This is the anime season you have been waiting for.
As we enter a new year, we also enter a new anime season—guys, the winter 2026 season is packed full of shows that so many of us are anticipating. Here’s a little sample of what’s ahead (or if you prefer, jump straight down to our first impressions!):
Winter 2026 Anime Preview
Old favorites are returning.
This is an insane season for returning anime, led by a couple of modern classics: Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End (Season 2) and Oshi no Ko (Season 3). As a manga reader, I have to say—both of these seasons should be bangers. While I read through the Frieren arc that’s going to be animated (with just ten episodes, reportedly), I kept thinking to myself: This is going to look really, really good in animation. Meanwhile, Oshi no Ko is past what I consider its weakest arc (too little happened in too many chapters/episodes) and headed back toward head-spinning material.
Other old favorites are returning as well, including the new season of Jujutsu Kaisen, which you may have gotten a sneak peek of at theaters this month. The manga is absolutely non-stop from here on out, but the anime series will hopefully slow things down a bit, as it has done until now; that’s been a strength of the adaptation. Also returning are Fire Force, UNDEAD UNLUCK, Hell’s Paradise, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, ‘Tis Time for “Torture,” Princess, the Trigun reboot (the new season is called TRIGUN STARGAZE and, based on the excellent final few episodes of season one, this could be worth watching), Golden Kamuy (in its final season), and more! Frieren and OnK top my watch list, though I’m definitely interested to see if Trigun can carry the momentum of the excellent final few episodes of season one as well.
Manga and light novel adaptations galore!
Virtually all anime is now an adaptation of a light novel, manga, or other property, and we see that continued this season. Thankfully, many of those properties are really, really good, so there’s hope for excellent anime as well! The first few volumes of HELL MODE are a good kind of grind, so I’m hoping for a good adaptation (though episode one has me leery); Kunon the Sorcerer Can See is a warm, excellent series that’s been begging for an adaptation; and we’ve enjoyed the LNs for The Holy Grail of Eris.
My most anticipated anime of the season is a manga adaptation: You and I Are Polar Opposites. Episode one, which we already covered via a special screening at Anime Frontier, did the manga justice! Why do I like this series so much? It’s got the romantic and comedic elements you want from such a show, but it’s also unusually smart in its comedy structure and features characters that we care about largely because of their very human flaws—anxiety, worrying about what others think, neuroticism, being “easy.” It’s an excellent series. There’s also buzz for a host of others, including Tune In to the Midnight Heart, Sentenced to Be a Hero, SHIBOYUGI, Tamon’s B-Side, and more!
Wild cards might shock us, too.
Like with GNOSIA last season, every anime season brings along a series or two that wasn’t on our radar at first, but ends up being one of the best series of the year. I tend to point out one or two that might be worth checking out, but I feel like I mentioned them above already—but here’s another: Journal with Witch. This one is our chief editor claire’s most anticipated anime of the season. The manga is a josei phenomenon that is still awaiting an English translation, though claire likes it so much that she picked it up in French! The series is about two generations of women and—here’s a shocker—the story doesn’t revolve around romantic plots!
What other shows might be the wild cards this season? Any suggestions?
Let’s go!
Considering all the series on deck—there are so many new series this season! If you include shorts (which, to be fair, we rarely cover) and returning series (we review many of these), there are close to 70 anime premiering this winter. Seventy! That’s the state of Japan now, and while many of us are worried about that bubble bursting, let’s ignore that for now and just enjoy all this upcoming animation!
The problem, of course, is deciding which of those six dozen shows to even try out. That’s where we come in!
Winter 2026 Anime First Impressions
Over the coming weeks, we’ll be posting first impression pieces on our site as anime series premiere. We’ll give you quick summaries of the episode and our initial thoughts—what was good about the episode? What wasn’t? Where do we think the series is going from here? We’ll drop screenshots and streaming links as well.
If you can’t keep up with the flurry of posts, we’ve made it easy for you: Just keep coming back to this one. We’ll update this master post as we go along, giving the TL;DR from the full reviews, along with screenshots, streaming links, and, for good measure, other BtT reviewers’ opinions. And you don’t have to wait for the strike of midnight on New Year’s Eve to start reading, because we’ve already reviewed several new shows that premiered at Anime Frontier this month! You can read those now, and be sure to come back for more throughout January—oh, and let us know what you’re anticipating, too, and what you think of the new anime as they premiere!
An Adventurer’s Daily Grind at Age 29 • The Case Book of Arne • Champignon Witch • The Daily Life of a Part-Time Torturer • Dark Moon: The Blood Altar • The Darwin Incident • Dead Account • The Demon King’s Daughter is Too Kind!! • Easygoing Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord • Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 2 • A Gentle Noble’s Vacation Recommendation • Hana-Kimi • HELL MODE: The Hardcore Gamer Dominates in Another World with Garbage Balancing • Hell’s Paradise S2 • The Holy Grail of Eris • In the Clear Moonlit Dusk • The Invisible Man and His Soon-to-Be Wife • Isekai Office Worker: The Other World’s Books Depend on the Bean Counter • Jack-of-All-Trades, Party of None • Journal with Witch (Ikoku Nikki) • Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 • Kaya-chan isn’t Scary • Kunon the Sorcerer Can See • Love Through a Prism • A Misanthrope Teaches a Class for Demi-Humans • Noble Reincarnation: Born Blessed, So I’ll Obtain Ultimate Power • Oedo Fire Slayer -The Legend of Phoenix- • Oshi no Ko Season 3 • Release That Witch • Roll Over and Die • Scum of the Brave • Sentenced to Be a Hero • Shiboyugi: Playing Death Games to Put Food on the Table • Tamon’s B-Side • There Was a Cute Girl in the Hero’s Party, So I Tried Confessing to Her • Trigun Stargaze • Tune in to the Midnight Heart • The Villainess Is Adored by the Prince of the Neighbor Kingdom • Wash It All Away • Yoroi-Shinden Samurai Troopers • You and I Are Polar Opposites • You Can’t Be in a Rom-Com with Your Childhood Friends!
