Another anime season is upon us, and that means it’s time once again for our first impressions! Over the next several weeks, our writers will be sampling a wide range of new and returning shows and sharing their early thoughts—what excites us, what surprises us, and what might be worth adding to your watchlist.
This summer season is beginning a little early. A handful of premieres are arriving ahead of the traditional summer rush, giving anime fans a taste of what’s to come. But the season will soon hit in earnest as dozens of new and returning series begin rolling out, filling our watchlists and making us wonder once again how we’re supposed to keep up with all this anime.
Compared to some recent seasons, Summer 2026 doesn’t feature an overwhelming number of massive new debuts. That’s often the case with summer lineups, which tend to lean on established franchises and sleeper hits rather than a flood of headline-grabbing premieres. Even so, there are plenty of reasons to be excited. Major returning series include Mushoku Tensei, Season 3; Trapped in a Dating Sim, Season 2; BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity -; You and I Are Polar Opposites Season 2; and The Elusive Samurai Season 2, giving fans several highly anticipated continuations to enjoy.
As for brand-new adaptations, a few titles stand out immediately. Science Saru is adapting The Ghost in the Shell, bringing one of anime’s most influential franchises back to television, while Red River finally brings the beloved classic manga to the screen after years of fans hoping for an adaptation. We’re also intrigued by newcomers like The Classroom of a Black Cat and a Witch, Tomb Raider King, and Victoria of Many Faces, all of which could find audiences looking for something fresh amid a season dominated by sequels.
And that’s often what makes summer anime so interesting. While the biggest headlines may belong to a handful of returning favorites, the season has a way of producing unexpected successes—the kind of shows that arrive with less fanfare and slowly build devoted followings. Whether one of this season’s newcomers breaks out remains to be seen, but we’re eager to find out.
Below, you’ll find our writers’ first impressions of several Summer 2026 anime as the season gets underway. Keep coming back as we add to this post—and let us know your thoughts as well!
The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, REALLY Love You Season 3 • BLACK TORCH • The Cat and the Dragon • Draw This, Then Die! • The Duke’s Son Claims He Won’t Love Me, But Showers Me with Adoration • The Exiled Heavy Knight Knows How to Game the System • The Forsaken Saintess and Her Foodie Roadtrip in Another World • From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman II • From Overshadowed to Overpowered: Second Reincarnation of a Talentless Sage • The Frontier Lord Begins with Zero Subjects • The Ghost in The Shell (2026) • Goodbye, Lara • Grow Up Show: Sunflower Circus • Hanaori-san Still Wants to Fight in the Next Life • Heroine? Saint? No, I’m an All-Works Maid (And Proud of It)! • I Became a Legend After My 10 Year-Long Last Stand • I Want to Love You Till Your Dying Day • The Insipid Prince’s Furtive Grab for the Throne • Iron Wok Jan! • Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia • KAIJU GIRL CARAMELISE • Let’s go KAIKIGUMI! • A Livid Lady’s Guide to Getting Even: How I Crushed My Homeland with My Mighty Grimoires • Love Unseen Beneath the Clear Night Sky • Mebius Dust • My Stepmother and Stepsisters Aren’t Wicked • The Oblivious Saint Can’t Contain Her Power • One Piece Heroines • The Ogre’s Bride • Oh Boy, Was I Wrong About Her • Please Excuse My Younger Brothers • Recommendations from Iwamoto-Senpai • Red River • Rich Girl Caretaker: I’m Secretly the Caregiver of the Most Popular Girl in This Rich Kid School • Sparks of Tomorrow • Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi • Though I Am an Inept Villainess • Tomb Raider King • Victoria of Many Faces • The Villager of Level 999 • The World Is Dancing • The World’s Strongest Rearguard • You And I Are Polar Opposites Season 2 • Young Ladies Don’t Play Fighting Games
The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, REALLY Love You Season 3
First Impression: Josh
In for a penny, in for a pound. If you’ve seen the other two seasons and enjoyed them, then heck, keep going with it! The same shenanigans that came with the first two seasons are in this one, for better or worse. Personally, I’ll sporadically keep up with this one just like the previous seasons, if for no other reason than to check out the English dub that we’re no doubt getting and to see how they approach our new American character! This is gonna be interesting…
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
BLACK TORCH
First Impression: Gaheret
So, the animation of BLACK TORCH is pretty great, and the opening made me think of teenagers joining The Team, untangling dark webs of mysteries, having cool fights, and ultimately saving the world. Like every show that treats animals like humans, Jirou’s power creates a whole lot of questions. We see a crow being a good neighbor and fighting for the survival of the cat. Well, just what do cats eat in this reality? Still, this is a concept that resonates with a deep desire of the human heart, and I am willing to suspend my disbelief and hope that this conversation with all living creatures it will do something different for this shōnen.
