Crunchyroll can now be considered the front door to anime for millions of fans worldwide. After all, access to anime has never been easier. 2026 has already given us an amazing lineup of anime, and we’re only through the first half of the year.
So, let’s rank all the anime that are available on Crunchyroll and released in the first half of the year, with a few exceptions that you’ll see why. Some anime are ranked lower not because they’re bad, but because we simply haven’t seen enough yet to call them great. Others earned their spot by going all in and sticking the landing. Let’s get into it.
10. Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia Is a Rising Star
Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia lands at rank ten, but it can easily climb up near the top spot within a few months. The reason it ranks this low is that as of July 2026, only a few episodes of this anime have been released. However, all of them have been simply amazing.
The story follows a girl trying to find her place in Mongolia after her owner’s home was invaded by the army of Genghis Khan. The anime takes inspiration from real history, and the art style by Science SARU continues to show why it’s one of the best studios out there. The setup is amazing, the potential is enormous, but the delivery is still a question mark. Anime have fumbled great starts before, so let’s hope Jaadugar keeps the momentum instead of fizzling out halfway through.
9. Lord of Mysteries Specials Filled the Gaps
The Lord of Mysteries specials were a genuine treat for fans who wanted more time in this dark, mystery-soaked world of secret societies and beyonder powers. The animation quality stayed sharp, with the character design improving a lot. These specials were focused around the members of Tarot Club and introduced two major characters that were missing from the first season of the anime.
That said, these episodes rank low because they are simply supplementary content. These episodes exist to fill in gaps left by the original anime, not to push the main story forward in any major way. They’re a great watch if you’re already invested, but they’re not carrying the same weight as a full story arc.
8. You and I Are Polar Opposites Was the Best 2026 Romance Anime
The anime industry is full of many best romance anime to watch right now; however, this year, none of them stood out like You and I Are Polar Opposites. The anime centers on two characters who don’t go through any drama that would eventually lead up to a confession under fireworks in the final episode. Instead, the characters confess to each other at the very start, and you get to see their relationship evolving slowly.
Furthermore, unlike many other romance anime, the side characters are just as fleshed out as the main characters, and their own dynamics are often the highlight of the episodes. The anime is a slow burn, even though characters are already dating, making it feel good. However, this anime couldn’t rank any higher because it can get repetitive and annoying for some viewers, seeing how slowly their relationship evolves.
7. Daemons of the Shadow Realm Is Full of Amazing Potential
Daemons of the Shadow Realm is created by the same author who made Fullmetal Alchemist, which is easily one of the best anime of all time. The story follows Yuru and Asa, who are twins with strange powers that make them the target of many people. Yuru spent his whole life in a village disconnected from the outside world, not knowing what even a car is, but is pulled into the outside world by his sister.
This entire concept gives it a very reverse-isekai vibe. The power system of the anime follows Daemons, who are always in pairs, and humans can make contracts with them. This opens up many creative possibilities, which are fun to watch. However, this anime also ranks this low because it’s not finished yet, as it’s having a 24-episode run, which is quite rare in the modern landscape.
6. No Anime Competes with Fate/Strange Fake in Action
If you want raw, high-stakes, beautifully choreographed action, Fate/Strange Fake is untouchable right now. The animations and fight scenes were comparable to some of the best action anime in the industry. This anime is basically a love letter for long-time Fate franchise fans as it is full of references from almost every anime in the franchise. In fact, it is arguably one of the best in the franchise as well.
However, it ranks in the bottom half of this ranking because being a love letter is a double-edged sword. While for long-time fans, there isn’t a single moment that they won’t love, it is also a really confusing anime for someone who isn’t already versed in the TYPEMOON Nasuverse lore. In fact, if you don’t already know what those terms are, this anime will most definitely go over your head.
5. Dr. Stone: Science Future Part 3 Ended a Decade-Long Story
Dr. Stone: Science Future finally completed the near decade-long story with its final part. Watching Senku and the crew go from a world of stone statues to rebuilding civilization and eventually going to the Moon itself has been one of the most unique journeys in modern anime.