An Adventurer’s Daily Grind at Age 29
First Impression: Michel
…there is a bunch of weirdness in this first episode, enough for me to sign off immediately. Hajime sleeps in the same bed as her, and while he’s having “good” dreams, Rirui’s body turns into that of an adult woman. At the end of the episode, the nature of Rirui’s species is revealed. It turns out she’s a succubus. All of that, combined with what manga readers say, leads me to conclude the manga is “teasing” these suspicious elements while not actually going through with them, which is supposed to add to the lighthearted comedy. The problem is that the humor is not working at all. Hajime is an annoying and sleazy main character, but in a lame way that doesn’t lead to any funny situations. The positives in this episode don’t amount to much either, so I won’t be around for the next one.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
The Case Book of Arne
First Impression: Gaheret
The opening salvo of The Case Book of Arne is a supernatural mystery that does many things right. It efficiently introduces us to a compelling group of kid characters in an innocent yet sinister world. It made me feel invested, as did the visuals and good sound design. The conclusion of the episode feels cathartic, too, and I felt genuine emotion watching it. At some points, I thought that this could become my favorite show of the season. Nevertheless, it makes some questionable choices that could easily end up becoming fatal flaws…
claire
I read my fair share of Encyclopedia Brown as a kid, and so I’m not opposed on principle to child detectives, but this was…a bit of a stretch. Gaheret mentions two of the beefs that I share in his full review, but there’s a third too, which the image above gets at. Not once, but twice, we are treated to a lengthy rendering of a conversation Short Stuff here had with his Detective Dad about the importance of paying attention to things right in front of his nose. Then, when he’s sat across a coffee table from a boy who very clearly can only be a vampire—from his pointy teeth to his pointy ears, his pale skin to his glowing red snake eyes—and another character who has stitch marks all over her face and body from where the body parts have been stapled together a la Frankenstein’s Monster, kiddo petulantly insists that there’s no such thing as vampires or monsters or non-humans of any kind. Someone get this child to an eye doctor. I will suspend my disbelief that an orphaned elementary schooler can play sleuth, but come on. His observational blindness is a stretch too far. There’s no way he solved the mystery like he did (in the most accelerated “deduction montage” I’ve ever witnessed, and I’ve watched a lot of detective shows) when he can’t even recognise monsters from three feet away. This is too silly for me. Count me out.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Champignon Witch
First Impression: claire
The animation is…a bit hit and miss in that the backgrounds are lush and striking, capturing that enchanted forest feel, but the character designs are a bit flat, though effort has been made with Luna’s outfits, which change each time she visits the town—a rare occurrence in anime! The pacing swings back and forth between a tad slow and rather quick (insta-love), never quite finding its feet, yet, when all is said and done, the two episodes do establish both the worldbuilding and character arc for Luna quite nicely. The series could build from here into a rewarding story; or it could continue to mute its lead and never quite give us a tale with any depth. I can’t tell! So…I’m on the fence. I’ll give it another episode at least, to see what it is this lengthy premiere has gone to the trouble of setting up.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
The Daily Life of a Part-Time Torturer
First Impression: claire
Setting aside the fact that torture has been proven to provide highly unreliable information, this is an inane episode with lame “humor,” built on a paper-thin premise that can only go down from here. It’s meant to be a comedy, but the humor relies on one lone element: the juxtaposition between “nice guys” and the horrible things they do. Let me save you some time: It doesn’t work. It just isn’t funny. Now, there is of course a second level of “humor” at work here too, though for now at least it’s implicit rather than explicit, and that is the parallels with BDSM. Sero is clearly a masochist, and Miké a sadist, while Siu’s embarrassment at having a loyalty card to the torture device shop may hint at a parallel with adult stores. It feels like the episode is always on the verge of a wink-nod, all the while feigning innocence. The potential for this becoming a stronger undercurrent as the series progresses puts the final nail in the coffin for me for this one.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Dark Moon: The Blood Altar
First Impression: Josh
if you’re into the reverse harem pretty boy vampire trope, then I say go for it. However, if you’re looking for something special or unique, I say give this one a hard pass. You’ve seen this show and these character tropes many times before, my friends, and, in some ways, done better. That said, there’s almost enough here for my Izzy-like curiosity to want me to see if this show can be more than the sum of its parts. But Japan, can we give the vampire trope a rest? Seriously, Vampires are becoming the new isekai of anime, and heaven knows we have enough of THAT. Just saying.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
The Darwin Incident
First Impression: twwk
The first episode of The Darwin Incident is one of those anime episodes that are meant to grip you by making you curious and a bit uncomfortable. The subject matter of a “humanzee” is strange, but the entire episode is a bit weird; the characters kind of move and talk in a slightly stilted way, and the ALA is a group that might be evil (possibly), might be good (sometimes), or might have once been good and is now evil (probably). Charlie himself is a little unsettling—there’s a kindness and innocence to him, but his matter-of-factness and misunderstanding of cues adds a tension to the story; it’s as if the anime is telling us Charlie may not be a hero, though the hoppity OP shows us otherwise, as does his sort-of-friendship that he quickly develops with Lucy, who’s more clearly a good person than any character so far in the series. There are a lot of questions here, too, including what exactly is this series all about and what point of view does it want us to take about animal rights? I think some people will dig this type of show, but it’s a little too cold and awkward (perhaps purposely or perhaps not) for my taste.
