10 January 2026 Anime Premieres That Were 10/10 Perfect No Notes

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Winter 2026 is shaping up to be an amazing season for anime fans! Popular streaming services like Crunchyroll and Netflix will have a fantastic selection of shows, including highly anticipated sequels and exciting new series. From dark fantasy like Hell’s Paradise to mind-bending thrillers like Gnosia and action-packed hits like Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3, there’s something for everyone – and many shows have already surprised and delighted viewers.

Choosing the best anime from Winter 2026 was tough with over 50 new shows! The top 10 includes popular, continuing series like Jujutsu Kaisen and Oshi no Ko, alongside some lesser-known gems. The season boasts fantastic animation quality from studios like MAPPA and Madhouse, offering beautiful visuals and engaging stories, all brought to life with excellent sound and pacing.

Chained Soldier Season 2 Delivers Dark Fantasy Action

I’m so excited about Chained Soldier Season 2, which started airing on January 8th, 2026! The story centers around Yuuki Wakura, and it takes place in the near future. Basically, these strange gates open up and unleash monsters called Shuuki from another world, Mato. In the first season, we saw how Yuuki met Kyouka Uzen, a commander who saved him from a Shuuki. That encounter somehow bonded them, and it gave Yuuki incredible, superhuman powers. It’s a really cool setup!

The first season of Chained Soldier concluded with Yuuki strengthening his bond with Kyouka Uzen’s 7th unit after their victory over Shuuki Lord Unihorn, and hinted at a looming, greater danger: the Eight Thunder Gods. Season 2 begins with the ‘Leader’s Meeting’ arc from volume 6, focusing on how the entire Anti-Demon Corps plans to confront this new threat.

Trigun Stargaze Follows Vash the Stampede After the JuLai Catastrophe

The first season of Trigun Stargaze concluded with the destruction of July City by Millions Knives. Season 2, which began airing on January 10th, 2026, picks up 2.5 years later. Vash the Stampede, now going by the name Eriks, is grappling with the aftermath, all while a 60 billion dollar bounty hangs over his head.

I’ve been watching the series set on the planet Noman’s Land, and it’s a really tough place. The main character, Vash the Stampede, constantly finds himself caught between bounty hunters and various mercenary groups. It’s also interesting to see the complex dynamic he has with his twin brother, Millions Knives. Though the show is based on Yasuhiro Nightow’s manga, Trigun, it doesn’t stick to the source material exactly. However, fans of the manga can still expect to see key events, especially those involving the conflict between the two brothers, play out on screen.

Fate/strange Fake Season 2 Continues the Holy Grail War

The Fate franchise, originally based on Ryohgo Narita’s light novels, has built a dedicated fanbase over time. Fate/Strange Fake is a spin-off story connected to Fate/Stay Night, sharing elements from both that series and another called Tsukihime.

Season 1 of Fate/Strange Fake covered the first day of a fake Holy Grail War. The start of Season 2 showed Ayaka Sajyou unexpectedly summoning King Richard I in a snowy field, leading to a public battle. The resulting damage was so significant that it exposed the Holy Grail War to the public, drawing attention from people who weren’t aware of the supernatural world.

Sentenced to Be a Hero Forces Death Row Convicts Into Brutal Fantasy Worlds

“Sentenced to Be a Hero” is a promising new dark fantasy anime with a compelling story and excellent production quality. The show, created by Studio KAI, centers around Xylo Forbartz and other prisoners on death row. As punishment for their crimes, they are forced to fight in dangerous fantasy worlds, endlessly battling and repeatedly brought back to life if they die.

The first season of Sentenced to Be a Hero debuted on Crunchyroll on January 3rd, 2026, beginning with a special hour-long premiere. The story centers around Xylo, who is bound by a contract with a goddess named Teoritta. This situation leaves Xylo frustrated, as he was previously falsely accused of killing his former goddess partner, Senerva. Despite facing a seemingly hopeless situation, Xylo intends to use his difficult circumstances to get revenge on those who wronged him.

Golden Kamuy Final Season Concludes Saichi Sugimoto’s Quest for Ainu Treasure

The anime series Golden Kamuy first aired on January 5, 2026. Based on Satoru Noda’s manga, the show is set in early 1900s Hokkaido and follows Saichi ‘Immortal’ Sugimoto, a former soldier searching for a hidden Ainu treasure. His journey is filled with dangerous traps, competing treasure hunters, and clashes of cultures.