Josh
Dr. Dolittle with a shōnen twist? Mmkay, I’ll bite. This first episode gave me vibes of both Chainsaw Man and Bleach—a random boy with supernatural abilities granted by a powerful deity is dragged into a crazy world with an undercover government organization that drafts him into their service. This feels like a prime show for the Toonami timeslot, and it wouldn’t surprise me if it ended up there in the future, especially since it looks like we’re getting a Same-Day English Dub. While I typically don’t go for shounen shows, this one is at least interesting enough to stick around for a couple of episodes.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
The Cat and the Dragon
First Impression: twwk
…this opening episode shows us that the storytelling in this series should be enchanting and meaningful. That means both the presence of pain—like the Bambi moment to start the episode to the awful deaths of both humans and cats—and warmth, too—as in the relationship between one of the cats the kingdom’s prince. My guess is that the fable-like feel of the show will continue, and that while The Cat and the Dragon will mostly be an uplifting series, there will be moments of sadness throughout as well. I wish I could you tell more, but I’m just guessing at this point! I will say that I recommend you try out this lovely opening episode; I supposed we’ll discover together whether the series will be worth watching for an entire season.
NegativePrimes
This was a fun, sweet episode, and I can’t wait to see what’s next. It’s also geared toward folks who want their hearts broken more than Bambi or Land Before Time—in the first half of this first episode, we get not one but two lost mothers. Excuse me while I go by a bulk box of tissues… In all seriousness, though, this show is something different. Check it out!
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Draw This, Then Die!
First Impression: Jeskai
That was a lot of fun! Ai is just great! She’s likeable and expressive, and her sense of whimsy and imagination is conveyed really well. The tropical island setting is really pretty, and of course there’s also a quite a bit of humor to enjoy. This episode seems like it’s setting the stage for Ai to start drawing manga herself. I imagine we’re also going to see the icy Teshima start to defrost…and what was the deal with that girl with the errant painting? I had a blast with this episode and am eager for more! I think this show looks super promising, and I can wholeheartedly recommend you try it out.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
The Duke’s Son Claims He Won’t Love Me, But Showers Me with Adoration
First Impression: Jeskai
The dialogue is bland, the characters generic, and the animation uninspired. This is another one of those super mid anime, where nothing stands out as truly terrible, but neither is there anything to really draw in viewers. I might give it another episode, maybe, but you can probably skip this show without missing anything, unless the premise really appeals to you.
Josh
I’m in complete agreement with Jeskai on this one. This show is as bland as an unseasoned chicken breast. Our female lead just seems to go along with whatever everyone else wants and has no endearing qualities beyond being “kind” and “hardworking”. Why should we like this girl? Why should we be interested in her story? Does she have ANY thoughts or desires of her own behind those dopey eyes? Heck, even the characters say that she’s plain and boring! Who am I to argue? SKIP!!
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
The Exiled Heavy Knight Knows How to Game the System
First Impression: Jeskai
It’s all pretty standard fantasy fare, to be honest, but it’s done well enough to not feel completely stale. A couple points stood out for me. First, it’s a rather pretty anime, with some gorgeous shots of the outdoors and a cityscape. Second, Elymas discovers that while the classes and monsters match the game he knew, the world itself is NOT the same as the game. That could be an interesting wrinkle in the reincarnated-into-a-game formula, depending on the nature of and reasons for the differences. My biggest complaint is that early on there’s a no-context, set-in-the-future fighting sequence that is just pointless and confusing and throws off the pacing, but it’s not that big a deal. Overall, then, I’d say I’m interested enough to come back for the next episode.
NegativePrimes
I enjoyed this and will be back for more. The story doesn’t seem like anything special to write home about, but the visuals! And that music! I almost got the impression that Studo GoHands thought to themselves, “Well, we can’t do much with the plot, so we might as well treat this as a showcase to demonstrate our mastery of the art of anime! Pull out all the stops!” If the rest of this series keeps the same level of artistry, I will have no complaints!
Twwk
Just dropping by to emphasize Nega’s take—this episode was better than it should have been, seeing as the series seems to be, as Jeskai notes, “standard fantasy fare.” But it’s executed really well, and I’ll back for episode two!
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
The Forsaken Saintess and Her Foodie Roadtrip in Another World
First Impression: stardf29
This was a really fun episode, largely because Rin is such a fun protagonist. She’s extremely cheerful and enjoys life too much to be worried about her situation, which suits the lighthearted atmosphere of the show. She also has a friendly nature that makes her and Vil’s interactions rather nice, though the highlight there is Rin’s internal thoughts on how hot she finds her newfound adventurer companion. As befitting a food-themed story, there is plenty of gushing over delicious food, and while the RV concept isn’t completely unique to isekai stories (see the light novel RVing My Way into Exile with My Beloved Cat and insert a comment about two nickels), it’s still a rare and fun concept that should make for some entertaining moments later on (also, I’m admittedly quite interested in RVs myself)
Streaming on HIDIVE.
