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So far, the Winter 2026 Anime Season has been a very mixed bag.
I sampled a lot of stuff and dropped a lot of stuff after only a few episodes.
Anime I Am current watching:
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 2 - The first season was great and, so far, the second has not disappointed. Currently watching the sub but when the dubbed version comes out in October, I'll probably rewatch it.
Sentenced to Be a Hero - An interesting twist on the concept of 'hero.' It's not a noble title, but an endless prison sentence given to convicted criminals, forced to fight on the front lines against monsters called 'fairies.' Even if they die, they aren't released from their sentences. They're just resurrected and sent back to the frontlines. This is definitely this years Solo Levelling.
Journal with Witch - A slice of life anime about a teenage girl, Asa Ikumi, who loses her parents in a car accident and goes to live with her distant aunt, Makio Koudai. It gets very raw and emotional at times, but that's what makes it so good. It's probably one of the more honest depictions of grief and loss I've seen in an anime outside of 'March Comes in Like a Lion.' Highly recommend, but it could be triggering.
Easygoing Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord - A pretty typical isekai story where a guy gets reincarnated in a fantasy world, and remembers his past life as a child. In this world, nobles value elemental magic. Sadly, the mc, Van, has no affinity for elemental magic, but is great at production magic. His father exiles him to a remote village where Van starts to come into his own. The MC and supporting cast are very likeable.
Hellmode: The Hardcore Gamer Dominates etc. - Gamer otaku gets transported to a fantasy world and chooses to live a life in 'hellmode' for the challenge. I thought this anime would be a lot grimmer from the title, but it's pretty typical. It is interesting to see a serf social class in an anime. Normally, people are justs commoners or nobles. And watching the MC figure out his class and the world-system is entertaining enough to keep me watching.
Roll Over and Die - Definitely not for the faint hearted. Very grim and violent. The mc, Plum, gets betrayed by a member of the heroes' party and sold into slavery. While in slavery, she discovers her real power and escapes, rescuing another slave with her. She becomes an adventurer and starts to discover the world isn't as she has been taught to believe. Violence. Drama. Pathos. Mysteries. This one's got it all.
Reincarnated as a Dragon Hatchling - Some lighter fair, thank God. A guy gets reincarnated in a fantasy world as a dragon hatchling. Most of the first ep is him rolling around as an egg trying to figure things out. By turns funny and intense, it's generally very watchable.
Anime I Lost Interest In:
Jack-of-All Trades, Party of None - cool name, but boring story
There Was a Cute Girl in the Hero's Party etc. - barely lasted two episodes
Noble Reincarnation: Born Blessed etc. - More meh story/characters.
Kunon the Sorcerer Can See - Has possibly the most irritating MC of the season
Isekai Office Worker - Hated the MC sooooo much dropped it after the first ep.
Dead Account - surprised this one faded on me; it has an interesting concept, but just didn't grap me
Champignon Witch - this one was just too slow for me oddly enough
An Adventurer's Daily Grind at 29 - irritating child characters; HARD pass.
Dark Moon: The Blood Altar - watched the first ep; clearly vampire reverse harem animes are not for me.
A Gentle Noble's Vacation Recommendations - watched the first three eps then got bored
Scum of the Brave - watched the first two eps, but rapidly lost interest
The Daily Life of a Part-Time Torturer - I didn't make it past the first episode
Older Anime that I Finally Finished!
DanMachi a.k.a. Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? - I finally got the chance to finish watching all the seasons and am very happy they've announced production on a new season. I will be there for it. Despite the ridiculous English name, it's actually a really good anime.
Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasy - I started watching this a while ago and finally finished the second season. I like the story. Misumi Mokato is summoned to a fantasy world to be a hero, but gets kicked to its edges by the goddess because he's not handsome enough. Definitely not your typical isekai story. Again, a third season has been announced and I am there for it.
The Rising of the Shield Hero - Finally got to finish season four, which, I will admit, did drag a bit in certain parts. I loved the craziness of the Spear Hero, who has gone completely off the rails, and am looking forward to his reunion with the MC and the other Cardinal Heroes.
Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun! - I honestly did not think I would like this anime, but it's actually very entertaining and - shockingly - the main character, Iruma Suzuki, actually gets more interesting as time passes. Looking forward to season four later this year.
Older Anime I Am Currently Trying to Finish:
The Ancient Magus' Bride - I'm not even through with season one yet, but the story, animation and characters are all wonderfully done. This is one of those shows I don't want to binge, because then it would be over too soon.
