In the blink of an eye, half of the year has already passed. But thanks to all the banger anime released over the past six months, it has never been boring. In fact, many of the anime released during the Winter and Spring 2026 seasons are already strong contenders for Anime of the Year. Along with many returning sequels, several brand-new anime have also debuted this year.
But among all these great titles, which ones deserve a spot in the top 10? Here, we’ve carefully picked the best of the best to come out in 2026 so far and ranked them based on their overall story and community impact. So let’s check them out.
10. Wistoria: Wand and Sword Season 2 Lived Up to the Hype
The second season of Wistoria: Wand and Sword surpassed every expectation. The story follows a guy with no magic power at all enrolling in a magic academy, relying on his strength and swordsmanship alone. And in this season, the anime took its power scaling to another level. It also sheds much more light on the larger mysteries surrounding the world, and the animation has been phenomenal. But it ranks at the bottom because it leans more on spectacle than thematic complexity.
9. [Oshi No Ko] Season 3 Took a Dark Turn With Its Narrative
Oshi no Ko has already been hugely praised for its bold portrayal of the darker side of the entertainment industry. But in Season 3, it took that to the next level. Ruby learning the truth about Aqua, and Akane figuring out the true identity of Aqua’s biological father were exceptionally thrilling. The revelations surrounding Ai’s relationship with Hikaru were shocking, too. Also, by addressing many of the series’ long-standing mysteries, Oshi no Ko secures the 9th spot on this list.
8. You and I Are Polar Opposites Revitalized Comedy-Romance
It’s rare to come across a perfectly balanced rom-com anime, but You and I Are Polar Opposites pretty much nails it. The best part about it is that it masterfully captures different kinds of love stories through its rich cast of characters. And each of them may turn out to be exceptionally relatable because of how nuanced the writing is. Therefore, it more than deserves the eighth spot on the list. In fact, You and I Are Polar Opposites might just be the year’s best romance.
7. Fire Force Season 3 Part 2 Delivered One of the Best Endings
Shonen anime endings often leave fans disappointed, as it’s honestly hard to bring a grand storyline to a finale that satisfies everyone. But Fire Force? Season 3 Part 2 delivered the long-deserved conclusion to this beloved modern shonen anime. Not only was it a visual spectacle, but the way it addressed pretty much every plot hole was also really commendable. It didn’t leave any loose ends and masterfully connected the series to Soul Eater’s world. Thus, it ranks seventh on the list.
6. Witch Hat Atelier Offered the Best Fantasy Power System
Rarely do we come across a fantasy anime that actually feels real. The world-building in Witch Hat Atelier is quite phenomenal, which alone deserves a spot on this list. But the strongest aspect of it has been its beautiful representation of how magic works in this world. Instead of using superficial, vague concepts like many other anime, it makes magic feel much more believable. Pair it with the godly visuals and soundtrack, and it easily secures the sixth spot here on the list.
5. Nippon Sangoku Turned Out to Be the Biggest Dark Horse
It totally wasn’t under anyone’s radar, but through sheer word of mouth, Nippon Sangoku has now become the biggest dark horse of the year so far. In fact, the plot has enough nuance and depth that it easily stands as a solid contender in the Anime of the Year race. Bringing a relatively fresh take to the table, the anime tells the story of a future Japan engulfed in chaos. But one man rises to restore the country’s former glory in a grand adventure, which easily deserves a spot in the top five.
4. Jujutsu Kaisen: The Culling Game Part 1 Increased the Stakes
Following the events of Season 2, fans had sky-high expectations for Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3. And oh boy, did it live up to them! Studio MAPPA took the adaptation to another level for the Culling Game Arc, with each episode featuring phenomenal animation and OSTs. But that surely wouldn’t have been enough to rank it fourth, right? Well, the narrative weight in this season felt ten times heavier than even the Shibuya Arc. So there was no way it could be ranked any lower.
3. Journal with Witch Told an Inspirational Coming-of-Age Tale
Another series that mostly went unnoticed by the mass audience, Journal with Witch, may not seem appealing to everyone because of its overall aesthetic, but it offered a truly powerful narrative revolving around themes of adulthood and parenthood. Each episode feels like it’s straight out of the pages of a top-tier novel, and the characters and dialogue are exceptionally relatable. And after finishing the anime, you’ll feel quite rewarded. Thus, it easily secures a place in the top three.
2. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Carried On Its Legacy
Everyone saw it coming. There wasn’t an ounce of doubt that Frieren Season 2 would deliver yet another powerful storyline. Though the first season is still better in terms of overall impact, the sequel certainly rejuvenated the anime’s slice-of-life yet deeply personal style of writing. But what places it at the very second spot on this list is the final Divine Revolte Arc in Season 2. As much as it increased the stakes of the series, it also paved the way for the upcoming Golden Land Arc.
1. Re:ZERO Season 4 Has Become 2026’s Biggest Anime Hit
Re:ZERO has constantly been upping its game over the past few seasons, but in this fourth installment, the anime went above and beyond. The sheer horror of its psychological themes involving Subaru’s never-ending death cycles was pushed to the extreme. In his attempt to cure Rem, Julius, and others, Subaru himself finds himself at the center of the series’ biggest upset. And the narrative nuance of this story arc alone is enough to crown Season 4 with the #1 spot.
| ANIME | MAL SCORE (as of July 2, 2026) | WHERE TO WATCH |
| Wistoria: Wand and Sword Season 2 | 8.22/10 | Crunchyroll |
| [Oshi No Ko] Season 3 | 8.69/10 | Crunchyroll, HIDIVE |
| You and I Are Polar Opposites | 8.28/10 | Crunchyroll |
| Fire Force Season 3 Part 2 | 8.11/10 | Crunchyroll |
| Witch Hat Atelier | 8.56/10 | Netflix |
| Nippon Sangoku | 8.58/10 | Prime Video |
| Jujutsu Kaisen: The Culling Game Part 1 | 8.61/10 | Crunchyroll |
| Journal with Witch | 8.73/10 | Crunchyroll |
| Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 2 | 8.86/10 | Crunchyroll |
| Re:ZERO Season 4 | 9.19/10 | Crunchyroll |
Well then, what are your thoughts on the entries? And do you have your other personal favorites from this year that you wish had made the list? Let us know.
