12 Anime We Can’t Wait to Watch in 2026

Hana-Kimi

Release: Weekly
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

Mizuki is a determined athlete with a big plan: she’s going to attend the same high school as her favorite TV star, even if it means moving to Japan! This is the story of Hana-Kimi, a popular manga now being adapted into anime after several successful live-action versions. While the story is charming, the idea of becoming intensely invested in a celebrity’s life feels different today than it did when the manga first came out 30 years ago. The plot is pretty wild: Mizuki has to disguise herself as a boy to attend an all-boys school, and she ends up sharing a room with the track star she likes! Despite the challenges – including moving to a new country and pretending to be someone she’s not – the anime seems fun and lighthearted.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=CemNP0vIiJI

Tune In to the Midnight Heart

Release: Weekly
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

Haven’t you ever been captivated by a radio voice? Tune In to the Midnight Heart centers on Arisu Yamabuki, a teenager determined to discover the identity of “Apollo,” a radio personality who disappeared years ago. His quest leads him to his school’s broadcasting club, where he meets four girls, each hoping to build a career with their voice – as a singer, voice actress, newsreader, and VTuber. This charming and relatable story, adapted from Masakuni Igarashi’s manga, follows Arisu as he gets to know these girls and their struggles while trying to uncover the truth about Apollo.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=sB_qbKZMV58

Jujutsu Kaisen season three

Release: Weekly
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

If you enjoy Jujutsu Kaisen, you might have already gotten a sneak peek at this new season! The popular action series is back, and a recent movie included the first two episodes of the season’s new storyline. Jujutsu Kaisen follows brave jujutsu sorcerers as they fight against dangerous demons called curses, and the people who control them. After last season’s intense conflict, this new installment introduces the Culling Game – a battle royale with a series of challenges created by a very powerful curse user.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=RYI-WG_HFV8

Fire Force season three, part two

Release: Weekly
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

In the anime Fire Force, firefighters aren’t just extinguishing flames—they control fire themselves, which is crucial when the world is facing an apocalypse. The crew of Special Fire Force Company 8 is constantly battling ‘Infernals’ – people who spontaneously burst into flames – and the dangerous fires they create. As the series reaches its conclusion, things get even more intense. They face threats from a mysterious giant eye watching from the sky, attacks from zealous religious groups, and the ongoing devastation of the ‘Great Cataclysm,’ which has plunged the world into chaos with raging storms and firestorms.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=voLZJvdwUEE

Trigun Stargaze

Release: Weekly
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

The exciting story of Vash the Stampede continues in the new season of Trigun. For those familiar with the original Trigun anime from the early 2000s, you’ll remember the sci-fi western following Vash, a skilled gunslinger with a kind heart, as he battles his twin brother, Millions Knives. The previous series, Stampede, impressed viewers with its cutting-edge 3-D animation, and Stargaze promises even more spectacular action. This season will cover some of the most iconic and emotionally powerful scenes from the original Trigun. Plus, fans will finally get to see the beloved character Milly Thompson join the adventure!

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=JBYLkW–zmI

Love Through a Prism

Release: All 20 episodes available on premiere day
Where to Watch: Netflix

I’m already completely captivated by Love Through a Prism! It’s one of the most exciting new stories coming in 2026. It follows Lili Ichijoin, a really spirited and talented art student from Japan, as she starts at an art school in London around the 1900s. She’s determined to become a great painter, and she also falls for Kit, a mysterious and gifted young artist who seems to be hiding something. It’s a bit complicated, though – Kit comes from a wealthy family and is already engaged! I’m seriously invested in Lili’s journey and really hoping she finds happiness. And the creative team behind it is incredible – it’s created by Yoko Kamio, the artist who did Boys Over Flowers, and directed by Kazuto Nakazawa, who did the amazing anime parts in Kill Bill! It’s going to be stunning.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=oLXSfFqTnXg