From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman II
First Impression: Twwk
I…detect better animation in this season than in season one; the scenery often looks gorgeous, rustic colors abound, and a short scene involving food made me want to grab lunch at a nearby German restaurant. Yum! The sparring between Beryl and Ficelle was also well-animated (particularly in showing the latter’s magical approach), and the character design for (and personality of) new character, Cindy, was memorable. A strong start for season two!
Streaming on Amazon Prime.
From Overshadowed to Overpowered: Second Reincarnation of a Talentless Sage
First Impression: Jeskai
Judging by the show description and the OP, this anime is about a young guy with overpowered magic and his cute female companions. It’s a totally standard premise that we’ve seen before eleventy-billion times. The episode offers nothing special in the way of plot or character development. It’s not overtly awful like some shows; I just can’t find anything notable to recommend about it.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
The Frontier Lord Begins with Zero Subjects
First Impression: Twwk
Every season in recent memory features average fantasy anime—shows that make very little impression on the viewers. The Frontier Lord Begins with Zero Subjects is one of those shows this season. The animation is fine, the hero is the kind but strong type (like virtually all fantasy heroes this side of edgelord-leaning ones), and the story is comfy. If there’s anything unique here, it’s the idea of Dias representing the dominating, winning side of a war, and Alna and her people an aboriginal side that lost in the conflict. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like we’ll get much depth with those analogies, as the show would rather focus on a quickly growing romance between Dias and Alna, and I won’t spoil it, but what seems to be the actual focus of the series, as seen in the final minute of this episode and the ED.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
The Ghost in The Shell (2026)
First Impression: claire
…I can say with confidence that this is going to be a fun reboot! And that should tell any existing fan of the franchise everything you need to know—because “fun” is hardly a word that one would use to describe Oshii’s 1995 dark, moody film adaptation, but it is quite apt for the source material, the 1989-91 manga by Shirow Masamune, which is shot through with gags and goofiness and that particular brand of risqué that is common to Bubble-era series, as much as it is with cyberpunk prescience. For manga fans who have been longing for the goofy Kusanagi, the zany expressions, or the impossibly spiky bangs that could only exist in the 80s (please, let this remain true), they’re all here in this stylish, nostalgic Science Saru adaptation!
Streaming on Amazon Prime.
Goodbye, Lara
First Impression: twwk
Lara (sounds a little like “Ariel,” doesn’t it?) is every bit as precocious and lovable as Disney’s heroine, while the Sea Witch in this adaptation, Grace, feels like a mixture of Ursula and devil himself (much of the episode feels like allegory of the Garden of Eden). I also enjoyed the character designs, which are call backs to those of earlier shoujo series, with shorter faces, sharper noses, and watercolor coloring. The animation itself is gorgeous, and the music works well too (though I’m waiting, still, for Hana Hope’s opening song—which I imagine will play in episode two). The only thing I’m not sure about is where the show is headed from here as it moves into modern day—which means, of course, that I don’t know what to think about the entire series, since this episode is just the set up for the rest of the anime.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Grow Up Show: Sunflower Circus
First Impression: Gaheret
The concept works, the talent is clearly there, but some things are holding back the performance. For one, I’d imagine that few people know how Japanese traveling circuses in the 1950s were supposed to work, so many details about the setting are confusing to me. This is set five years after the end of World War II, which all of the characters would have lived through. Is this why it’s okay to adopt ten or so orphaned girls and have them be part of your circus troupe? True, it seems that everyone is happy to be here, but hey, look at what happens to Mizuka. Or were circuses just big and popular in this era? Whatever the case, the rest of it is well-executed sports anime fare…
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Hanaori-san Still Wants to Fight in the Next Life
First Impression: Jeskai
Bwahahahaha! That was great. The premise (fantasy world characters living in modern Japan) reminds me of The Devil Is a Part-Timer!, and the whole episode is one moment of hilarity after another. This is easily the funniest premiere I’ve watched this season. It’s not just the demon lord and the hero—the rest of the characters we meet are bonkers too.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Heroine? Saint? No, I’m an All-Works Maid (And Proud of It)!
First Impression: Jeskai
My only complaint about this episode is that it was a bit disjointed. We start in the present but then have multiple flashbacks to fill in Melody’s background, and it was a little jarring or confusing at times. Otherwise, I have nothing but praise. There are some pretty funny parts (like the magical-girl-style maid transformation sequence), and Melody herself is charming and likeable. Beyond that, the episode crammed in a ton of dangling plot threads that pique my curiosity.
NegativePrimes
I’m always on the lookout for anime series that I can watch with my kids, and so far, this seems like a solid candidate! The characters are fun, the opening and ending are catchy, and there’s nothing too heavy here. Perfect for an end-of-the-workday pick-me-up!
