YouTube preview is here!

Winter 2026 looks, by just about any metric, to be a forgettable anime season.

We’ll see how 2026 in anime ends up – it’s too early to make a confident assessment at this stage. My sense going in was that on balance new series announcements have been bleak and presage a down year, with spring being an exception (perhaps a loud one). Winter aligns with that quite strongly. There are a couple of exceptions – as there almost always are – but on paper it’s weak. I’ve seen worse prospective seasons, but there’s not a lot here to suggest either depth or elite quality. When probably my most anticipated anime is a compilation movie, that’s usually not a great sign.

It’s always illustrative to let the numbers tell a story. I count 59 new TV/ONA series as of this writing, a fairly big bump over Winter 2025’s 53. I’d usually say “a lot for winter” but in 2026, the volume differences between anime seasons – spring/fall big, winter/summer small – have largely disappeared. 60 give-or-take is pretty much the norm now (and yes, that is too many). 15 of those are LN adaptations, which is likewise a pretty normal percentage these days. That includes the usual LN chaff (there are at least three “Yuusha” titles alone).

It’s not that those 15 series are automatically eliminated from the pool of candidates, but realistically I end up being interested in very, very few LN anime. My overall preview percentage this season is 29% – 17 out of 59 – a fair bit below my “normal” one-third rate. And of those 17, only two are in the “Highest Expectations” category, and five in the “Mid-table”. 10 out of 17 series in “Modestly Interested” is a bearish leading indicator for sure. One or two of those will likely surprise on the upside, but all of those percentages are pretty rough.

If there’s anything bullish about this preview, it’s that at least we have a fairly broad demographic spread. Seinen and shounen are well-represented as usual, but there are a few well-regarded shoujo manga being adapted and even one jousei (Ikoku Nikki), quite the unicorn. Kaijuu pack a big punch – JJK, Oshi no Ko, and Freiren are all here though I’m only previewing the last two. The sequels of most interest to me are of course Vigilante, carrying the Boku no Hero Academia anime mantle alone now, and the long-awaited final season of Golden Kamuy. Genre-wise? A typical mix. Not much sports, a fair bit of romance, a splash of sci-fi and fantasy and the workplace.

One thing that strikes me is the relative lack of big-name directors on the docket. Ikehata Hiroshi is probably the biggest, though the show he’s working on (Kaya-chan wa Kowakunai) doesn’t immediately strike you as a heavyweight. His presence alone makes that one a sleeper, but it’s not a slate that has a lot of those jumping out at you. We’re more or less in hope for the best (and wait for spring) mode here, but at least we can count on a couple of sequels as virtual sure things.

This is my 59th (I think) Season Preview here at LiA. Thanks to everyone who’s joined me for part of that ride. Here’s hoping efforts to make the site financially sustainable bear fruit, and these previews will continue to be free for anyone who finds them useful and entertaining. As you know my costs continue to skyrocket – hosting alone is more than doubling this year – so more than ever I’m going to be dependent on your financial support to keep LiA alive. To everyone who’s pitched in to help that cause – you have my sincere gratitude.

 

Let’s move on to Winter 2026.  As usual, the poll is in the sidebar – please go vote!

 

Highest Expectations:

Golden Kamuy: Saishuushou – Brain’s Base: (PV) It’s going to be a big year for Golden Kamuy and Noda Satoru. GK has a movie, an OVA, and the final season of its epic TV adaptation (not to mention the ongoing live-action drama). And Noda’s hockey manga Dogsred continues to be quite popular, and could be looking at an anime announcement as soon as 2026. As seinen go Golden Kamuy amounts to something close to a kaijuu, which is not necessarily what I was expecting when the anime premiered all those years ago.

The thing with Golden Kamuy is that it’s never really had what you’d call a high-end adaptation – either from Studio Geno (who did the first three seasons) or Brain’s Base. I mean, who can forget the bear fiasco from S1? Yet it thrives – thanks in part to Noda’s infectiously unhinged writing, and in part to the outstanding cast. The GK experience is unique in anime, a relentless avalanche of violence, madcap comedy, and larger-than-life characters who all act like they own the place. I’ll be sad to see it go but that it’s getting a complete adaptation is something to be celebrated.

