established itself as a universally beloved anime for its humanity. Its Tolkien adjacent world of elves, wizards and armoured warriors feels familiar and yet, Frieren trades ambitious battles for the aftermath of such battles. The first season was an instant success with the titular elven mage Frieren recalling memories of her warrior friends she has long outlived. As the introspective Frieren befriends some younger apprentices, the anime adds some cathartic slice-of-life drama to the overdone epic fantasy genre. The new season continues the anime’s winning streak with new magical challenges and meditations on the uncertainties of life. 

2. Witch Hat Atelier season 1 (Crunchyroll)

If you’ve binged all of Frieren, here’s a new whimsical fantasy that is rapidly proving to be the best new anime of the year. Witch Hat Atelier celebrates not just the power of magic but also the art of magic. Intent on freeing her mother from a curse, our young and dreamy-eyed heroine Coco assists a witch to learn magic by drawing runes with magical ink. But as the world outlaws rune magic, Coco must choose between societal norms and her larger-than-life passions. A warm-hearted, Ghibli-style anime that is perfect for all ages. 

1. Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 (Crunchyroll)

Easily one of the most richly detailed and emotionally complex anime in the game, Jujutsu Kaisen debuted its hotly anticipated Culling Game arc this year. Building up from the blood-soaked chaos of last season, The Culling Game sets up an unpredictable battle royale tournament that pits cursed teenager Yuji Itadori against old and new sorcerers. It’s a dog-eat-dog world out in the Jujutsu Kaisen universe now, with every morally grey character’s inner demons and fighting techniques making this more than your average dark fantasy series. Even the build-up to the tournament makes for ‘absolute cinema’ with fan-favourite character Maki spilling rivers of blood in a jaw-droppingKill Bill-inspired sequence.

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