It ranks at 5 because ending a long-running story well is genuinely hard. Think of My Hero Academia and even Attack on Titan, both of which had polarizing endings. The finale hit the right emotional beats for characters we’ve grown attached to over a decade of storytelling, and it reminded everyone why this show became a fan favorite in the first place. A satisfying send-off deserves recognition.
4. Re:Zero Season 4 Started the Best Story Arc
Re:Zero has always been one of the darkest Isekai anime in the industry, and Season 4 made sure that there is never a question about it. This season was full of one death after another, led to one of the highest-rated episodes of all time on IMDb, and gave us a storyline that is simply unforgettable.
This arc lands at number 4 because of how strong the setup has been so far. Re:Zero has a track record of delivering when it counts, and everything about this new arc — the pacing, the tension, the character writing — points toward it being one of the best stretches the series has ever produced. It’s still early, but the foundation is rock solid.
3. Jujutsu Kaisen: The Culling Game Was a Real Cinematic Experience
The Culling Game arc has taken Jujutsu Kaisen to a whole new level, and it genuinely felt like watching a movie every single week. From Yuji’s fight with Yuta to Maki annihilating the entire Zenin clan, Jujutsu Kaisen was perfect. In fact, MAPPA took a risk and made some changes in the anime from the manga that turned out to be really good.
This season ranks in the third position because of the sheer spectacle that it was, combined with substance. It’s not just pretty to look at; the storytelling backing it up is some of the tightest Jujutsu Kaisen has ever done. Big fights, bigger emotional stakes, and a sense that anything can happen.
2. Frieren Season 2 Made the Story More Action-Heavy
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Credit: Madhouse -
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Credit: Madhouse
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Credit: Madhouse -
Credit: Madhouse
Frieren built its reputation on quiet, reflective storytelling about grief, time, and what it means to actually connect with people. Season 2 kept that emotional core intact while adding a lot more action into the mix involving Stark and other characters that we saw in the Mage Examination arc. And the anime remained as beautiful as ever.
It sits at number 2 because it managed to evolve without losing what made it special. Balancing slow, heartfelt character moments with legitimately great action sequences is not easy, and Frieren Season 2 handled that balance almost perfectly.
1. Witch Hat Atelier Is the Modern Fantasy Masterpiece
There was really no other choice for number 1 other than Witch Hat Atelier. When you take a magic system this detailed, this thoughtfully designed, resulting in some of the best world-building in anime, and pair it with animation and art direction that treats every single frame like it belongs in a gallery, you get a masterpiece that would be remembered for years.
Every part of this anime feels intentional. The way magic circles are drawn, the way the world unfolds gradually instead of dumping lore on you, the way the characters grow into their roles, it all comes together into something that feels genuinely special. Witch Hat Atelier isn’t just the best anime on Crunchyroll this year; it might be one of the best fantasy anime, period.
| RANK | TITLE | RELEASE DATE | MAL RATING (as of July 25, 2026) |
| 10 | Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia | Jul 4, 2026 | 8.41 / 10 |
| 9 | Lord of Mysteries Specials | Jun 20, 2026 | 8.71 / 10 |
| 8 | You and I Are Polar Opposites | Jan 11, 2026 | 8.27 / 10 |
| 7 | Daemons of the Shadow Realm | Apr 4, 2026 | 7.86 / 10 |
| 6 | Fate/Strange Fake | Jan 3, 2026 | 8.27 / 10 |
| 5 | Dr. Stone: Science Future Part 3 | Apr 2, 2026 | 8.27 / 10 |
| 4 | Re:Zero Season 4 | Apr 8, 2026 | 9.16 / 10 |
| 3 | Jujutsu Kaisen: The Culling Game | Jan 9, 2026 | 8.60 / 10 |
| 2 | Frieren Season 2 | Jan 16, 2026 | 8.86 / 10 |
| 1 | Witch Hat Atelier | Apr 6, 2026 | 8.51 / 10 |
So, which one of these anime is your personal favorite? Let us know in the comments.
All anime mentioned in the ranking are streaming on Crunchyroll.