Vigilante: Boku no Hero Academia Illegals 2nd Season – Bones: (PV) With the parent series having finished its run in both manga and anime form, Vigilante takes over as the face of the BnHA franchise. While it’s obviously nowhere near the same level of popularity, HeroAca’s one full-length spinoff is more than capable of carrying that weight. And Bones remains the steward of the franchise in anime form, which is a luxury any series would be lucky to claim.

Illegals is many things. Spinoff, prequel, side story – it manages to be all those very effectively. And it’s true to the essential nature of BnHA while still establishing a clearly distinct identity of its own. This is a more “seinen-y” version if you will – more measured, more character-driven, more focuses on the heroism of everyday existence than the glamorous world of pro heroes. It totally works and it meaningfully enhances the mythology, and I don’t know what more anyone could ask from a spinoff than that.

 

Mid-table:

Ikoku Nikki – Shuka: (PV) From Brain’s Base to the studio that spun off from it in the great schism of a decade ago. I wouldn’t blame you if you’ve never heard anything about this adaptation, because no one seems to be talking about it (in English at least). I’d be interested just on the basis of it being a jousei, as those adaptations have grown increasingly unicorn-like (and they were never common). But Ikoku Nikki also happens to be one of the most-awarded manga of any demographic – it was nominated for the Manga Taishou twice and the Tezuka Cultural Prize in 2024.

Ikoku Nikki is the story of a 15 year-old whose parents and older sister are killed in an accident and her 35 year-old novelist aunt, who takes her in. The aunt is a hard-core introvert who has serious buyer’s remorse about inviting a child into her home, and the story seems more or less to be a chronicle of their mutual adjustment process. I’ve read nothing of the source material (TBH I’d never heard of it until the anime announcement), and the staff list is relatively nondescript. But the buzz on the manga is so strong that I have a pretty high interest level anyway. The manga is complete at 11 volumes, so the opportunity is there for a proper adaptation, but doing one in a single cour (we have no episode count yet) would require some serious downsizing.

Seihantai na Kimi to Boku – Lapin Track: (PV) It’s our first romcom of the season. And while You and I Are Polar Opposites is another manga I haven’t read any of, it’s notable in that a lot of Bokuyaba fans seem to really like it. It also comes with generally strong reviews and two Manga Taishou nominations. Agasawa Koucha’s other series, Koori no Jouheki, is also getting an adaptation (that one airs in the spring).

Seihantai na Kimi to Boku sounds like truth in advertising, pretty much. A popular genki girl falls for a quiet loner boy who speaks his mind (which may hint at why Bokuyaba fans seem to like it). And it’s not a spoiler apparently to say that most of the series focuses on the pair actually dating, which is a refreshing change of pace for a shounen romcom. I don’t see anything really notable in the staff list but my expectations here are still pretty high – especially as it’s not exactly a boom season for romcoms.

Darwin Jihen – Bellnox Films: (PV) I have no idea who or what Bellnox Films is, but these days I’m used to new studio names cropping up just about every season. Darwin Jihen I know, because it won the Manga Taishou in 2022 and was nominated for a crap-ton off other stuff too. I read what’s out there for the “My Taste” Taishou episode Samu and I recorded a few weeks ago. Despite being at a new (founded 2024) studio The Darwin Incident has a very experienced staff, including co-directors Tsuda Naokatsu and Nakayama Katsuchi.

My take on the manga is like rather than love, good rather than great. It’s the story of a “humanzee” named Charlie with a human father and chimpanzee mother, and how he becomes a tool opposing societal forces try to use to their own advantage. The series is set in the U.S. and not the part Japan usually alludes to – rural Missouri. I took a long time trying to figure out what Darwin Jihen was “anti-” – Western, American, environmentalist – and ultimately decided it was more “a pox on all your houses” look at human society. It’s a flawed series in my view but it is about something, and it has some interesting things to say.

Sousou no Frieren 2nd Season – Madhouse: (PV) Sousou no Frieren is a pretty massive hit, no question about it. Probably right on the kaijuu cutoff line – and it would be safely inside it if the manga weren’t so bedeviled by hiatuses. That’s not all that bedevils this series in my opinion. It frustrates the hell out of me because it has one of the biggest quality spreads of any series out there. The best eps are genuinely transcendent, but so many are pedestrian (including the whole Mage Exam arc).