Streaming on Prime Video.
Dead Account
First Impression: claire
First off, be warned! The OP animation spoils the twist! So skip it (it comes immediately after the sinister opening narration) if you wanna maximize potential enjoyment. And indeed, there is enjoyment to be had here, as this is a decent opening salvo for a series of the “supernatural powers marital arts training school shonen/seinen” variety. It’s like JJK but with smartphones, and in fact reminds me a lot of JJK 0 (which I thought did a better job of introducing the franchise than the actual JJK premiere episode). In terms of tone, Dead Account is a mash-up midway between Mashle and JJK, with a jokey, gag-like opening half segueing into a darker second part. The worldbuilding is a little thin at this point, but inventive nevertheless, riffing off the themes in the opening narration and digitizing the supernatural.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
The Demon King’s Daughter is Too Kind!!
First Impression: Michel
I think a premise such as this one only works if the anime is actually funny, but unfortunately, I didn’t get a single laugh out of the first two episodes. Part of it could be explained by the fact I’m outside the target demographic: It’s clearly intended for young children. The voice acting is very exaggerated, and each episode has a song with hiragana lyrics. However, I think even a younger audience might find the lack of conflict a bit boring. Doux is always kind and helpful, without ever raising any doubts about that. So when suspenseful music plays when she could potentially hurt someone, it feels a little bit too silly to expect me to buy into that. Being boring is not the worst offense for an anime, though, and maybe it’s simply not for me. Some viewers might enjoy a simple anime like this to wind down with, but I think there are better alternatives for the genre.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Easygoing Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord
First Impression: Gaheret
Well, that was probably the most generic isekai to ever see a screen. It is also complete—if somewhat inoffensive—nonsense: The feeling I get is something like daydreaming without much rhyme or reason after a hard day at work…This, nevertheless, is a pattern throughout the entire episode: The characters emphatically do not act like human beings. Their interactions convey a vibe of unreality that puts me in an almost philosophical mood. If you love isekai and just want some low-stakes daydream after catching that last train home in the evening, or if you want to meditate while you watch unconvincing interactions, I guess there’s nothing too bad here.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 2
First Impression: twwk
Stark gets to take a bit of center stage here as the audience is reminded of the cowardice he’s constantly fighting, which opens up to some moments that Stark x Fern fans will cheer for (and maybe grimace about), a focus on the personal journeys for all three members of the Frieren trio, and, of course, moving scenes. It’s not Frieren if you aren’t feeling it, and there were two scenes in particularly that had me nearly reaching for tissues, centered around the phrase, “I trust you with my life.” What a wonderful theme for this opening episode, in which Frieren, taking lessons from Himmel (natch), explains to the party that “running away” should be done together as well, with the deeper lesson to them that they don’t always have to be strong and mighty…All the rest we expect from Frieren is here too—including a suitably moving OP (“lulu.” by Mrs. GREEN APPLE); an ED (“The Story of Us” by milet) that is beautiful, hopeful, and a little twangy—in other words, very “milet”; and breathtaking art featuring little flourishes, like the fresh apples laid at the small headstone in the closing scene. There’s even a quick but cool action scene involving a dragon.
Michel
I think this was as close as you could get to a perfect episode to start off the new season. I personally didn’t like the exam arc, not necessarily because it was badly done, but because it took us away from the adventure that really sets apart Frieren as an S-tier anime. This episode takes us right back to adventuring, featuring magic crystals, dangerous monsters, and the epic/emotional flashbacks we’re used to. On top of that, the interactions between Frieren, Fern, and Stark are very entertaining. Not just the dialogue, but the quiet moments as well. Before watching this, I wondered whether Frieren would be the best anime of the season, because there are some other good contenders, but I only had to watch a few minutes of this episode to realize Frieren Season 2 will probably not only be the #1 of the season, but of the year as well.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
A Gentle Noble’s Vacation Recommendation
First Impression: claire
Yawn! What a dull premiere. I think Lisel is meant to be enigmatic, but he just comes across as pedantic and oddly disconcerting, like he’s always on the verge of speaking in euphemisms, but never quite goes the whole way. In fact, the whole episode is like that: It’s not tagged BL, but the subtext is strong; yet the author of the original light novels insists that there’s no romance between the men, and it’s all just about male friendship. Personally, considering all the near-euphemisms, the coyness about non-interest in women (one of Lisel’s first questions to Gil), and the harem’s worth of handsome men all finding themselves intrigued by Lisel in this episode, I’d say that either the author, or the studio behind this adaptation, SynergySP, is having a laugh. Romance may not be the endgame here, but romanticized friendship—shonen ai—definitely is. And honestly, this little debate about how to tag the series is the most interesting thing about this premiere. … [It really] puts the BL in “bland”!
