Spring 2026 is coming to an end, and we have some real gems in our hands!
The Spring 2026 anime season is drawing to a close, as most of the shows have wrapped up their current season. With so many new series having made their debut this season, you might be struggling to choose which ones to pick up for a binge session.
But after spending some time on (totally scientific) calculations, we have come up with a list of the 10 best new anime series of the season. From action to romance and history to magic, these shows have something for everyone.
Agents of the Four Seasons
Streaming platform: Crunchyroll
Starting off with a heartbreaking anime filled with tragedy, unfulfilled love, and human cruelty, we have Agents of the Four Seasons. Based on Kana Akatsuki’s novel series, the show focuses on the Agents of the four seasons, who are tasked with bringing forth their respective seasons to the lands. But as always, the unbounded nature of human greed makes their existence a constant struggle to death.
Thanks to Wit Studio’s gorgeous animation, creative direction, and amazing music, the anime is an audio-visual treat. Together with the heartbreaking story, it has the power to bring you to tears, but also make you smile. Although one of the most noteworthy must-watches, you should beware of the constant violence shown in the series.
Akane-banashi
Streaming platform: Netflix, Akane-banashi Global YouTube Channel
Who doesn’t love a series dedicated to an extremely niche ancient art form? Akane-banashi, focusing on the titular Akane, is a series that delves deep into the modern scene of the ancient performance art form Rakugo. High school student Akane started training to become a rakugoka after her father was expelled from the profession six years ago. But gaining the highest rank in Rakugo is far from easy.
Akane’s journey in the series is both impressive and inspirational. Zexcs also handled the animation in the series really well, despite it not having any high-speed moments. The audience is pulled into the beautiful storycrafting that is unique to Rakugo and can’t help but fall in love with this ancient solo performance art form.
Always a Catch!
Streaming platform: Crunchyroll
We can never have enough of wholesome fantasy romcoms with a side of a strong heroine and a dash of politics. After Scarlet from May I Ask for One Final Thing? we now have Maria from Always a Catch!, who loves punching her way through her problems. But after she loses her claim to her father’s dukedom after the birth of her little brother, Maria needs to find a suitable man to marry. But with no nobleman willing to marry a woman who is an expert martial artist, she is forced to travel to another kingdom to find a match.
With its hilarious misunderstandings and lovable main character, the anime pulls in the audience right from the start. We cheer for both Maria and her cousin Aida to marry the men they love. True to its nature of a romcom, the anime never gets too serious, and yet manages to squeeze some political spice here and there, adding layers to its storytelling. If you need a mood lifter anime for the weekend, then Always a Catch! is perfect for you!
An Observation Log of My Fiancée Who Calls Herself a Villainess
Streaming platform: Crunchyroll
Based on Shiki’s light novel series, this title is the other breakout fantasy romcom of the season. Unlike Always a Catch!, the protagonist of this series is a girl named Tia, who was reborn as a villainess in an otome game. Her fiancé Cecil becomes interested in her antics, but doesn’t believe in her claims until the things Tia foretold actually start to happen. But Cecil is also not without his own secrets.
The anime really does justice to the popular original novel series. The growing mutual interest and love between Tia and Cecil is heartwarming. On the other hand, we also understand both of their unique struggles. Overall, the series was a success thanks to amazing performances and beloved characters that brought the story to life.
Daemons of the Shadow Realm
Streaming platform: Crunchyroll
Daemons of the Shadow Realm was, for good reasons, one of the most anticipated releases of the season. It’s based on a manga series by Hiromu Arakawa,, who also created the beloved shōnen manga Fullmetal Alchemist. The story follows Yuru and his younger twin sister Asa, who grew up in vastly different worlds after their parents took Asa with them to the modern world, leaving Yuru behind to be raised in a village devoid of modern technology. But with the twins’ powers finally coming to light, they don’t stay strangers for long.
Thankfully, the series was able to live upto the expectations from the audience. Although the story is quite slow, it makes sense as the series will continue into a second cour as well. The build-up so far is good, and gives the audience a clear idea of the power system in the world. The animation is great, and the action sequences feel lively. But if you haven’t watched it yet, it might be a good idea to wait till the second cour is over.
Go for it, Nakamura!