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
I Became a Legend After My 10 Year-Long Last Stand
First Impression: twwk
This fantasy adventure features goblins and some grim situations, but it’s more of a happy, peaceful series. In fact, my face was smiling quite a lot throughout the first episode, as Luck show himself to be a kind and virtuous character right from the start (“To me, you guys are like family”), and has such good humor about him. Once he reaches the kingdom after his years-long battle (hardly a spoiler if you’ve read the title!), there are even more happy times. The episode also pumps the adrenaline a little, especially with a cliffhanger ending. It’s hard to tell if the show can keep up the interest in future episodes, but I’m eager to see if it can.
Jeskai Angel
I agree with Charles. This was pretty heartwarming, and funny to boot. It’s certainly one of the more promising fantasy anime this season. I’ll definitely come back for the next episode.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
I Want to Love You Till Your Dying Day
First Impression: Twwk
I’m interested in this world and in the characters, but there are things that don’t work. The humor feels weird; the dichotomy between silly and dark isn’t new to anime, but I generally have trouble getting into series like that, and this one seems to be no exception. The romance, too, feels forced; an example is how kisses are used for “restoration magic,” a little device that I find off-putting. But worse is that Mimi is 10-years-old but acts like she’s about four; I don’t generally have an issue with teen romance in anime, but the pairing of a teenage girl with one who’s an elementary schooler with the personality of a pre-schooler isn’t easy for me to ignore, no matter how much the anime tries to gloss over the age difference. Still, the story and animation compel me to stay on for at least a while longer.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
The Insipid Prince’s Furtive Grab for the Throne
First Impression: Jeskai
There’s nothing spectacular about this anime, but it’s far from insipid. I liked the positive brotherly relationship between Arnold and Leonard, the political intrigue seems promising, and I’m really curious to see where Arnold and Finne’s relationship goes now that she knows his secret. I also thought there was some great humor, including banter between Arnold and his butler and a scene where Arnold uses illusion magic to stage a meeting between himself and Silver, during which Silver repeatedly insults Arnold (i.e., himself). All these small things add up to make a show that is surprisingly a bit better than your average fantasy anime.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Iron Wok Jan!
First Impression: twwk
…more than being a nostalgia trip, I will say I thoroughly enjoyed watching the food being made (I feel challenged now to make better fried rice at home) and liked the dynamics between Kiriko and Jan. Their fights and the drama and slight cringe also reminded me of Iron Chef, which was frankly on my mind as I sat down to watch this episode. If it stays infused by all these positives, Iron Wok Jan could be a really fun and compelling series—and one worth waiting 30 years for.
Josh
If memory serves me right, much like our dear boss TWWK, this show also brought back so many awesome memories of a young Josh in front of the TV watching the ORIGINAL Iron Chefs on the Food Network…back when the Food Network was worth watching (Please come back, Emeril, we need you now more than ever). And honestly, as I sat and watched this one, I couldn’t help but wish I were watching Iron Chefs and NOT this anime. To me, this feels like yet another shounen fighting anime but with food. None of the characters were really likeable; our male lead could do with a “bang a gong” upside the head, and if I’m being honest, we’re living in a post-Shokugeki no Soma world, and even though Iron Wok Jan predates it by more than a decade, I still can’t help but draw comparisons…and think that Shokugeki no Soma did it better. That said, I’ll be willing to give it another shot to see if this show’s cuisine will reign supreme.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia
First Impression: Negativeprimes
Jaadugar (in these first two episodes that have been released together) lures us in with its initially idyllic setting (apart from the slavery, natch), then rapidly pulls the rug out from under us. The storytelling is masterful, enchanting, and helped along by the distinctive visuals: Line art is minimal, the color palette more muted than in many anime series, and the figures more rounded than the linear, angular characters we might expect. The result is a more fantastic, fairy tale feel that nevertheless fits this historically grounded tale.
Streaming (episodes 1 & 2) on Crunchyroll.
KAIJU GIRL CARAMELISE
First Impression: Gaheret
The first thing that struck me about it is the above-average soundtrack that elevates an already competent artistic direction and gives us some poetic and impactful moments. This is a manga adaptation and is being handled with obvious care. But perhaps its biggest strong point is that the metaphor at the center of Kaiju Girl Caramelise feels pretty relatable. After all, teenagers often do feel like monsters, both on the outside and on the inside, especially when romance is involved. If they happen to be part of a cruel and superficial social world, many of them adopt survival strategies not too different from the one Kuroe is using. I know I did. I can see why Minami would fall for such a blunt girl and not any of her classmates, and I am invested in their relationship, which already has some interesting subtleties.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Let’s go KAIKIGUMI!