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Hana-Kimi
First Impression: twwk
The issues here are mostly two-fold. The first is the writing, which literally just jumps from one random scenario to the next, leading from encounter to encounter that opens or deepens relationships with Ashiya and Sano or the other boys (Nakatsu, her new “bestie,” is my favorite so far)…The second issue is Ashiya herself. She resembles Chihaya (Chihayafuru) in appearance and somewhat in soul—she’s pretty flighty and does everything, it seems, without thinking. It’s kind of obnoxious…Fans of old-school manga romance will likely enjoy the series, but the presence of the good—which also includes a really lovely ED (“Baby” by Yoasobi)—doesn’t necessarily outweigh the bad (animation that’s average at best included among the above concerns). I want to support this old-school series (created by a mangaka, Hisaya Nakajo, who has since passed away) receiving the animated treatment, but I’ll have to give it another few episodes to see if the story is legitimately good—or if we’re looking back with rose-colored glasses.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
HELL MODE: The Hardcore Gamer Dominates in Another World with Garbage Balancing
First Impression: twwk
The summoning ability is a fun one to play with, and the most entertaining parts of episode one are the cute creatures he brings forth—mice and frogs, and moles among them. There’s warmth, too, expressed most heartily in Rodin’s explanation of how Allen’s name comes from the beautiful albaheron, which, though monsters and enemies of mankind, enjoy an enduring freedom. There’s also the light novel series, which I’ve found to be excellent; it excels in bringing you deep into the world of grinding and enjoying how Allen works and works and works to grow. Unfortunately, I don’t get the sense that we’ll dive as deeply into the world’s mechanics as the LN does, as the series prefers to highlight the numbers showing Allen’s growth instead of explaining them much. But I could be wrong. I hope I’m wrong! Because I hope the adaptation will show Allen’s resilience, intelligence, and fight; if it does, the boring first episode will be the anime’s worst.
Josh
Okay, so you guys know I tend to avoid isekai anime like the plague. I mean, there’s only so many times and so many ways you can tell a story about a person being transported to a video game fantasy world. We’ve seen it repeatedly. And, at least in the beginning, Hell Mode seems to follow the same trope. In fact, this show seems to follow the lead of Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, except, thankfully, our male lead is nowhere near as big a perverted loser. Also, there seems to be a little heart with this one as compared to all the others I’ve come across, as we get to see our male lead grow up with his mom and dad, and the fact that he has to work his way up from nothing (both power-wise and socially) is refreshing. All that said, this premiere episode feels like your dime-a-dozen isekai anime, and even with it’s good points, I doubt this show will do anything to shake up the isekai trope and as such, I don’t think I’ll be following this one. Good try though.
Will stream on HIDIVE.
Hell’s Paradise S2
First Impression: Negativeprimes
Season two throws us back into the story without so much as a recap to hold our hand. I did have to do a quick web search to refresh my memory on certain characters and details, but that’s fine. The new OP, “Kasukana Hana” (Tatsuya Kitani feat. BABYMETAL), doesn’t hit me quite as powerfully as the syncopated tones of “Work” (Ringo Sheena and Millenium Parade)—yet it’s quite solid, and the visuals are beautiful. In a way, this reflects my reaction to episode 14 as a whole. The episode feels less energetic than much of season one did, which makes sense: The power of the story largely hinges on Gabimaru as a character and on the mysteries of the island. With many of the mysteries cleared up, it seems, and with Gabimaru losing his strength and the main personal relationship that has defined him so far, there’s less to pull the story forward—for the moment. I am hopeful, however, that the season as a whole will come into its own soon enough; this first episode gives the impression that the story is continuing the same story arc, rather than kicking off a new one, and so this may just be a lull before more rising action (and which somewhat unfortunately happens to fall at the beginning of the season).
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
The Holy Grail of Eris
First Impression: Gaheret
After a beginning that was darker than it needed to be and some questionable character designs (Scarlett’s physics-defying proportions almost made me quit the show on the spot), I got really invested in Constance’s tribulations. Unlike most entries in the villainess genre, there is no ostensible video game mechanic at play here: only the social game and those who become Playing Characters and stop being passive NPCs, but risk losing themselves to the dance…And just when I was getting interested and had forgotten about all that blood at the start, the show had to make people dance to death as if this was The Red Shoes. We cannot just have a cruel multitude: It has to be an entire society of faceless psychopaths, watching and commenting with glee. Perhaps it will strike others differently, but it left me disgusted…
claire
Those are pretty strong words to end on from my friend Gaheret! But I disagree. I think the extremity of the depravity to which Eris’s hell-returned spirit whips up the crowd of socialites is precisely the point: It’s meant to be shocking and horrifying. What we have here is the story of a well-meaning, trusting girl—whose name is literally Constance, while her family motto is about Sincerity—being taken over unwittingly by a petty, vengeful spirit that is extremely charismatic, manipulative, and knows how to sway a crowd and get them to do things they never would otherwise have done. That spirit is about to get the innocent girl embroiled in the nation’s politics, too, I’ll wager. So the question at the heart of this episode is: Will clever evil seduce and corrupt innocent sincerity? Or will Constance overcome this Snake in the Garden, who promises the world but consumes her very soul in exchange? There’s also the chance that Constance will actually redeem Eris, too! Either way, this setup has the potential to make for an incredibly powerful parable, and a timely one, too! I, for one, am absolutely tuning in for this one!
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
In the Clear Moonlit Dusk
First Impression: Gaheret
This episode has some notable strengths, as well as some undeniable weaknesses. Among the second, there is the somewhat stilted animation, particularly when many characters share the frame—the students going to school reminded me of the lines of peasants in PC strategy games of old—and the characteristic sudden advances of many shoujo male leads….With that out of the way, there is a lot to love here. The episode shines in the still frames, the quiet looks, the subtle portrayal of Yoi’s anguish and despair. You feel her hurt feelings, her unspoken desires, her efforts to quench hope. You anticipate the joy of the encounter. At last, another person has seen her Yoi’s core, and he is willing to put in the effort to court her, to make her feel seen, to get to know her. I think Yoi is a great character and I’d love to see her happy, so I’ll probably keep watching.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
The Invisible Man and His Soon-to-Be Wife
First Impression: stardf29
We have another cute office romance this season, and this one has a few interesting twists to it. The first obvious aspect to note is the supernatural element, with all the aliens and animal-people making an invisible man feel much less out of place. No explanation is given for how this otherwise modern-Earth world ended up like this; it’s just used for a couple of gags and for adding a bit of extra intrigue to the setting. The second notable aspect is that Yako, the female protagonist, whose perspective the episode largely follows, is blind. A lot of animation and story details go into how she adapts to her impaired vision, and how Tonome and her other coworkers accommodate her. It’s honestly a pretty cool look at what life can be like for a blind person, without that aspect completely dominating the entire show. Indeed, for all of its unique elements, this episode was ultimately a sweet slice-of-life romance at heart.
