No longer is anime a niche medium. Despite not being exactly an anime, the animated musical K-pop film Demon Hunters became the most-watched original Netflix movie of all time, while One Piece's Monkey D. Luffy made an appearance on the floats in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The most recent Demon Slayer film also made $780 million globally in 2025.
Now, fast-forward to 2026, when Netflix announces that 50% of its subscribers watch anime. If K-pop movie Demon Hunters doesn't take home an Oscar and a Grammy for Best Animated Feature in the coming months, it's probably over. Keeping the hype train rolling is, therefore, the guiding principle for anime this year. Anime fan favourites like Bleach, Frieren, One Piece, and Jujutsu Kaisen are back for more seasons. In addition, one of the greatest anime of 2025, Dandadan, will finally make its long-awaited return, and one of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure's most insane entries will make its premiere. Adding to the excitement? Below, one of the most anticipated entrants of 2026 is now available on streaming sites.
Hell's Paradise (season 2)
At last, Hell's Paradise has returned for a second season. If you haven't seen the show, it's about a death row inmate named Gabimaru who, in an effort to get a pardon, takes on an impossible feat. That mission calls for a journey to a so-called "paradise" where strange and deadly creatures dwell in pursuit of the Elixir of Life. Studio MAPPA returns for another season of animation, bringing their famed works such as Chainsaw Man and Jujutsu Kaisen. As Gabimaru and the other survivors draw nearer to their objective, viewers eagerly await more gory plot twists and the further development of the enigmatic figure introduced in the previous season.
Jujutsu Kaisen (season 3)
In 2025, Jujutsu Kaisen managed to carry off a quite remarkable manoeuvre. By adapting the first four episodes of season 2 into a full-length film and rereleasing it in theatres, the popular shonen anime proved that some TV shows could have been movies. While few animators put as much heart and soul into their programs as Mappa. With Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan, and Chainsaw Man, among others, Mappa has practically single-handedly transformed the aesthetic of modern anime. The third season of the supernatural drama, which follows a high school student possessed by a powerful demon, delves into its most intricate and expansive plot yet, along with one of its most surprising twists.
Frieren: Looking Past Journey's End (season 2)
Released in 2024, Frieren captivated audiences with its melancholy-tinged drama and lively, colourful characters. Season 2 intends to improve upon the first by having Frieren, Fern, and Stark continue their journey north as the titular mage visits Himmel's grave. Like season one, season two could be one of the best-rated anime on MyAnimeList, based on the manga that inspired it. We may even learn the secret of Frieren's and her famous party's triumph over the Demon King.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run
One of the most bizarre tales you've ever heard of is in Steel Ball Run, the eighth chapter in the legendary JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series. In the 1890s, the United States hosted a nationwide horse race with a reward of fifty million dollars. Covertly, the president of the United States is attempting to unearth relics from a sacred site, which he intends to use to consolidate power over the globe. Since other racers are equally intent on gaining the holy corpse's power, it is up to the legendary jockey Johnny Joestar to step into the race and put an end to their plans. Everything that has made JoJo's classic—its campiness, action, and boundless creativity—is brilliantly reimagined in Steel Ball Run.
Yoroi-shinden Samurai Troopers
The comeback of Samurai Troopers, or Ronin Warriors in the United States, is finally here, more than 35 years after the original anime run. Yoroi-Shinden Samurai Troopers picks up where the original series left off, 35 years after the big bad demon was vanquished. The sequel is produced by Sunrise, the same studio that worked on both the original series and a few of the OVAs. It's fascinating to observe how the Samurai Troopers have transformed into military poster boys throughout the lengthy peace that has ensued since the original story. We are hoping that the next generation will bring a fresh perspective to the table now that a demon invasion is threatening the planet once again.
Daemons of the Shadow Realm
Original storyteller Hiromu Arakawa (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood) is back with a fresh take on twins wielding daemons, magical monsters. Despite the world's best efforts to keep them apart, the two siblings—separated at birth—will seek each other out. We are in for a real treat if Shadow Realm lives up to the standards set by Brotherhood, which consistently ranks first on Best of lists.