First Impression: Gaheret
My favorite element was probably the very idea of the Kaikigumi, a sort of bureau of urban legends, which is quite absurd and hilarious by itself. I also like the dynamic of the two protagonists, and their conversations about why things are and aren’t scary. The show even managed to make me laugh out loud a few times, from seeing Mechako suddenly pop up in the protagonists’ closet to the ending theme, where we see her spend the day just chilling with various ghosts and a cursed doll in his room. Most of the time, though, I found the humor a tad juvenile, with lots of jokes about poo and pee.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
A Livid Lady’s Guide to Getting Even: How I Crushed My Homeland with My Mighty Grimoires
First Impression: Negativeprimes
I’m always intrigued by a good revenge plot. Unfortunately, Livid Lady’s Guide is no Count of Monte Christo, nor even The Remarried Empress. The personalities and their justifications don’t seem to me to get enough screen time to really be developed satisfactorily before we’re off and running. Sure, I can buy the prince being super foolish—that’s a given in this genre—and his new girlfriend being a short-sighted, selfish manipulator, as she’s a lower-class upstart trying to survive in noble society. It also makes sense that the court of public opinion can swing quickly from favoring Elizabeth to hating her; we see this sort of thing in real life quite regularly. But the people whose personalities seem more “whatever the plot demands right now” include the king, the chancellor, Elizabeth’s maid, and regrettably Elizabeth herself. The shallowness of their characterizations becomes evident once we see just how powerful Elizabeth is—and she is OP.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Love Unseen Beneath the Clear Night Sky
First Impression: Gaheret
I. Am. Blown. Away. Love Unseen is the single most compelling opening episode to an anime romance I’ve seen in literally years. Its naturalistic depiction of university life lets it stand head and shoulders above a thousand all-too-perfect romantic daydreams. There is nothing fanciful or artificial about the way our group of four starts its tentative friendship. I’ve had a million conversations like this, and you probably have too. “I didn’t understand a word the teacher was saying.” “That was hilarious.” “Have you been friends for a long time?” Meanwhile, the interior monologue never stops, and it perfectly nails down the personality of Kakeru. Even better, the show does not sugarcoat darker feelings and situations.
Josh
I had a feeling this show was going to be interesting when the first line was a quote from Anne Frank about living even after death…and I am happy to say I was right. This was a really good first episode! While yes, I wanted to grab Kakeru, give him a pretty strong shake, and tell the dope to lighten up, thankfully, it looks as though he is self-aware that he has to change in order to grow. With regards to our female lead, I like Koharu! She’s not a shy, shrinking violet; she’s independent and funny! And I love that we actually see the equipment and items that disabled people use, like screen readers and braille books. I’m intrigued enough to follow this one for a while longer…though Kakeru has got to come out of his shell a bit!
Twwk
While Kakeru’s outward complaining not only bordered but also passed the boundary into obnoxious (his inner monologue sufficed to set us up for the character growth that’s sure to occur), I found the episode overall to be really endearing. But I also don’t know if I would suggest it for everyone; to me, this is the kind of series that takes patience. There’s a lot of walking, a lot of common conversation, a lot of still moments; it’s slow, and the animation and music match that pacing. I tend to enjoy such series, so if you’re like me, I suggest you give it a whirl; if not, there are plenty of other interesting anime to try this season!
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Mebius Dust
First Impression: Gaheret
…I have a soft spot for choral superhero stories, for stories about found family, and for tales of mysteries that unfold under the city lights. Mebius Dust seems to be doing all of these things while adopting a hit-the-ground-running storytelling approach that I really appreciate.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
My Stepmother and Stepsisters Aren’t Wicked
First Impression: stardf29
Many times, the stepsisters and stepmother will say something very stereotypical of an evil villainess, only for the next scene to completely reframe the context and meaning of those words. For example, when they first meet, the sisters say that Miya is too dirty to be a member of their household, but all that means is that they need to give her a bath right away. These kinds of reversals of villainess behaviors continue throughout the episode as the sisters try to get Miya to open up to them…All of this makes for a fun and adorable twist on the usual “Cinderella” story, and I am definitely interested to see how Miya and her new family grow closer together.
Josh
I’m always down for a good subversion of expected norms… especially in the anime world, where ideas seem to be used, reused, and re-reused over and over again. In this case, we already have our Cinderella story with The Ogre Bride, and this show subverts expectations in a very funny and cute way! Seeing our Cinderella character getting loved and doted on by her stepfamily is refreshing! It kinda reminds me of Welcome to Demon School Iruma-Kun, when our title character, who has been mistreated his whole life, gets doted on by his family and makes friends quickly. Only time will tell if this show can stay fresh and interesting with its obvious formula, but I’ll be interested in dusting off my Amazon Prime Video account and keeping up with it for a while…ugh…Amazon Prime Video…
Streaming on YouTube courtesy of the It’s Anime channel, as well as on Amazon Prime.
