As the Winter 2026 anime season approached, fans were especially looking forward to the return of two popular series: Season 3 and Season 2. While many new releases were generating excitement, these two were the most talked about.
With the Winter 2026 anime season ending and previews of upcoming shows being revealed, it’s becoming apparent that JJK and Frieren were just the beginning. From the highly anticipated return of Dragon Ball Super to the exciting debut of potential classics like Daemons of the Shadow Realm, 2026 is shaping up to be a competitive year, making it challenging for Frieren and JJK to win Anime of the Year.
Daemons of the Shadow Realm Is The Spiritual Successor to Frieren’s Greatest Rival
For years, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood was the highest-rated anime on MyAnimeList. Even today, it remains a top contender at number 3, surpassed only by the first two seasons of Frieren. Now, the creator of Fullmetal Alchemist, Hiromu Arakawa, has a new manga called Daemons of the Shadow Realm, and it’s being adapted into an anime by the same studio, Bones. Many fans believe this new series could potentially overtake Frieren as the number one anime on the platform.
The animation is already looking fantastic. Bones, the studio behind hits like My Hero Academia and Gachiakuta, is bringing us another great series. Daemons of the Shadow Realm follows twin brothers, Yuru and Asa, whose peaceful life in the countryside is shattered when they’re attacked by outsiders. They discover they can use the power of spiritual beings called Daemons to fight against a dangerous plan that’s connected to their own fates and could destroy the world.
Launching on April 4th, Daemons of the Shadow Realm offers a fresh start with a well-known author, unlike Frieren and JJK which were continuing existing stories when their new seasons began.
Sekiro Gives One of FromSoft’s Most Beloved Games a Beautiful New Retelling
The team behind popular games like Elden Ring and Dark Souls created Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice in 2019. This samurai game quickly became known for being incredibly challenging, but also highly praised. Beyond the exciting gameplay, Sekiro stood out for its touching story and focused on its main character. Unlike many other games from FromSoftware, Sekiro featured a memorable cast and a simple, direct storyline.
I think Sekiro was practically made to be an anime. The strong characters and cool samurai world just fit perfectly. And the trailers for the upcoming anime, made by Studio Qzilla, look incredible – the hand-drawn animation is seriously impressive and could honestly compete with something like Frieren. Knowing FromSoftware games, and how they handle action, I’m expecting Sekiro‘s anime to have some amazing fight scenes. Honestly, even the team behind Jujutsu Kaisen at MAPPA might be a little envious when it drops on Crunchyroll later this year.
The Ghost in the Shell Revamps an All-Time Great Cyberpunk Classic
Science SARU, the studio behind Dandadan, is creating a fresh anime adaptation of Masamune Shirow’s famous manga, The Ghost in the Shell. Though this story has been adapted many times before, the new anime from Science SARU is expected to be something truly special.
The series centers around Major Motoko Kusanagi, who leads a team fighting terrorism for the Public Security agency. A key theme explores Kusanagi’s identity as a cyborg – a blend of human and machine – and the challenges that come with it.
While the 90s film and early 2000s anime series of Ghost in the Shell were popular, they didn’t quite capture the playful humor of the original manga. However, the new anime, set to premiere on Prime Video in July, appears to closely match the look and feel of Shirow’s artwork, based on the trailer. Unlike many currently popular anime like Jujutsu Kaisen and Frieren, which are geared towards a younger audience, Ghost in the Shell explores deeper philosophical ideas with a mature, cyberpunk style. With the talented studio Science SARU producing it, this new series is already looking like it could become a beloved classic.
Mushoku Tensei Is Coming Back to Prove Why It’s Still the Greatest Isekai of All Time
2026 looks like it will be a huge year for isekai anime and manga. We’re already seeing the return of popular series like Re:Zero Season 4 and That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4, but Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 is expected to be the biggest hit. Mushoku Tensei is consistently one of the most compelling and thoughtful isekai stories available today.
Mushoku Tensei tells the story of Rudeus Greyrat, a shut-in from our world who is reborn as a baby in a magical fantasy world. The series follows Rudeus as he tries to become a better person, battling the negative habits he brought with him from his previous life.
Some viewers have been put off by the mature content in the early episodes, but those who look past it consider Mushoku Tensei to be one of the best anime of recent years, whether it’s in the isekai genre or not. Few anime expected in 2026, including Frieren and JJK, seem likely to match its excellent combination of drama, comedy, and action. Now is a good time for fans to get caught up, as Season 3 of Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation arrives this July.
Witch Hat Atelier Already Looks Like a Frontrunner for Anime of the Year
The popular anime Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End has been incredibly successful, but it’s about to get some strong competition. Witch Hat Atelier is premiering on April 6th, and many anime fans are predicting it will be a major hit. The reasons are clear: it looks and feels like a standout series.
The anime Witch Hat Atelier, created by Studio BUG FILMS, is adapted from the critically acclaimed manga by Kamome Shirahama. The manga is celebrated for its stunning artwork and intricate magic system, and early trailers suggest the anime will faithfully capture its essence. The story centers on Coco, a young girl whose wish to practice magic comes true when she encounters a traveling witch named Qifrey.
What truly sets Witch Hat Atelier apart is its unique way of building a story around its magic system, which is based on art. The creator, Shirahama, has said the idea came from a friend who thought the process of creating art felt like magic. Because of this, the series feels like a heartfelt tribute to the art of animation, and that love is already visible in the anime adaptation. With Frieren Season 2 focusing on slower storylines, Witch Hat Atelier has a perfect opportunity to become a new favorite among anime fans.
Dragon Ball Super’s New Remake Promises to be the Adaptation Toriyama’s Hit DBZ Sequel Always Deserved
Many popular modern anime like Jujutsu Kaisen and Frieren owe a lot to Dragon Ball, created by Akira Toriyama. Now, the legendary Toriyama – widely considered the greatest of all time in the shonen genre – is getting ready to release a new version of his hit sequel, Dragon Ball Super, in late 2026.
The new remake, called Dragon Ball Super: Beerus, will start with the very beginning of Dragon Ball Super – the story arc featuring the God of Destruction Beerus. While official plans haven’t been revealed yet, it’s expected the remake will cover everything up to the Tournament of Power arc. This will then lead into an adaptation of the recently announced Galactic Patrol Arc, also known as the Moro Saga.
As a huge fan, I’m absolutely thrilled they’ve officially confirmed this remake! It’s going to tie everything together so much better as we move into the new story arcs. Remember when Dragon Ball Super first dropped back in 2018 and completely blew up online? Well, get ready for that all over again! With visuals that have been totally updated and a story that really sticks to the original material, Dragon Ball Super: Beerus is shaping up to be the source of the most epic shonen battles we’ll see all year – I can’t wait!
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2026-03-19 05:50