7 Sleeper Hit Anime Guaranteed to Blow Up in 2026

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Even though it’s only been a month into the new year and winter season, 2026 is looking like a fantastic year for anime. We’ve already seen the return of popular series like Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 2, and many more exciting shows are on the way.

Beyond the biggest hits, there are many other exciting anime series coming in 2026 that fans are eagerly awaiting. These upcoming shows, while perhaps lesser known, promise to be excellent and quickly gain popularity within the anime community.

Marriagetoxin Is a Unique Genre-Bending Series with a Passionate Fan Following

Hikaru Gero, the main character of Marriagetoxin, comes from a family of skilled assassins. But his biggest challenge isn’t a dangerous mission—it’s finding a wife. He’s trying to find a suitable partner to avoid his sister being forced into an unwanted marriage, and he gets help from Mei Kinosaki, a clever con artist who disguises themself as a woman.

I have to say, Marriagetoxin has a really interesting starting point for a romantic comedy. What surprised me most is how well it balances exciting plot developments with a genuinely sweet and believable romance – the connection between Kinosaki and Gero is especially charming. It takes familiar ideas and does something fresh with them, and the chemistry between the characters really drew people in. It’s already gained a dedicated following as a manga, and I think the anime, coming in April, will win over even more fans.

Daemons of the Shadow Realm Marks the Return of One of the Best Shonen Storytellers in History

Hiromu Arakawa, the author of the hugely popular manga , is creating a new anime series called Daemons of the Shadow Realm. Fans of her work will find many of the things they love in this new fantasy series, including a detailed magic system, well-developed characters, and a story centered around a brother and sister’s adventure.

While Daemons of the Shadow Realm might remind some viewers of Fullmetal Alchemist, it’s a strong series in its own right and deserves to be recognized as such. Fortunately, the same talented studio, Bones, that animated both Fullmetal Alchemist series is working on the adaptation, so fans can anticipate a high-quality production.

Liar Game Anime Is a Modern Return of an Established 2000s Classic

Many manga fans, especially those who enjoy psychological thrillers, likely know the story Liar Game. The manga series was popular from 2005 to 2015 and inspired several live-action shows. However, an anime adaptation won’t be released until the Spring of 2026.

Liar Game centers around Nao Kanzaki, a naive college student who finds herself caught in a dangerous game of deception called the Liar Game Tournament. She’s forced to team up with Shinichi Akiyama, a master swindler, to learn how to survive. The anime is highly regarded for its thrilling, strategic storylines, thought-provoking ethical challenges, and captivating plot twists. Despite being based on an older story, it’s expected to be a success.

Drops of God Excellently Executes a Very Unusual Concept

The upcoming anime season will include an adaptation of the classic manga Drops of God. The story has a particularly interesting setup: Shizuku Kanzaki learns of his father’s death – a famous wine critic – and discovers the inheritance is conditional. To claim it, Shizuku must correctly identify thirteen incredibly rare and legendary wines.

Shizuku is new to the world of wine-tasting, and she’s facing off against Issei Tomine, a highly skilled wine critic. Their rivalry, pitting a beginner against an expert, is both informative and incredibly fun to watch – it’s like an action-packed anime battle, but with wine! Given how popular the original manga and live-action series were, an anime adaptation of Drops of God felt inevitable.

Eren the Southpaw Is a Grounded Drama with Tons of Potential

The age-old debate of whether hard work or natural talent is more important is a common theme in anime and manga, but it continues to produce fresh and interesting stories. “Eren the Southpaw” explores this idea by contrasting Koichi Asakura, a dedicated designer who isn’t recognized for his efforts, with Eren Yamagishi, a naturally gifted graffiti artist who still struggles despite her talent.

Eren the Southpaw offers a realistic and honest look at the challenges people face when pursuing a career in entertainment. Its genuine storytelling helped it grow from an online comic into a popular shonen manga. Now, with Production I.G animating the series, the anime adaptation promises to be even more visually stunning than the original comic and manga.

Akane-banashi Is One of New-Gen Shonen’s Most Unexpectedly Successful Titles

Even though Weekly Shonen Jump often features stories that break the mold—like the hugely popular One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen—it’s these unconventional series that frequently become its biggest hits. Akane-banashi is a great example: it’s a unique story about Akane Osaki, a teenage girl working her way up in the world of rakugo, a traditional Japanese performing art where a single storyteller uses only their voice and body to bring comedic tales to life.

For viewers unfamiliar with anime about rakugo, like Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu, the idea of an anime centered around this traditional storytelling art might not sound very exciting. However, Akane-banashi cleverly uses the techniques of sports anime, combined with compelling characters and a great mix of humor and heartfelt moments, to create a truly captivating and praiseworthy story.

Witch Hat Atelier Will Whisk Fans Away to a Mesmerising World of Magic

Beyond the biggest movie and TV releases, Witch Hat Atelier is one of the most eagerly awaited new series of 2026. This anticipation is understandable, as the series promises to be something special. In the world of Witch Hat Atelier, only certain people can use magic. But Coco, a young girl who always dreamed of being a witch, secretly attempts magic, which leads to a disaster and an unexpected chance to train under the skilled witch, Qifrey.

I’ve been following the Witch Hat Atelier manga since it started in 2016, and it’s really impressed me with its rich, detailed world and the way its characters are developed. The story is both magical and makes you think, and the artwork is just stunning. The anime adaptation, being made by Bug Films, has been a long time coming – they even had a year-long setback. But fans, myself included, are still hopeful that it will truly capture the special feeling of the original manga.

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2026-01-27 07:40