The Oblivious Saint Can’t Contain Her Power
First Impression: Michel
This was a flawed start. The plot is very basic: We have a bullied protagonist, a villainess sister, and an arranged marriage with a shady prince. She’s seemingly the untalented one, but eventually it’ll become clear she’s actually the stronger one of the two. To an extent, I understand it’s fair to criticize the anime for how unoriginal this is, and on top of that I found the dialogue between Flora and Carolina in the first half to be pushing it a bit too far. Flora’s meanness and Carolina’s passivity in that scene bordered on the unnatural. This combined with the events towards the end of the episode make the relationships feel artificial, except if you interpret in a charitable and somewhat imaginative way. However, I wouldn’t say this episode failed on all fronts. In fact, the emotional moments of the second half felt genuine, despite the lack of characterization. So for me, I’m still more positive than negative about this one.
NegativePrimes
I am more or less of the same mind as Michel on this one. The pacing feels odd at first, and I can’t help but think they probably should have released two episodes together (so we can, you know, see the MC become an oblivious saint or something). At the same time, the slow development of the story early on may actually hint at some depth that takes time to develop, a deeper intrigue that will gradually be revealed. In any case, I’ll give this another episode or two and see what happens.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
The Ogre’s Bride
First Impression: Jeskai
You’ll find a bunch of the usual tropes here: the unloved and neglected girl, her cruel parents, the nasty sister, unexpectedly finding love, etc. Since this episode doesn’t get any further than Yuzu and Reiya’s first meeting, it’s hard to say if this series will put any interesting spin on the story. Personally, I do like this kind of story and always find them heartwarming, so I’m probably going to end up watching the whole thing. That said, if you’re not particularly in the mood for one more Cinderella-archetype anime (there have been a lot of them over the years), you can probably safely pass on this one.
Josh
You know, it’s been a minute since a show really and truly made me feel angry. Not angry in the “Oh my gosh, what the heck is this crap, why am I watching it, and why must TWWK torture me so by making me watch this crap?!” But angry at the story itself—where I’m angry FOR the characters! To me, that’s a sure sign you got my attention, and The Ogre’s Bride prodigiously pulled it off! I literally found myself talking back to my monitor! I was so invested in Yuzu and her horrible family that I wanted to isekai myself into the anime and adopt this precious cinnamon roll. Is this a classic Cinderella-style story? Oh, absolutely. Have we seen this before? Oh, heck yeah, we have. But I think there’s something more here that will set this show apart. Heck, if it got me talking to my Mac Mini like a madman, then there must be something in it, right? Or maybe I’ve been working too hard. That’s always a possibility.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Oh Boy, Was I Wrong About Her
First Impression: Michel
Romance is in the air, but there is more than that too. While normally in romcoms it might be undesirable to have the main relationship progress slowly, I think this anime could pull it off. As an anime-only viewer, I don’t know what will happen next, but I’m already invested in “just” their friendship, and I’d love to know more about these characters. I doubt the next episodes will disappoint, so I can comfortably recommend this one to all romcom fans!
Josh
Okay, first of all, I have to give points for the title of this anime. As someone who tends to write the way they talk (much to the chagrin of our dear editors), I can appreciate using expressions like “Oh boy” or “Good Grief” in the title of an anime. That said, I have to take points away from this one’s animation style. It just feels so flat and boring to me. You couldn’t tell me this was done by the same studio that gave us The Angel Next Door Spoils Rotten. It’s not bad enough to put me off the show, but it’s not going to win any awards, that’s for sure. As for the anime itself…I mean, I get the feeling I’ve seen this type of show before, but as with many things in this day and age, that which is old has been made new again. Hayato and Haruki’s relationship looks like it’ll be one of those “friends-to-lovers” kind of tales that have been popular nowadays, and I’m always game for that, so I’ll be willing to stick around with this one to see how it progresses.
Twwk
How does Hayato not realize Haruki was a girl all along? And how does he not really even question the “transition” he assumes happened? Everything else was fine, but I couldn’t suspend my disbelief at that part of the storyline.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
One Piece Heroines
First Impression: Samuru
The two female pirates of One Piece have their own series! This is episode 1, but I’m not familiar with the backstory of the miniseries. The animation of this episode was excellent! I had a hard time selecting screenshots because there were so many I wanted to take. I’m glad the episode was not full of fan service; on the contrary, it was very classy and feminine. I’m a guy, so heels being the heart of the story isn’t really my thing, but I’ve been married over a decade, so I understand how important shoes can be to a woman. In any case, I did enjoy it, and it was nice to see a different side of One Piece, drawn in a completely new style.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Please Excuse My Younger Brothers
First Impression: twwk
While I doubt it’ll ever go full Oreimo (at least not this season), it’s as clear as day from their first interaction, and then even more obvious as each scene passes, that the anime is setting up the pairing of Ito x Gen. Incestual relationships are my biggest no-no in anime, though to play the devil’s advocate, this series is light-hearted and fun, and treating the “relationship” as such, unlike Oreimo‘s attempt to advocate for it or the more sexual relationship in other series. Take that as you will in deciding whether to try the episode, and whether or not you’ll stick with it.