Streaming platform: Crunchyroll
Another highly-anticipated anime but for entirely different reasons. The anime adaptation of Syundei’s Boys Love anime Go for it, Nakamura! was announced back in 2024, and was finally released in April 2026 after some delay. The adorable series focuses on the titular Nakamura, a high-school boy who has a world-ending crush on his classmate Hirose, who is also a boy. Trying to hide the fact that he is gay, the awkward Nakamura spends his days trying to befriend Hirose and daydream about their future.
One-sided love is often sad, but Go for it, Nakamura perfectly extracts the comedic element from an awkward teenager being in love. Despite its apparent playfulness, the series captures the struggle of queer students really well. Nakamura’s journey to not only impress Hirose but to accept his own identity is quite heartwarming. Paired with the amazing animation and voice performances, the series has the potential to become one the best BL romcoms.
Nippon Sangoku
Streaming platform: Prime Video
Based on Ikka Matsuki’s manga series, Nippon Sangoku is one of the most serious and dark anime of the season. It takes place in an alternate universe where Japan was hit with several tragedies back-to-back during the Reiwa Era. The devastating effects reduced the country’s technological advancement to that of the Meiji Era. After facing a tragedy at the hand of a tyrannical leader, the protagonist Aoteru Misumi vows to change the country and reunite it under one banner with his superior intellect and the help of some like-minded people.
If you like dark political dramas, then this anime is a perfect fit for you. The unique artstyle of the series makes for a dark yet gorgeous watch. Aoteru’s political intellect and Yoshitsune’s superior sportsmanship makes them an unstoppable duo. Together, their journey becomes a rise to power that you cannot look away from.
The Klutzy Class Monitor and the Girl with the Short Skirt (Ponsuka)
Streaming platform: Crunchyroll
There is a unique charm to high-school romcoms that we just can’t deny, especially the ones who focus on the comedy as much as the romance. Ponsuka, based on Takuma Yokota’s manga, is a charming and funny series focusing on a gyaru named Poem Kohinata who often gets in trouble with her school’s straight-laced prefect Tougo Sakuradaimon due to the short length of her skirt. But when the two high-schoolers get to know each other, an unlikely romance blooms. However, with their contrasting personalities and all the unique student council members thrown into the mix, their romance is often more comedic than romantic.
The series’ focus on quirky characters and their outlandish behaviour will make you laugh until you cry. The situations our beloved protagonists get into can be classified as idiotic, but that’s what makes them so charming. The original manga is quite stylised, and the smooth animation does it justice. Thanks to the amazing voice performances, the anime has become one of the of the most entertaining watches of this season.
The Ramparts of Ice
Streaming platform: Netflix
The Winter 2026 anime season gifted us with the sweet romcom You and I Are Polar Opposites, and in this season, we got the adaptation of Kōcha Asagawa’s other manga, The Ramparts of Ice. Despite being written by the same person, The Ramparts of Ice is vastly different from Polar Opposites. It focuses on Koyuki, a high-school girl who is often regarded as an Ice Queen due to her cold demeanor. However, we learn that Koyuki carries heavy trauma from the incidents that took place in middle school. When the class’ popular boy Minato Amamiya sets his sights on Koyuki, he learns that there is a lot more to her than what meets the eye.
The series delves deep into themes of bullying, harassment, and the trauma that these experiences can leave behind in a child. But it also highlights the importance of selfless friendships and understanding peers in overcoming past traumas. Learning to trust people after going through something traumatic is hard, but it can be done with the help of the right people. For Koyuki, those people are Minato, Miki, and Yota. From friendship to romance to self-love, the series covers everything in a respectful way, making it one of the best shows of the season.
Witch Hat Atelier
Streaming platform: Crunchyroll, Netflix
This listicle would not be complete without arguably the best anime to have emerged from the season. Based on Kamome Shirahama’s manga, Witch Hat Atelier is a fantasy anime focusing on Coco, a young girl who constantly daydreams about magic and wants to become a witch. When she discovers that witches are not born but trained, she tries drawing magical runes with the pen and ink given to her by a mysterious witch. Her magic results in a tragedy, and Coco is barely rescued from it by a kind witch named Qifrey. But her mother is not so lucky. Coco begs to become an apprentice under Quifrey so she can eventually save her mother.
The world of Witch Hat Atelier is gorgeous, mysterious, and above all else, magical. The magic system is clever and complex. Coco’s journey to become a witch is inspirational but not easy. The villains in this series are spine-chilling, and every adult seems to hide something dark. The episodes each unfold a new world in front of your eyes, making you hold your breath for the next one. The animation and storytelling are spectacular, making it one of the most visually stunning and story-rich anime of this season.