claire
Aww! This is super sweet! That’s it. That’s all I have to say. No, really, it’s lovely, with pleasant animation, fun worldbuilding, and characters so sincere that you can’t help but root for them and their romance. I do wonder why they seem to work in an apartment rather than an office, but hey ho, details. I like how organically Yako’s visual impairment and various assistive devices are integrated into the storytelling, and how the episode also highlights the particular skills she’s developed in the absence of her sight, giving her an edge over her colleagues both in work and love. It strikes me as a nicely done, positive representation. Also, big shoutout to Youhei Azakami as the seiyuu for Tonome: He does a great job conveying the invisible man’s emotions and personality solely through his tone and cadence, doing the heavy lifting in creating a warm and compelling romantic lead for the series (there’s only so much a suit in suspended animation can express, after all!). A cozy watch, for sure!
Josh
It always does my heart good whenever we get a romcom involving grown office workers, and this one is no exception in the initial offering! I love how we aren’t given any explanation of this world with so many… interesting citizens. You can imagine my moment of hesitation upon seeing a walking, talking feline character; I thought we were going down With You Our Love Will Make it Through paths, and heaven knows I don’t wanna go there again. Regarding our main characters, they do seem really cute together, and I’m very fascinated in seeing how this relationship plays out. How will a romance work between a guy who can’t be seen and a woman who can’t see? This is a follow for me!
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Isekai Office Worker: The Other World’s Books Depend on the Bean Counter
First Impression: claire
I can’t say that I’m normally very excited about either accounting or isekai, but this one is off to a surprisingly decent start! A salaryman getting dragged into a summoning circle due to the combination of his chivalry and exhaustion makes for a unique twist on the isekai mechanism, and made me chuckle, while his sage advice to the “Holy Maiden” (which I’ve not spoiled here) is one of the most sensible things I’ve heard from a character in the first episode of an isekai. I also found the persistence of his addiction to work, and his use of a magical infusion to fuel his continued workaholism when finding himself in an unknown world, to be actually pretty realistic; it’s both believable and compelling. What will it take for Kondou to actually let go of the corporate drone mindset? Can he break free of what was slowly but inexorably killing him in his old life? This is likely where Handsome Commander-san will come into the picture, as this is a BL series, after all, though the romance element is conveyed in this episode solely through the ED animation featuring the two men chastely holding hands and exchanging glances.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Jack-of-All-Trades, Party of None
First Impression: twwk
Generic fantasy anime! Well, in most ways, yes. The first episode of Jack-of-All-Trades, Party of None features a character undervalued by his party who leaves distraught and upset, but ends up finding meaning in leading a different group by his own methods—at least I assumes that what will happen. I am glad, though, that this series doesn’t seem like it’ll go down the revenge path, which often leads to an anime that features graphic content; this one is much lighter than that. The monsters kind of disappear instead of bleed; the music is often whimsical; and the cute girl that Orhun rescues is not violated. Thank goodness. Also, when you avoid revenge tales, you tend to get an MC that’s easy to like, and Orhun is indeed very likable. He’s noble and kind and smart; I want to continue the series just to see him.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Journal with Witch (Ikoku Nikki)
First Impression: claire
Guys. It’s here. And it’s absolutely gorgeous! Journal with Witch is probably my most anticipated series of the year, to be honest, and it was everything I hoped it would be and more besides! This is such a moving coming-of-age slice-of-life series about mourning and grief, on the one hand, and the discovery of joy and purpose on the other, and this adaptation is getting everything right, capturing the very heart of the story from the outset. It is quirky and poetic, philosophical and childlike, all in one—both the series as a whole, and this first episode!
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3
First Impression: twwk
The opening scenes, showing Itadori washing his bloody hands, effectively convey the guilt he’s carrying, while the general structure of episode one and some of two, which jumps back and forth between things happening now and in the near (and sometimes far) past, is artsty and captivating and perfect to remind us of what happened last season without blurting it all out or giving a lengthy prologue. We even get flashbacks of Itadori’s parents—a scene that is very cool and reminds us that there are still many things to be revealed in this insane series. Oh, episode one, by the way, ends on quite a note—you may want to set aside enough time to watch both episodes at once, or you might not be able to focus on anything else the remainder of the day.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Kaya-chan isn’t Scary
First Impression: claire
Action horror adventure set in a kindergarten, you say? Bring it on! Who knew such an odd mashup of genres could work so perfectly! Before seeing this, I would never have considered the phrase “wholesome horror” to be anything other than an oxymoron, but that’s basically what we’re getting with Kaya-chan. She’s the embodiment of innocent as a dove and wise as a serpent, and the gap between her understanding and her ability to articulate what she knows is utterly endearing, while her determination to press on and war against spiritual darkness even if it earns her rejection and reprimand (due to misunderstanding) is compelling. She’s a great little MC! In the running for Best Girl of the season, for sure, especially with that range of expressions!
