Japanese Fans Reveal Their Favorite Spring 2026 Anime

The Spring 2026 season appears to be one of the best anime seasons for Japan in recent times, judging from the results of recent polls (via Minna no Ranking website). Although major franchises continue to dominate the anime industry, there is a noticeable shift towards new manga adaptations and interesting stories that are quickly gaining popularity among Japanese audiences.

The biggest surprise was how evenly the rankings were divided between the new adaptations and returning sequel series. Big hits such as That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4 and Re:ZERO Season 4 ranked highly on the list, but there were also newcomers on the list, including Witch Hat Atelier and Daemons of the Shadow Realm.

Slime, Re:ZERO and Dorohedoro Fuel Spring 2026 Hype

Another notable trend from the Spring 2026 ranking is the massive number of sequels topping the charts. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4 claimed the top spot, indicating that the adventures of Rimuru Tempest have not been forgotten by fans.

One reason for the anime’s continued success is its well-balanced mix of action, politics, and world-building. Meanwhile, Re:ZERO Season 4 also appeared high on the list by grabbing the 4th position, demonstrating that Subaru’s psychological struggles will keep the audience interested.

At the same time, the anticipation around Dorohedoro Season 2 was tremendous, as fans finally got the continuation of the beloved series after years of waiting. The dark fantasy anime has built a cult following over the years because of its chaotic world-building, brutal action, and bizarre humor, and the recent poll ranking coming from Japan shows that its popularity in Japan remains strong.

New Anime Surprises Are Stealing the Spotlight From Major Franchises

Even with sequels occupying the majority of these rankings, there were some surprising newer entries that managed to resonate strongly with Japanese fans. In particular, Nippon Sangoku is one such example that surprisingly ranked second while competing against some of the internationally famous franchises. The show has gained quite a bit of buzz thanks to its complex plot and mature themes.

Another major breakout title was Daemons of the Shadow Realm. The series ranked third on the list. Given the reputation of Hiromu Arakawa, the creator of Fullmetal Alchemist, expectations for the anime were already extremely high before the anime premiered, due to Arakawa’s ability to mix emotional stories with mysticism.

Apart from that, Kill Blue‘s anime adaptation also gained the much-needed attention this season and ranked fifth thanks to its growing popularity among Jump readers. Fans seem to have been drawn to its unique premise, humor, and an intriguing blend of school-life comedy and action.

Meanwhile, highly anticipated fantasy adaptations like Witch Hat Atelier also emerged as standout titles this season. The popularity of these new projects proves that Japanese audiences are eager for fresh ideas that can compete with the biggest anime franchises.

Here is the top 10 Spring 2026 anime by Japanese fans –

RankAnimeWhere to Watch

1	That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime	Crunchyroll
2	Nippon Sangoku	Prime Video
3	Daemons of the Shadow Realm	Crunchyroll
4	Re:ZERO Season 4	Crunchyroll
5	Kill Blue	Crunchyroll, Netflix, Prime Video
6	Wistoria: Wand and Sword Season 2	Crunchyroll
7	Always a Catch!	Crunchyroll
8	Witch Hat Atelier	Crunchyroll, Prime Video
9	Dorohedoro Season 2	Crunchyroll, Netflix
10	Kusunoki’s Garden of Gods	Crunchyroll

Here are some of the questions fans may have –

Now the big question – which Spring 2026 anime do you think has the best chance of becoming the next global phenomenon? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.