In a so-so season, even a show that’s so often “so-so no Frieren” has to rank at least mid-table. It has a genuine pathos inherent in the premise and when it chooses to be reflective and philosophical, can be extremely powerful. I have no idea what to expect of S2 as I haven’t read much of the manga, but with a series like this you’re always burdened by hope.

Hanazakari no Kimitachi e – Signal.MD: (PV) Anime does love the Wayback Machine these days, that’s for sure. Hana-Kimi is a genuine kaijuu of the shoujo manga world, selling 17 million copies of its 23 volumes. Those volumes ran from 1996-2004, and for whatever reason the series never got an anime adaptation. That would never happen with a shounen with those numbers of course, but even for shoujo it’s odd that a manga with that much commercial success was left unadapted.

Despite all that my expectations are pretty modest. I don’t tend to love shoujou romances, especially in the pretty-boy reverse harem vein, and the feedback I get from shoujo fans in my circle isn’t all that great. The story follows a girl who poses as a boy to attend the all-male boarding school her crush (a well-known high jumper). TBH she comes off as kind of a stalker but hey, with this much stature I have to give Hana-Kimi a shot. Mangaka Nakajo Hisaya sadly passed away in 2023 at just 50 years old – whether she knew her signature work was being adapted I don’t know.

 

Modestly Interested:

[Oshi no Ko] 3rd Season – Doga Kobo: (PV): A kaijuu for sure, this series. And after The Apothecary Diaries in the running for my favorite of the lot, though that’s a fairly low bar. I did like the second season more than the first, but the overall view of the manga audience seems to be that the latter arcs of the series are not its best. This season looks to be heavily focused on the industry side, which has its pluses and minuses. Akasaka Aka is capable of satire and genuine criticism of the Japanese idol/entertainment mafia, but in the end his fanboy side always wins out.

Kaya-chan wa Kowakunai – East Fish Studio: (PV)  Ikehata Hiroshi directing is basically the reason Kaya-chan wa Kowakunai is in the preview, and even a bit of a sleeper. I’ve not seen claims that the web manga it’s based on is anything exceptional, and East Fish Studio doesn’t have an especially noteworthy track record. The title character is a notoriously difficult kindergartener who has the ability to see and vanquish evil spirits, a secret only the new teacher knows.

Toumei Otoko to Ningen Onna: Sonouchi Fuufu ni Naru Futari – Project No. 9: (PV) I’ve heard moderately good things about this story of an invisible man who works as a detective (makes sense) and the blind woman who can always “see” him. Kind of a cute idea if a bit precious. This one started out as a twitter manga, then Pixiv, and finally a conventional serialization.

Prism Rondo – Wit: (PV) Now that I put all this together there’s a fair bit of shoujo this season. Prism Rondo is a Netflix original but the main hook is that it was created by Kamio Yoko, who’s a major name in shoujo manga. Frequent Netflix partner Wit producing is another headline. A Japanese teenager travels to early 20th Century London to study art, and falls in love with a genius student. Probably a mild sleeper, though I have no opinion on Kamio’s work one way or the other.

Jigokuraku 2nd Season – MAPPA: (PV) I liked the first season of Jigokuraku well enough but boy, was the production all over the map. That said, it seemed to steady itself towards the end and the last few episodes were above the median for the series. S1 was the Patron Pick winner, and the sequel pretty much goes into the season on bubble status.

Uruwashi no Yoi no Tsuki – East Fish Studio: (PV) It’s another shoujo! And another East Fish show as well. Story-wise we have the arrogant female prince of the school who draws the attention of the male prince, and romance follows. All the usual disclaimers about shoujo romcom apply but this one is pretty well-regarded, FWIW.

Medalist 2nd Season – ENGI: (PV) I would have liked to like this seinen sports adaptation more than I did. It’s certainly popular, and we don’t exactly get swamped with sports anime these days, never mind seinen ones. But I found it just okay, even if it did tick up a bit in the second half of the first season. Many were horrified at the notion of ENGI animating figure skating but honestly, that part was pretty good. But the narrative-halting speeches, the ungodly excess of moe pandering, and some truly execrable side characters were a lot to take.

MF Ghost 3rd Season – Felix Film: (PV) Then again here’s another sports seinen right after. MF Ghost is fine for what it is – the street racing sequences in this Initial D spinoff are its strong suit. The way it fetishizes the 16 year-old female lead and the generally ugly character designs are not. I can be pretty confident I’ll enjoy it enough to watch but not find enough to cover it. Maybe I’ll put it in the poll this season and see if anyone salutes.