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Kunon the Sorcerer Can See
First Impression: twwk
There’s such warmth to this series! The quality of the rest of the production, on the other hand, is nothing to write home about. It’s very generic, failing to establish a strong direction for the feel or look of the series. Disappointing, but I’m encouraged enough by the initial episodes to stay on for a while and see where Kunon’s journey takes him.
jeskaiangel
I’m interested in the plot and seeing (ha ha) how Kunon navigates the challenges of his blindness. What I found dubious about these opening episodes was the “humor.” It’s shallow and juvenile, and had me rolling my eyes rather than laughing. Thanks to the interesting aspects, I’ll probably give the show one more chance to impress me, but I doubt you’ll be missing much if you give this one a pass.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Love Through a Prism
First Impression: Gaheret
What an enjoyable little episode! I love the premise of a young Japanese artist discovering Edwardian England, and I love the execution even more. The episode takes the time it needs, and thus lets this little story breathe properly, so we can discover the setting with Lili, one piece at a time. I was inspired by the way the peaceful, luminous soundtrack accompanies the scenes. The sight of our protagonist looking at the sea. The snippets of the London of a hundred years ago, from Covent Garden to Westminster Abbey. Lili’s unusual adventures in the greatest city of Europe, the cultural clashes she experiences, and her resolute yet naive stance all made for a very interesting watch. The humor is quite good, the art the students make looks like the real deal, and Kit Church looks quite intriguing (to the point that we haven’t seen his eyes).
Streaming on Netflix.
A Misanthrope Teaches a Class for Demi-Humans
First Impression: Jeskai
I wasn’t sure what to expect with this one, since the premise has the potential to devolve into squicky teacher-student romance scenarios, after all. This opening episode seems to firmly reject that possibility, however, which is encouraging. The show reminded me a bit of Interviews with Monster Girls, which was quite a fun series. I enjoyed all the eccentric characters, as well as Rei’s reactions to the various mysterious phenomena (he’s more fazed by the principal’s change in appearance than anything else, it seems). And naturally, I’m curious about why Rei is so bitter toward humans, and how this new experience might change his perspective.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Noble Reincarnation: Born Blessed, So I’ll Obtain Ultimate Power
First Impression: Gaheret
Yes, it is technically an isekai (or a reincarnation story?), but we know nothing about Noah’s past life, except for the occasional hint here and there. The OP stats are mercifully absent from the narrative so far: He will become stronger if he earns the loyalty of a great number of followers, but that is also true of political life. Noah’s own allegiance is firmly for his father, subjects, and country, and the first episode treats us to some mysterious curses, cool visuals and sound design, power plays that make a certain degree of sense, and what I found to be a pretty compelling portrayal of how a figure of authority should handle a natural disaster affecting his people and its various economic and social repercussions. Unlike the bland opening, the ending song is pretty fun too. All in all, great stuff. The show is born blessed, but will it obtain the ultimate power? We’ll see. For now, I’m pretty sure I’ll check episode two.
jeskaiangel
Despite what I felt was incredibly rushed pacing, the episode managed to earn my interest. I’m curious about Noah’s past, his magic sword, and so forth. The emperor’s mention of divine providence also caught my attention; I doubt this’ll be a theologically deep show, but combined with the biblical associations of the name “Noah Ararat,” there’s at least some potential here to explore interesting topics.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Oedo Fire Slayer -The Legend of Phoenix-
First Impression: Gaheret
…the character animation here killed a show that had a lot of potential. And I mean it: The concept is extremely cool! Samurai firefighters are the only defense wooden cities have when the black smoke rises on the horizon. The dialogue is passable, but the backgrounds are immersive. When they are still, as in the opening, the characters also look amazing. But when they appear in the actual show, they are horrifying dummies with frozen eyes. Sometimes, only their mouths move, or their eyebrows go up and down in a paralyzed face. Sometimes, two characters walk among a multitude of frozen people…And all I can ask is, why?
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Oshi no Ko Season 3
First Impression: twwk
…lest I make the episode seem too bouncy, there’s a pretty tender moment within—a reminder that OnK does a number of things well, including the heartfelt stuff we might not associate with the series. The new OP is wonderful, a mix of exuberant energy and mystery (Oshi no Ko in a nutshell); I love how it shows what really strong animation (and by the way, the animation is vibrant throughout the episode) looks like in a dance number, reminding me that CGI is indeed as terrible as I think it is in the idol series I watch. All in all, a fun and tender start to the new season!
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Release That Witch
First Impression: twwk
The colors in this anime are stark and vivid; they almost feel alive, as if this were a live-action series. The dialogue is also more akin to a Chinese film than an anime; having only seen several episodes of various donghua adaptations, it felt awkward to me. The animation was also awkward in “everyday” sort of scenes, such as when a local lord drinks apparently nothing from his cup, and transitional scenes gave me whiplash, flying by too quickly. All the time and energy, instead, is spent on a few striking scenes: those focusing on the very beautiful Roland, the strong CGI work, and the action scenes. Oh, the action! It is pretty awesome and scary when Anna uses her power. Again, this feels almost like live action as her fire comes alive. Fantasy series and donghua fans may want to tune into the show…but as for me? The up-and-down quality is frustrating, so I’ll likely skip [it].
Will stream on Crunchyroll.