I sampled a lot of stuff and dropped a lot of stuff after only a few episodes.
Anime I Am current watching:
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 2 - The first season was great and, so far, the second has not disappointed. Currently watching the sub but when the dubbed version comes out in October, I'll probably rewatch it.
Sentenced to Be a Hero - An interesting twist on the concept of 'hero.' It's not a noble title, but an endless prison sentence given to convicted criminals, forced to fight on the front lines against monsters called 'fairies.' Even if they die, they aren't released from their sentences. They're just resurrected and sent back to the frontlines. This is definitely this years Solo Levelling.
Journal with Witch - A slice of life anime about a teenage girl, Asa Ikumi, who loses her parents in a car accident and goes to live with her distant aunt, Makio Koudai. It gets very raw and emotional at times, but that's what makes it so good. It's probably one of the more honest depictions of grief and loss I've seen in an anime outside of 'March Comes in Like a Lion.' Highly recommend, but it could be triggering.
Easygoing Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord - A pretty typical isekai story where a guy gets reincarnated in a fantasy world, and remembers his past life as a child. In this world, nobles value elemental magic. Sadly, the mc, Van, has no affinity for elemental magic, but is great at production magic. His father exiles him to a remote village where Van starts to come into his own. The MC and supporting cast are very likeable.
Hellmode: The Hardcore Gamer Dominates etc. - Gamer otaku gets transported to a fantasy world and chooses to live a life in 'hellmode' for the challenge. I thought this anime would be a lot grimmer from the title, but it's pretty typical. It is interesting to see a serf social class in an anime. Normally, people are justs commoners or nobles. And watching the MC figure out his class and the world-system is entertaining enough to keep me watching.
Roll Over and Die - Definitely not for the faint hearted. Very grim and violent. The mc, Plum, gets betrayed by a member of the heroes' party and sold into slavery. While in slavery, she discovers her real power and escapes, rescuing another slave with her. She becomes an adventurer and starts to discover the world isn't as she has been taught to believe. Violence. Drama. Pathos. Mysteries. This one's got it all.
Reincarnated as a Dragon Hatchling - Some lighter fair, thank God. A guy gets reincarnated in a fantasy world as a dragon hatchling. Most of the first ep is him rolling around as an egg trying to figure things out. By turns funny and intense, it's generally very watchable.
Anime I Lost Interest In:
Jack-of-All Trades, Party of None - cool name, but boring story
There Was a Cute Girl in the Hero's Party etc. - barely lasted two episodes
Noble Reincarnation: Born Blessed etc. - More meh story/characters.
Kunon the Sorcerer Can See - Has possibly the most irritating MC of the season
Isekai Office Worker - Hated the MC sooooo much dropped it after the first ep.
Dead Account - surprised this one faded on me; it has an interesting concept, but just didn't grap me
Champignon Witch - this one was just too slow for me oddly enough
An Adventurer's Daily Grind at 29 - irritating child characters; HARD pass.
Dark Moon: The Blood Altar - watched the first ep; clearly vampire reverse harem animes are not for me.
A Gentle Noble's Vacation Recommendations - watched the first three eps then got bored
Scum of the Brave - watched the first two eps, but rapidly lost interest
The Daily Life of a Part-Time Torturer - I didn't make it past the first episode
Older Anime that I Finally Finished!
DanMachi a.k.a. Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? - I finally got the chance to finish watching all the seasons and am very happy they've announced production on a new season. I will be there for it. Despite the ridiculous English name, it's actually a really good anime.
Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasy - I started watching this a while ago and finally finished the second season. I like the story. Misumi Mokato is summoned to a fantasy world to be a hero, but gets kicked to its edges by the goddess because he's not handsome enough. Definitely not your typical isekai story. Again, a third season has been announced and I am there for it.
The Rising of the Shield Hero - Finally got to finish season four, which, I will admit, did drag a bit in certain parts. I loved the craziness of the Spear Hero, who has gone completely off the rails, and am looking forward to his reunion with the MC and the other Cardinal Heroes.
Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun! - I honestly did not think I would like this anime, but it's actually very entertaining and - shockingly - the main character, Iruma Suzuki, actually gets more interesting as time passes. Looking forward to season four later this year.
Older Anime I Am Currently Trying to Finish:
The Ancient Magus' Bride - I'm not even through with season one yet, but the story, animation and characters are all wonderfully done. This is one of those shows I don't want to binge, because then it would be over too soon.