The fourth season of Golden Kamuy concluded with Sugimoto and Asirpa making progress on the treasure map – a unique map made up of 24 coded tattoos on the bodies of former prisoners. The fifth season begins with all the groups searching for the gold – including scouts from the 7th Division, Hijikata’s team, and other rival factions – meeting in Sapporo.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Shows a Different Side of Hero Society

The final episode of My Hero Academia aired on November 8, 2025, and earned a very high rating of 9.6 out of 10 on IMDb. Following this success, TOHO animation created Season 2 of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, a spin-off series that takes place a few years before the original story, which premiered on January 5, 2026.

The anime series My Hero Academia: Vigilantes centers around Koichi Haimawari, who goes by the hero name The Crawler. The second season begins with Koichi and Pop heading to Osaka, where Pop is competing in an idol contest. At the same time, Fat Gum and Detective Tsukauchi are investigating a drug operation disguised as a crab supply business, which kicks off the season’s central storyline.

Hell’s Paradise Season 2 Sends Gabimaru Against Remaining Lord Tensen

The story centers on Gabimaru the Hollow, a dangerous criminal facing execution. He’s watched over by Sagiri, a skilled warrior also facing death. Both are sent to a strange island along with other criminal-warrior pairs, tasked with finding the legendary Elixir of Life. While the island appears idyllic, it’s filled with deadly creatures, baffling secrets, and ruled by the powerful Lord Tensen – seven immortal beings who govern the world.

The first season of Hell’s Paradise ended with a major twist: Gabimaru and his team defeated one of the seven Lord Tensen, but Gabimaru lost all his memories of his wife – the very reason he was fighting to survive. Season 2, which began airing on January 11, 2026, picks up with the group searching for the remaining six Lord Tensen. The season promises plenty of action and character development, especially as Gabimaru struggles with his lost memories and what it means for his journey.

Oshi no Ko Season 3 Drives Ruby and Aqua Hoshino’s Revenge Plot Forward

The third season of Oshi no Ko, created by Doga Kobo, began airing on January 14, 2026. It follows the continuing story of twins Ruby and Aqua Hoshino as they deal with the challenges of the competitive and often harsh idol world. Picking up after Ruby learns Gorou’s birthday, the new season shows Ruby becoming more determined and willing to do whatever it takes to succeed, even manipulating a rival influencer named Meiya to boost her own popularity.

The upcoming season of Oshi no Ko promises to be its most gripping yet. It will follow Ruby’s journey to stardom as an idol, while Aqua continues to investigate the mysteries surrounding his family. Both siblings are driven by a desire for revenge against the person who murdered their mother, Ai, a popular idol. Season 3 will also finally reveal the truth about the siblings’ reincarnation, adding even more drama and suspense to the story.

Frieren Season 2 Continues the Immortal Elf’s Journey

Madhouse’s Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is a stunning anime that’s considered one of the best of the last ten years. The series centers on Frieren, an elf who has lived for over a thousand years, and examines how her long life gives her a unique perspective on time compared to humans. In the first season, Frieren travels with Fern and Stark towards Ende, hoping to connect with the spirit of a person named Himmel, and that journey continues throughout the season.

Himmel was a heroic adventurer who traveled with Frieren to defeat the Demon King. As shown in flashbacks from Season 1, Himmel was deeply in love with Frieren, though she didn’t seem to realize it. Season 2 of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, premiering January 16th, 2026, continues the story after Season 1, following Frieren and her companions as she seeks to understand humanity and live a life that honors Himmel’s memory.

Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 Premieres the Culling Game Arc

Highly popular anime Jujutsu Kaisen returns with its third season, continuing the adventures of Yuji Itadori and Megumi Fushiguro. This season adapts the long-awaited “Culling Game” arc from the original manga. The story picks up after the events of the Shibuya incident, with sorcerers desperately trying to free their powerful teammate, Gojo Satoru, from a mysterious prison, and sets the stage for the series’ ultimate conclusion.

Season 3 of Jujutsu Kaisen began airing on January 8, 2026, and is leading up to a final season or movie that will wrap up the anime’s story. This season promises to be even more intense and dark than previous seasons created by MAPPA. It will bring back familiar faces like Yuta Okkotsu and introduce new characters, including Angel, whose power to cancel out cursed techniques will be crucial for Yuji and his friends’ survival.

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2026-01-28 05:44