Here are the best of the best from the latest season's new titles.
The Summer 2026 Season is nearing its end, with several anime already having released their final episodes for the cour. With many new titles being introduced across multiple genres, it’s hard to choose which ones were the best. But based on story, animation, and overall public opinion, we have chosen six titles which were a massive success.
So in case you have missed this season and want to know which titles to watch, here is a list of new anime from Summer 2026 that you should definitely add to your watchlist. From magic to love, we have everything you need right here.
Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia
The anime with the most unique storyline and art style managed to also become one of the best shows of the year! Adapted from Tomato Soup’s manga titled A Witch’s Life in Mongol, the story follows a young girl named Sitara, a 13-year-old slave in the city of Tus, Persia. After being sold to a family of scholars, Sitara becomes an educated young woman.
But when the whole family is killed by the Mongols, Sitara is taken in by Tolui’s army. After reaching Mongolia, Sitara takes on the name Fatima and starts planning her dark revenge against the Mongols who destroyed her life.
Filled with heartbreaking twists and turns, the story builds up on the ruins of lost lives. Sitara’s pain and hunger for revenge is apparent in every episode. With the help of some people and by manipulating some others, she slowly makes her way through the cruel maze of inner palace politics. Thanks to the highly stylised art, the anime carries its uniqueness throughout all the episodes.
I can’t wait to see Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia become even bigger so we can see the full story of Sitara’s revenge. It’s also a great historical manga and gives us a balanced idea of 13th century Persian politics, and how the Mongol invasions affected many countries.
The series is available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
Though I Am an Inept Villainess
Based on Satsuki Nakamura’s novel series, the story of this anime takes place in a fictional kingdom modeled after Imperial China. In the king’s palace, there are five maidens who live to become the queen of the crown prince. Out of the five of them, Kou Reirin is the prince Gyoumei’s favourite, and a kind and gentle soul. Out of jealousy, the court’s least-favoured maiden, Shu Keigetsu, uses forbidden magic to swap bodies with Reirin and pushes her off the balcony during a festival.
Now in Keigetsu’s body, Reirin is first faced with terrible punishment. But after she survives, she is sent to live at the edge of the palace walls in a run-down cottage. However, instead of being inconsolable, Reirin is happy with her situation as in the first time since her birth, she has a healthy body. As she thrives in Keigetsu’s healthy body, Keigetsu suffers in her weak one, and starts to wonder if she made the right decision.
This anime takes full advantage of the saying “the grass is not always greener on the other side”. Instead of being a pampered princess like she had hoped, Keigetsu has to put up with Reirin’s body which she can barely move in, all the while Reirin thrives in her body. Both of them face difficulties in their new lives, but the way they face them shows us why Reirin was such a favourite.
In the beginning, many people compared Inept Villainess to The Apothecary Diaries, but it’s wholly different. Other than the similar backgrounds, Inept Villainess focuses more on the inner court politics and the main characters’ struggles, while in The Apothecary Diaries we see a lot more mystery. The new series holds its own however, with amazing storytelling and animation. Seeing Reirin overcome so many obstacles and outsmart the cunning court ladies comes with its own satisfaction.
The series is available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
Kaiju Girl Caramelise
Puberty is a confusing and emotional time for youngsters, especially if you are an outcast. But at least you don’t turn into a massive Kaiju when you get too emotional! For Kuroe Akaishi, it is her reality. As if being called Psycho-tan wasn’t enough, now she has to focus on not turning into a monster whenever her crush Arata Minami pays attention to her. But maybe he can overlook her…quirks and love the sweet, kind girl underneath?
Such is the premise of Kaiju Girl Caramelise, based on Spica Aoki’s manga series. The show is absolutely adorable, with its cute high-school love moments between two awkward teenagers. But what makes it stand out is the fact that the main character can turn into a kaiju, which leads to some hilarious misunderstandings and eventual problems.
Overall, this show is a perfect balance of comedy and romance, which means it’s made for romcom lovers. What I loved about this show was that Kuroe was not even the quirkiest character of the series! Even though she turns into a literal 30-foot monster, there are some crazier people around her who make her seem pretty normal. Overall, this series is perfect for a weekend binge!
The series is available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
Victoria of Many Faces
It’s not often that we see fully grown adult protagonists in historical or fantasy settings, but Victoria of Many Faces offers just that. Adapted from Syuu’s light novel, this anime centres around Chloe, a brilliant spy from the Kingdom of Hagi. After being betrayed by the one she trusted the most, Chloe changes her disguise, takes the name of Victoria Sellers and starts living as a civilian in the Kingdom of Ashbury.
On her first day there, Victoria finds an abandoned girl named Nonna and later adopts her with the help of a handsome police official named Jeffrey Asher. With Nonna and Jeffrey by her side, Victoria finally gets a taste of a normal and carefree life.
The series is unique in its setting. Even though she is a 27-year-old, Victoria is naive in many ways when it comes to connecting with normal people. On the other hand, she is a cunning spy who has seen the worst of humanity and struggles to trust people. Holding onto her vigilante nature while still being a good guardian to Nonna is hard, but Victoria does it well. Seeing her slowly become a family with Nonna and Jeffrey is soothing and peaceful.
The anime also offers some high-tension moments, as a high-profile spy like Victoria can be attacked by enemies any time. The balance of high-octane action and peaceful domestic life is really well-portrayed in this anime, making it a really enjoyable watch.
The series is available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
Goodbye, Lara
Kinema Citrus’ beloved original anime Goodbye, Lara puts a twist on the age-old story of The Little Mermaid. The titular protagonist Lara is the youngest daughter of the Mermaid King and beloved by her family. But moved by her insatiable curiosity, Lara breaks a rule and saves a human prince, eventually falling in love with him. Despite her father’s warnings, Lara drinks a potion from the sea witch Grace which turns her into a human, and starts living with the prince. But Grace warns her that the potion will expire if she doesn’t experience true love.
When the prince rejects Lara after learning she is a mermaid, she turns into bubbles as the curse takes effect. When she wakes up, she sees that her selfish choice has led to her kingdom being destroyed, and it can only be restored if she finds true love. Lara is resurrected two hundred years into the future, in modern day Biwa. There she meets a human girl named Mari who introduces her to the modern world.
Lara’s journey is heartbreaking all throughout the series. Despite teetering on the edge of GL, we never really see if Lara and Mari are truly in love with each other. However, that doesn’t take away from the beauty of this series. In just 12 episodes, Kinema Citrus was able to create magic on screen with its amazing storytelling and nostalgic animation. The anime will definitely make you shed a few tears after watching Lara’s journey.
The series is available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
Love Unseen Beneath the Clear Night Sky
Based on Nanigashi Shima’s light novel series, this show was one of the many romantic anime that came out this season. But it stands out from the rest due to its gorgeous art and underlying tragic themes. The story follows a boy named Kakeru Sorano, who is a university student. One day, he meets a blind student from his university named Koharu Fuyutsuki and becomes her friend. After learning that Koharu’s dream is to launch fireworks one day, he wants to fulfil her wishes.
The tragedy of the series begins when we learn that Koharu lost her eyesight due to cancer and it has come back. The two friends who eventually fell in love with each other fall into themes of loss and grief as her condition worsens. The anime will definitely make you shed a few tears, but also fill your heart with warmth and happiness for the two young lovers. The series teaches us that life is only precious because it ends.
The series is available for streaming on Crunchyroll.