High School! Kimengumi (2026) – Seven: (PV) High School! Kimengumi is the sort of in-vogue anime reboot I have the most difficulty understanding. Why does a manga from the 1980’s that almost no one waxes nostalgic about that already got an 86-episode adaptation need another anime? I know nobody who thinks the story of eccentric high schoolers is anything great. But not having first-hand experience, I’ll give it a shot. Seven is a studio whose filmography is mostly hentai, for the record.

Hikuidori: Ushuu Boro Tobi-gumi – SynergySP: (PV) I was kind of intrigued in this historical drama based on a novel, with ultra-experienced director Kamegaki Hajime at the helm. But the preview was ugly CGI-heavy and almost unwatchable, so my interest level dropped considerably. It’s the story of a legendary Edo firefighter who signs on to rebuild a fire-fighting clan.

 

Will definitely blog: Golden Kamuy: Saishuushou, Vigilante: Boku no Hero Academia 2nd Season, Darwin Jihen, Sousou no Frieren 2nd Season. Not a lot, but I’ll be very surprised if at least Ikoku Nikki doesn’t join from among the new (to me) series. And it would be surprising if Oshi no Ko became a drop at this point

Sleepers: I don’t think I can really call Ikoku Nikki or Seihantai a sleeper. So, Kaya-chan wa Kowakunai, Toumei Otoko to Ningen Onna: Sonouchi Fuufu ni Naru Futari, maybe Prism Rondo at a stretch.

 

OVA:

Bupkis!

 

Theatrical:

Generally a pretty big theatrical season for winter, but one entry obviously stands out..

Kusunoki no Bannin – 1/30/2026: (PV) Based on a novel, Kusunoki no Bannin is the story of a young man unjustly fired from his job, who attempts to steal from his employer on the way out and winds up in prison. Eventually he lands at a Shinto shrine guardian a divine camphor tree. I know nothing about the source material but Ito Tomohiko is a very good director.

Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu Movie – 02/13/2026: (PV) Yes, a recap movie is my most-anticipated anime of the season. It’s Bokuyaba, first of all. It’s also something more than a recap movie, though just how much more isn’t totally clear. And it’s a very important way marker in the commercial journey of the franchise. I rarely pay to see movies in theatres here, but this one will certainly be an exception.

First off, what this movie is and what it isn’t. A recap? Yes, for sure, though seemingly with some additional first-person perspective from Kyoutarou. But we also know that it will contain, at the very least, some as-yet unadapted material from Volume 9 of the manga. The trailer confirms what the initial stills suggested – a milestone moment at a club in Shimokitazawa will happen on-screen. Because this scene takes place some way after the end of Season 2, just how the film will set it up is a crucial and as yet unanswerable question.

All this is important for the reason reason that, counterintuitively, I would have preferred a straight recap movie. Theatrical films are nice, but what fans really want is a third (and beyond) season. Too much new material in the film could delay that or worse, suggest it may not come at all. Yet generally speaking you don’t make compilation films to promote themselves – you make them as a cheap way to promote what comes after. So my feelings about the movie and what I want from it are complicated. What I can say for sure is that the new scenes do look great, with more manga-friendly character designs and smoother animation, I’m thrilled and anxious about this film but in the end, I think it speaks well to the financial viability of Bokuyaba as a franchise.

Paris ni Saku Etoile – 03/13/2026: (PV) Paris ni Saku Etoile tells the story of two Japanese girls studying in Paris in the early 20th Century. One is immediately reminded of Ikoku Meiro no Croisee, but that resemblance seems to be superficial. Taniguchi Gorou is writing and directing, and while I wouldn’t call myself a huge fan of his work he’s certainly a figure of considerable stature in the anime industry.

Ansatsu Kyoushitsu Movie: Minna no Jikan – 03/20/2026: (PV) Anime has not been terribly kind to Assassination Classroom on the whole. But as part of the 10th anniversary of Matsui Yuusei’s manga (which had one of the highest-selling first volumes of the decade) it gets a new film, which adapts some of the (many) chapters the anime skipped, as well as layering in some original material. My expectations are relatively modest here (AssClass isn’t my favorite Matsui series to begin with), but Uezu Makoto is writing the new material and he’s generally quite solid, which helps.