--- title: 'Top 10 Anime of 2026 So Far' source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=poB9KQQCggY' video_id: 'poB9KQQCggY' date: 2026-06-18 duration_sec: 0 --- # Top 10 Anime of 2026 So Far > Source: [Top 10 Anime of 2026 So Far](https://youtube.com/watch?v=poB9KQQCggY) ## Summary The video presents a countdown of the top 10 anime series that started airing in 2026, covering a range of genres from action and fantasy to mystery and psychological drama. It highlights standout seasons and new series, providing brief descriptions and reasons for their inclusion on the list. ### Key Points - **Hell's Paradise Season 2** [0:30] — The second season features brutal fights against multiple Tensens, covering two-thirds of the original manga. - **Nippon Sangoku** [1:29] — A sleeper hit set in post-apocalyptic Japan split into three territories, with protagonist Alteru Misumi using intellect to reunify the nation. - **Baki Dou** [2:32] — Brings back Miyamoto Musashi from the dead, introducing his 'imitation cut' technique with an invisible sword. - **Dorohedoro Season 2** [3:43] — Returns after six years, unraveling Caiman's past and introducing the Cross-Eyes gang, with a perfect balance of humor and brutality. - **Oshi no Ko Season 3** [4:51] — Initially focuses on Ruby, then Aqua escalates his schemes after discovering the truth about their mother's death. - **Witch Hat Atelier** [6:07] — Follows apprentice Coco and Qifrey in a high fantasy setting with stunning animation and world-building. - **Steel Ball Run** [7:06] — Set in the American Old West, stars Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli in a cross-country horse race, with a bizarre release schedule. - **Frieren Season 2** [8:21] — Shorter season focusing on Frieren, Fern, and Stark's journey to the Aureole, with excellent fight sequences against demonkind. - **Re:Zero Season 4** [9:23] — Returns to psychological roots in the Pleiades Watch Tower, where Subaru loses all post-isekai memories. - **Jujutsu Kaisen: The Culling Game** [11:19] — Follows the Culling Game arc with higher stakes, allowing new characters to shine, with impressive animation and choreography. ## Transcript [clears throat] >> Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the best anime of 2026 so far. We'll only be including series and seasons that started airing this year. Number 10, Hell's Paradise season 2. While the first season was an exceptionally solid start, the latest foray into the disturbing land of Shinsengumi blew it out the water. With Gabimaru and the rest of his mismatched crew of prisoners and executioners finally facing head-on against multiple Tensens, Hell's Paradise delivered some exceptionally awesome and brutal fights. >> [groaning] >> With the anime now covering 2/3 of the original manga, we're hopeful that MAPPA can finish off this excellent adaptation sooner rather than later. >> [screaming and groaning] >> Number nine, Nippon Sangoku, The Three Nations of the Crimson Sun. Every so often, a new anime series emerges that completely flies under the radar at first, only for everyone to realize just a few episodes in that it's a top contender for one of the year's best. Nippon Sangoku takes place in post-apocalyptic Japan, where it has been split into three imperial territories known as Yamato, Buo, and Sei. The protagonist, Alteru Misumi, leads a movement and aims to reunify Japan with his sharp intellect rather than brute force. >> [music] >> If you feel like watching something that is unique in both its setting and art style, you can go wrong with Nippon Sangoku. Number eight, Baki Dou, the invincible samurai. If you thought Baki couldn't top its ridiculousness with the likes of the prehistoric fighter of Pickle and the epic father-son battle, then boy, you were wrong. The latest series in the martial arts anime somehow brings back the legendary Japanese swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi, from the dead to duke it out against Baki's already unique roster of combatants. Musashi's unique fighting style brings a fresh angle to the world of Baki, especially his imitation cut technique where he can essentially slash his opponents with an invisible sword. No matter what weird gimmicks this series introduces, you're guaranteed to be always glued to the screen with each showdown. Number seven, Dorohedoro season two. Welcome back to the hole. It's like six long years, but Dorohedoro finally returned to our screens in all its gory and [music] twisted glory. >> [groaning and screaming] >> Mappa has once again done a fantastic job of bringing Q Hayashida's wacky world to life in this second outing, which was certainly worth the wait. The mystery surrounding Caiman's past slowly unraveled as we were also introduced to the members of the Cross-Eyes gang who are