Josh
We got another “My folks neglect to mention that I now have new stepsiblings!” We’ve seen this before, guys- multiple times, the prime examples being 2001’s Sister Princess (*deep shudder*) and 2013’s Brothers Conflict. This time around, while the sibling count is cut down, the same trope-filled characters in the same improbable setup are still here. The fact that our brotherly bishonen are the younger siblings this time around is, admittedly, a slight change-up; other than that, this has the feel of being one of those “Wacky Step Sibling Shenanigans” shows with an undercurrent of “Will They, Won’t They”? I’ll be willing to give this one more episode before giving it the chop, but that’s only out of morbid curiosity. At least this time around, it looks as though the parents are actually going to be in the picture and not just conveniently written out the narrative, leaving these school-age kids to their own shenanigans, right? RIGHT? RIGHT?!
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Recommendations from Iwamoto-Senpai
First Impression: Negativeprimes
It’s a rather open-ended concept, one that could lead to either a wandering set of loosely related anecdotes or something more coherently woven together. Possible symbolism abounds: It’s hard not to read the young man’s condition, and various attempts to use or regulate it, as analogous to various drug epidemics of the modern era, for example. There are some suggestions of possible BL themes in the future, though nothing certain in this one episode. While I can’t say this is a groundbreaking work, those interested in supernatural stories in a late historical setting will probably enjoy it.
Twwk
Negativeprimes’ review is right on: There’s a lot of wondering what this series could be. What direction will it go? And that’s not a bad thing, but with an initial episode that was neither terrible nor terribly impressive, it’s difficult to make a strong recommendation one way or another, so I’ll go with this: I only have so much time to watch anime, and since this didn’t particularly grip me in episode one, I’m not going to include it on my streaming list this summer season.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Red River
First Impression: Gaheret
Red River is clearly a story from another era, and I’m not talking about the Hittites: I mean that it is an adaptation from a beloved manga from the nineties, and man, does it show. From those dramatic gasps framed in bright red or blue that I remember from Rose of Versailles, to angular character faces used mostly in parodies nowadays, to the river of tears flowing from the protagonist’s eyes. But most of all, it shows in the way the bad boy forces himself on the protagonist without as much as saying hello, and in the stylized shoujo reactions she has to it. From there, things keep piling up. When Yuri is tied up, her body is highlighted in an extremely distasteful way. In a symbolic shot that has no reason to exist in the first place, her nudity is obscured by a waterfall of blood. And you can see for yourself how Kai carries her out of the palace. One can gesture towards harsh historical realities all one likes, but framing is everything, and it is not hard to recognize the unhealthy fantasy dressed up in sword-and-sandal trappings.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Rich Girl Caretaker: I’m Secretly the Caregiver of the Most Popular Girl in This Rich Kid School
First Impression: Jeskai
I felt like the humor here never quite worked for me (e.g., the pee gag, or the “chop it off” joke). Don’t get me wrong, the episode does have its funny moments, but something frequently felt a little off. For one thing, Itsuki has a lot less angst than I’d expect for someone in his position. And then, with the late introduction (via text message) of Itsuki’s childhood friend Yuri, I worry we’re going to end up with an annoying love triangle. The premise has enough potential that I’ll probably give Rich Girl Caretaker another episode to impress me, but I can’t enthusiastically recommend it.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Sparks of Tomorrow
First Impression: Gaheret
Every moment leads to the next seamlessly, we receive a lot of information but not too much, and the show is never afraid to deliver a punch or to suddenly change the tone. If I had to criticize something, there is a strange dream scene, about two minutes long, that seems like something out of Madoka, and I feel that we lack the context to make sense of it. Other than that, everything is impeccable so far, and if Sparks of Tomorrow keeps this up, I feel that this could become one of the stars of anime.
Streaming on Netflix.
Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi
First Impression: T.R.
With eight episodes totaling roughly two and a half to three hours of runtime, the pacing still feels as if the production team is scripting for a short rather than a full series. That is unfortunate because some of the episode’s ideas deserved more room to breathe. The black hole escape sequence was visually beautiful and one of the episode’s most striking moments. I would have liked to see the series linger there a little longer. Production I.G’s animation is smooth and energetic, but the use of 3D CGI vehicles against 2D environments and characters was occasionally distracting.
All eight episodes of Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi will be available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu beginning August 5.
Though I Am an Inept Villainess
First Impression: Laura
The villainess anime I have desperately been waiting for, and it did not disappoint! As a huge fan of the manga, I was downright giddy seeing Reirin and Keigetsu’s world come to life! From Reirin voicing her desire that the wishes will come true, to Keigestu’s shrill laughter after the body switch, there was not a single moment when I was not completely captivated! The music heightened every scene I knew from the manga, leaving me, I admit, bouncing a little bit in my seat from excitement!