Roll Over and Die
First Impression: twwk
This anime is such a downer, which could be bearable if I could trust the story to point us toward some great analogy regarding slavery and freedom, or if there was some really cool adventure up ahead, but I have no confidence in either based on anything in this opening episode. The writing is substandard, and the direction is terrible…So many scenes in episode one are likewise awkward and cringe. The animation feels cheap throughout (except for the lovely and detailed backgrounds, which are totally out of place in this otherwise weak production), best exhibited by an ED that just pans in and out of a couple of illustrations. I didn’t even mention the setup for a yuri slave romance between Milkit and Flum. I would recommend staying away from Roll Over and Die—far, far away.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Scum of the Brave
First Impression: Gaheret
This was an extremely enjoyable first episode! The idea of Dark Lords and superpowered individuals battling it out in the Tokyo underworld is an evocative one, and the noir touches are much appreciated. I loved the “Wanted” signs, the seedy bars, what we see of the power system, and the implications that swords and guns are used in equal measure. The Dark Lord looks threatening and impressive. But what really got me invested in the story was the contrast between the personalities of Jougamine and Yashiro, and their different outlooks on what it means to be a Brave. The idealist vs. the world-weary, the rule-follower vs. the instinctive player, the one who keeps the heroic ideal intact vs. the one whose morality has grayed with the years, the teenager vs. the twenty-something: I think that there’s potential here for a cool, mutually enriching, buddy cop-style story, and I’m here for it.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Sentenced to Be a Hero
First Impression: twwk
This is how you do a double-length first episode—well, double-length plus an additional six minutes to be exact. Sentenced to Be a Hero is one of the most anticipated titles of the winter, but it wasn’t on my radar. And for that, I’m glad, because I could experience it without expectation and be totally blown away in my first viewing. It all starts with the gorgeous animation and excellent direction—so much time is spent creating dynamic fight scenes, but also thoughtful ones throughout. The episode feels like a motion picture and is really a feast for the eyes…[it] is well-written, incredibly animated, exciting, and provides a story that’s epic in scope. What a thrilling hour of television! I’ll be eagerly awaiting episode two.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Shiboyugi: Playing Death Games to Put Food on the Table
First Impression: claire
…this series is not about the games and puzzles themselves. The focus is wholly on the characters, their interactions, relationships, psychology, and decision-making. And of course, how they live with what they do when fighting to survive. Yuki is an interesting MC—not exactly admirable, she nevertheless commands respect. So far, she’s survived by pushing down all emotion, especially during the game, telling others not to mourn or pray for those who perish. Yet, after the game is done, despite her lack of religious faith, she prays in her own way. So far, this compromise has kept her together. But will it really last for the 99 games she’s determined to conquer? Of course not. Yuki is one hundred percent going to break at some point, and that’s what we’re really here to see. Also, the score is sublime! And that eerie Doris Day song at the end? (Which I’ve never before considered to be eerie…) Wow. So, if you enjoy dark psychological thrillers, or the indomitability of the human spirit in the face of despair, or both, then check this one out.
Streaming on Crunchyroll and Netflix.
Tamon’s B-side
First Impression: Jeskai
That was
ridiculousri-die-culous, in a good way. Utage manages to be a completely bonkers fan while also being kind and supportive. Tamon’s portrayal is similarly extreme, and it’s amusing to watch as he switches between his onstage and offstage personas. Of course, I’m still traumatized by Oshi no Ko (RIP Ai) and now suffer a reflexive distrust of anime depicting the Japanese idol industry, but I think from the tone of this episode that this show is going to stay lighthearted. No one got murdered, so that’s a good start, right? Assuming Tamon’s B-side keeps going as the wacky comedy it seems to be, I can see myself sticking with it. It’s worth checking out this one, I think, if you want some laughs.
twwk
I have just one word to say about episode one: re-die-culous. What a fun, energetic first episode! I literally had a smile on my face from beginning to nearly the end, only letting up when the episode turned from comedy toward a more moving scene. I’m definitely on board for this happy, silly, bonkers of a good time!
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
There Was a Cute Girl in the Hero’s Party, So I Tried Confessing to Her
First Impression: Jeskai
This episode is reasonably funny and cute, as expected of a rom-com. What I found particularly interesting were some of the other details. For one thing, Yoki is a caring boss who seeks to protect his own demonic minions, and I’m curious if we’ll see more of them. Additionally, Yoki thoughtfully points out that while he could easily overthrow the current demon king, there’d be no point in him doing so since the demons would just make him their new king; it’s a neat example of how being OP isn’t actually enough to solve all problems. There’s also Cecilia’s plausible fear that the human nations, now free of the demon king’s threat, will go to war with each other. Basically, the show was a bit smarter overall than the overly long generic rom-com title led me to anticipate. The show won’t win anime of the year or anything, but this episode definitely piqued my interest.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
TRIGUN STARGAZE
First Impression: twwk
…by the last half of season one (which I later returned to) was full of depth and showed that the story was far more complex than the early episodes indicated. And that depth continues in season two, with a focus in one scene that involves Meryl, Milly, and Zazie the Beast (who is know sort of a buddy to girls?) on the ethics of humans using the living, breathing, thinking Plants for their own survival, while the final few minutes are sorrowful, featuring an oucast caregiver caring for “Eriks,” despite his own limitations and emotional scars. The tragedy of Vash was expressed so well in the original series, but it feels as if it may be even better shown here. What a wonderful remake we’ve received!
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Tune in to the Midnight Heart
First Impression: Michel
Arisu has to be the most unhinged main character I’ve ever seen in a romcom. He’s so cringe that he transcends the secondhand embarrassment zone and lands in the sweet spot where I can’t help but laugh at his shenanigans. Because of this, I could easily look past the slightly inconsistent art and animation. The only thing I’m worried about is whether Arisu will stay entertaining when the novelty wears off. As far as the mystery element goes, one episode is too little to say whether it will be interesting. Same with Shinobu, Nene, Iko, and Rikka. At the very least, I think the way everyone at the school takes Arisu semi-seriously could provide plenty of fun moving forward. I’m not the biggest fan of the genre, but as long as the anime doesn’t revert to the mediocre harem mean, I’ll keep on watching.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
The Villainess Is Adored by the Prince of the Neighbor Kingdom
First Impression: Jeskai
I’m still kind of in shock at how utterly generic this opening episode was. Every story beat, every character, every line of dialogue—I’ve seen it before in another villainess story. The biggest variation on the Standard Villainess Formula that I can think of is that Tiararose is the daughter of a marquis rather than a duke like usual. The only interesting question this episode asks is how or why Aquasteed is in love with Tiararose, given that she doesn’t seem to have met him before. I honestly feel compelled to watch more because I need to find out if the series has any hook or if it’s really as bad as it seems! I’ve found that villainess series are actually surprisingly good at having some sort of twist that sets them apart from their fellows, but said twist is MIA here. Maybe we’ve reached the genre’s saturation point?