certainly linked. All the while, we got to learn a lot more about how the Sorcerers Society functions. If you haven't already caught up with this show, don't hesitate any longer because you're not going to find such a perfect balance of humor and brutality anywhere else. >> [screaming] >> Number six, Oshi no Ko season 3. The latest series of Oshi no Ko initially starts with a greater focus on Ruby after her brother believes that the true mastermind behind their mother's death is dead. Of course, it was never going to be that simple and after discovering the truth, Aqua decides to take his schemes even further than ever before. Like with previous seasons, Oshi no Ko is a wild ride of a mystery drama within the shady underside of Japan's entertainment industry. We can't recommend this series enough, and now is the perfect time to catch up before the [music] fourth and final season. >> [music] >> Number five, Witch Hat Atelier. It's certainly been a long wait, but we can say with full confidence that the anime adaptation of Witch Hat Atelier has been worth it. The series follows Coco, who is taken on as a witch apprentice by the charming Qifrey after a forbidden magic accident causes her mother to become encased in crystal. >> [gasps] >> With its high fantasy setting, Witch Hat Atelier combines incredible world-building with a unique blend of mystery and adventure that is well worth your time. >> [laughter] >> The team at Bug Films have outdone themselves here, especially with the stunning animation the show provides. Number four, Steel Ball Run, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. Viz Media, Netflix, what on earth are you playing at with this bizarre release schedule? If you just released this weekly like any normal anime, there's no doubt in our minds that it would be at the top of this list. Now that we've got that out of the way, David Production has once again given us another brilliant anime adaptation of the series. >> [music] >> Taking place in a separate continuity from the previous series, it stars Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli, who both compete in a cross-country horse race in the American Old West. Thankfully, Netflix has announced that the series will return in the fall. Let's just hope this series will be able to cross the finish line without any further delays. Number three, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End season two. Despite being much shorter than the previous one, the second season of Frieren was everything we could have hoped for and more. With the first-class major exam that dominated the second half of the first season out of the way, the show returns to Frieren, Fern, and Stark's journey towards the Aureole. The show continues to build on the bond between these three characters, all the while fleshing out the excellent world-building and lore that it excels at. And of course, there's plenty of dangerous encounters along the way, resulting in some top-quality fight sequences, especially the ones against demonkind. Number two, Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World season four. Subaru Natsuki's life just doesn't get any easier, does it? After the previous season leaned hard on large-scale battles against the Witch Cults, season 4 returns to its deeply punishing psychological and mystery roots. Taking place in the Pleiades Watch Tower, Subaru undergoes his most haunting challenge yet when he suddenly loses all of his post-isekai memories, which makes things all the more confusing for him when he returns BY DEATH. >> [screaming] >> THIS ARC IS ONE OF THE MOST popular in the light novels, and we can't wait to see where IT GOES NEXT. >> [screaming] >> BEFORE WE UNVEIL OUR TOP PICK, here's a few honorable mentions. Golden Kamuy final season. Fate/Strange Fake Sentence to be a hero. >> Before we continue, be sure to check out WatchMojo's 24-hour live stream. All of your favorite videos in one place, 24/7. Always on, always live. >> NUMBER ONE, Jujutsu Kaisen the Culling Game part one. Following on from the chaos that was the Shibuya incident, Yuji Itadori not only has to carry the guilt and trauma that went down, but also deal with the fact that his mentor Gojo has been sealed away. Now, we know how popular Gojo is with fans of the series, but this is where the latest season thrives as it now allows characters both old and new to take more of the spotlights. >> [music] >> What makes this season feel so special is that the stakes are higher than ever. No character feels completely safe, creating some real tension. And of course, the fights, which are the main selling points of this series, are even more impressive than ever with excellent animation and choreography. >> [music] >> What's your favorite anime of the season so far? Let us know in those comments below.