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Tomb Raider King
First Impression: Twwk
…Jooheon starts with a vengeful, selfish attitude; while that leaves room for growth—and episode one foreshadows that he will become a better man—I barely saw any of that in the three volumes of the manhwa I read. The vengeance he seeks is the primary characteristic I remember, and it’s very plain in episode one as well. However, if you’re a big fan of the Solo Leveling manhwa or anime, this could tide you over until the movie arrives or the Overgeared anime premieres; just don’t expect it to be in the same class.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs Season 2
First Impression: Twwk
This is truly one of the funniest series I’ve watched in recent years, and season two picks right up from one left off by dropping laughs all over the place. We get a taste of all the good stuff—Luxion’s dry wit, Leon’s facial expressions, and the otome hunks being their bimbo selves. I laughed out loud multiple times, something I rarely do even with comedy anime. All that said, I need to note that I was so obsessed with the first season that I took up the light novels, and loved them just as much…until I didn’t…
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Victoria of Many Faces
First Impression: Jeskai
What a mysterious and intriguing introduction. Victoria is a charming protagonist, proving herself both cunning and capable, and compassionate to boot. I look forward to seeing her use her wits and skills to carve out a happy life for herself and Nonna. This premiere hints at several different directions the series could go. I’m sure there’s more of Victoria’s past to unpack, as well as potential romance with Jeffrey, cute kid slice of life with Nonna, and spy thriller action potentially involving Victoria’s former employer. Judging from the OP, we’re going to see all of those. I really think this one is a winner, and I eagerly await the next episode.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
The Villager of Level 999
First Impression: Negativeprimes
The world-building is intriguing: Apparently this isn’t just some random fantasy world, but Japan in the future, and I’m curious whether this will play an important role down the line. The author also appears to have given some thought to how Japanese names might evolve between our time and the setting of Villager. There are some political shenanigans going down, and some personalities that could be fun to watch. But there are also a handful of distasteful jokes (including one possibly mocking trans people?), so be forewarned. You’re missing nothing if you skip this one.
JeskaiAngel
Yeah, this one left me pretty underwhelmed. There were some occasional funny moments, but the characters just didn’t appeal to me that much. I agree with Negative Primes that this seems totally skippable.
Streaming (episodes 1 & 2) on Crunchyroll.
The World Is Dancing
First Impression: twwk
…the anime delivers again and again in episode one, from the animation (including a cool scene where Japanese characters erupt onto the screen during a run) to humorous slapstick, and from interesting performances (Yumiri Hanamori is expressive and vibrant as Oniyashi) to a beautiful, passionate ED. Cypic animation studio, which was started to produce anime based on Cygames’ products, is now producing some of the most stunning (The Summer Hikaru Died) and anticipated (Kagurabachi) anime of recent years—add another one to the list. This could end up as one of the best anime of 2026.
Streaming on HIDIVE.
The World’s Strongest Rearguard
First Impression: Jeskai
It’s kind of interesting that the fantasy world seems used to receiving reincarnators in significant numbers, but otherwise nothing really stands out about this episode. If the OP is anything to go by, Atobe will eventually assemble a full party of cute girls—as one does in this sort of story—and they will have run-of-the-mill fantasy adventures. You can watch this if you’re bored, and it’ll probably be a tolerable way to pass the time, or you can skip this and miss absolutely nothing.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
You And I Are Polar Opposites Season 2
First Impression: Josh
Another season with this amazing friend group? Yes please! It feels like forever since we last were with these prodigiously awesome characters, and yet the story picks right up where we left off, as though no time has passed! Not only do we get more time with Miyu and Yusuke, our primary couple, but we also get to see how our other secondary couples are faring—the extroverted goofy goober Yamada and his painfully shy love interest Nishi, along with the Danny Downer Taira and the friendly space cadet Azuma. This show does a brilliant job of giving us moments with each of these “side couples” sharing the spotlight, making them just as interesting and fun to watch as our main pairing.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
Young Ladies Don’t Play Fighting Games
First Impression: twwk
Well, well, well… What do we have here? Could it be my favorite anime of the summer? Okay, I might be getting ahead of myself, but it’s not an exaggeration to say that the first episode of Young Ladies Don’t Play Fighting Games absolutely POPPED. Despite being a shoujo-ai series, the GL content is mostly played for laughs (in episode one at least), and the only somewhat romantic moment is used as a gateway toward focusing more on the series overall tone: bold and funny.
Samuru
I was excited to watch this one as a fellow fighting game fan myself. It did start a bit slow, and I wasn’t sure where they were going with it, until around 13 minutes. That’s where the anime shows it’s true colors and what it’s about, as well as unpredictable actions taken by the young ladies to escape from a room. They take their fighting game lore series, where even I wasn’t aware of some of the terms. I will be back for more, hoping they highlight other reknown games besides Street Fighter 6.
Streaming on Crunchyroll.
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