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Wash It All Away
First Impression: Jeskai
I was pleasantly surprised by this one; I mean, it’s an anime about someone doing laundry, so it’s hard to expect much, right? Well, it’s as chill and relaxing as they come in terms of story, and the music nicely complements the vibe. It’s also a really pretty show, with tons of gorgeous outdoor shots of a tropical locale that reminds me of Hawaii. The idea that Kinme has lost her memory (or something?) adds a striking note of intrigue to the otherwise calming episode. Without that, I’d assume this is purely slice-of-life, with no real plot beyond meeting the many characters shown in the OP. But instead, I’m left curious about her mysterious past.
claire
I’m with Jeskai on this one: surprisingly decent! Stunning setting and backgrounds, quality animation, and just the slightest hint of intrigue—the exact right amount for a sunny, relaxing slice-of-life. You can tell there’s a lot of love for Atami in the production here, and it’s great to escape Tokyo for a change! (Perhaps that’s what Kinme herself has done??? We shall see…) There are a few oddly charged moments, such as Kinme’s extreme blushing and lingering bust shot when fixing the high school boy’s shoe and a whispered secret that was a little too close for comfort, but I guess that’s what makes this seinen. I was intrigued by the hint at amnesia, but also by the fact that this is set slightly in the future: May 2026. Will any of it amount to anything at all? I’ll give it a couple more episodes at least to see how it goes! I wouldn’t give Kinme my wool suits, though. Those really are dry clean only!
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Yoroi-Shinden Samurai Troopers
First Impression: R86
The new 2026 series seems quite literally to take place thirty-seven years after the events of the original 1989 series. It is set in modern day Shinjuku, where the citizens and government are constantly prepared for demons to attack, demons which are very similar to some of the antagonists in the 1989 series. To that end, five warriors have been gathered who are supposedly the heirs of the heroes of the original series. However, something seems off: rather than mythic armor, they are wearing something like jointed plastic plug suits; and rather than magical weapons, they seem to be bearing only lightweight batons or sabers…Clearly, the 2026 Samurai Troopers will be going in a very different direction from its 1980s roots. I have no idea where it’s headed, but at the very least, I’m intrigued enough to try another episode.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
You and I Are Polar Opposites
First Impression: twwk
I’m happy to say, episode one delivers. It is perfect. Episode one dives into Suzuki’s actions, her mind, and the disconnect between them. She goes from being a quirky gyaru girl to a sweet, smart soul who is dealing with the everyday ordeal of wondering if she can be herself at school. Whenever she’s feeling stressed or concerned, the background becomes distorted or squiggly or even cosmic, matching her emotions. So much care is taken in fleshing out her character…Other elements also helped to color this special series, including lots of upbeat, electronic music and a bright, pastel palette that matches the color covers of the manga series. The voice acting is excellent; Sayumi Suzushiro, in particular, captures Suzuki’s oft-manic quality. Because the acting, animation, and music were so on point, I won’t lie—I almost cried at how much care the studio took with this lovely anime.
Michel
Twwk’s review is completely accurate, so I don’t have much to add. Go and watch it!
Josh
If there were a show that could rival Horimiya, this one is it, and I don’t say that lightly! On so many levels, this initial episode makes me prodigiously happy and reminds me that, even your typical High School Rom-Com, which seems to be a dime a dozen nowadays, can still be special. Even though we’ve seen shows about an extrovert befriending and loving an introvert, this one feels different somehow, at least in this initial outing. Both Suzuki and Tani seem to have so much under the surface, and I really look forward to seeing how their relationship develops. I’m also interested in seeing the story with the other members of this eclectic friend group. While time will tell if they will be as legendary as the group in Horimiya, so far, they seem to be the same level of quirky as that rainbow-haired group. Also, can we talk about this English dub, please? This whole cast goes note-for-note and vibe-for-vibe with their Japanese counterparts, matching their energy with aplomb, especially our lead characters! And the script for the dub is hilarious. It does a great job of conveying the vibe while staying true to the Japanese. If Celeste Perez doesn’t get any award or recognition for her portrayal of Suzuki, it would be a crying shame. She is doing the dawg gone thing in this one, and I’m all for it. So yeah, this is going to be a total follow for me, and, at least with this initial episode, I can feel secure in recommending it!
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
You Can’t Be in a Rom-Com with Your Childhood Friends!
First Impression: Josh
It’s rare for me to find absolutely nothing endearing about any aspect of an anime, but this one is the exception. The characters are frustrating on multiple levels, the overall plot is boring, the fan service moments are just facepalm-inducing, and the production is prodigiously lackluster. This show really found a way to make a harem plot even more stereotypical and boring! Once again, if you are fond of pure harem romps with gags, panty shots, and stereotypical “Oops, I fell face-first in your breasts!” moments, then by all means, have at this one, and I genuinely hope you enjoy it. But if you’re looking for anything more than just your bog-standard foolishness that seems to be Tezuka Productions’ bread and butter as of late, then pass on it and pass quickly.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
[…] on our Twitter page, it’s probably from me. Don’t judge. We’re finished up with the First Impressions of the Winter 2025 anime season and…well…while there are a few good shows out there, for the most part, you have your typical […]