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End season two

Release: Weekly
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live forever and watch everyone you love die? That’s the central idea behind Frieren, one of the most promising new shows of 2024. The series follows Frieren, an elf who has lived for centuries, and her current companions, Fern and Stark, as they travel towards Ende, a place believed to be the gateway to heaven in their world. Frieren hopes to connect with the spirit of her deceased friend, Himmel, and along the way, she builds new relationships and relearns how to enjoy life. Early previews of season two suggest it will maintain the relaxed, atmospheric feel of the first season, with beautiful scenery and occasional bursts of magic.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=EOMVXqH9DSg

Steel Ball Run JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure

Release: One 47-minute episode will drop on March 19; full season release TBA
Where to Watch: Netflix

As a huge fan of the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure franchise, I’m incredibly excited about the newest installment, Steel Ball Run! It’s coming at us fast, and while it’s part of the JoJo universe, it actually works as a fresh start, which is great news for anyone who’s never jumped in before. This time around, we’re following Johnny Joestar, a character who uses a wheelchair, as he enters a massive horse race stretching across the country – all hoping to find a cure for his paralysis. The animation is being handled by the same talented team at David Production, but the director has promised a real step up in quality, with almost double the usual number of keyframes, and that this season is going to be a long one. I can’t wait!

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=_WE6T2qU3G0

Witch Hat Atelier

Release: TBA
Where to Watch: TBA

Based on the recent trailer, Witch Hat Atelier is shaping up to be one of the most visually stunning anime of the year, thanks to its smooth animation and bright colors. Directed by Ayumu Watanabe (Komi Can’t Communicate, Doraemon), the story follows a young girl named Coco who learns magic from a witch called Qifrey. He teaches her that magic isn’t about spells, but about drawing – and almost immediately, she accidentally traps her mother in crystal. The anime’s production was delayed by a year so the team at Bug Films could refine the animation, and the music is composed by Yuka Kitamura, famous for her incredible scores in games like Elden Ring, Dark Souls, and Bloodborne.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=QrCd-oNLGmY

The Apothecary Diaries season three, part one

Release: TBA
Where to Watch: TBA

Fans are eagerly awaiting the return of The Apothecary Diaries, a popular anime, in 2026. The show will begin with the first part of a third season, and a movie is also planned. The series follows Maomao, a resourceful servant and apothecary who gets caught up in palace intrigue and family conflicts. Next season, she’ll face a brand new mystery. Known for its compelling mysteries and charming main character, The Apothecary Diaries has quickly become a standout anime in recent years.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=g1pKfngmcAM

Beastars season three, part two

Release: TBA
Where to Watch: Netflix

If you enjoyed Zootopia, Beastars is a more mature take on a similar concept. This anime series is a high school drama set in a world of talking animals, where natural tensions between meat-eaters and plant-eaters create constant conflict. It’s also surprisingly focused on teenage desire, with a lot of internal thought and the central characters grappling with their instincts – including the urge to eat each other. We’re currently in the third and final season, which centers around a crime story involving Legoshi, a generally gentle wolf, and his friend Louis, a deer who is also, potentially, his prey. Based on the original manga by Paru Itagaki, the story should conclude with the release of part two.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=FDnXR8oyV0g

The Ghost in the Shell

Release: TBA
Where to Watch: TBA

Any new version of Ghost in the Shell is usually welcome, and this latest adaptation has generated a lot of excitement since its first preview. The design of the main character, Motoko Kusanagi, looks more like the original manga by Shirow Masamune than previous versions, including the popular 1995 film. Although details are still limited, the show’s creators at Science Saru have confirmed it will largely follow the manga, which is less serious and more visually dynamic than earlier anime adaptations. Fans of the visually rich 1995 film will be pleased to see that the new teaser features detailed, outlined backgrounds. With the talented team at Science Saru – a studio co-founded by acclaimed director Masaaki Yuasa – we’re optimistic about this new take on the classic story.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=EbYVv89Xeiw