Anime fans have a lot to anticipate in 2026, with new shows, returning favorites, and movies all on the horizon. Building on the momentum of 2025, many believe 2026 could be a standout year for the anime community. Highly popular series like Jujutsu Kaisen, Hell’s Paradise, and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End are set to return, sparking conversations about anime’s increasing presence in popular culture.
Fans are really looking forward to Madoka Magica Walpurgisnacht: Rising, which is scheduled to come out in Japanese theaters in February 2026. Viewers around the world will probably be able to watch it later in the year. The movie continues the story of Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Rebellion, picking up right where it left off and building on previous plotlines. Even though the original Madoka Magica anime came out years ago, it’s still considered a landmark series in the magical girl genre, known for cleverly turning familiar tropes on their head. While we wait for the new movie to become available for streaming, here are five anime to enjoy if you’re a fan of the series.
5) Girls Last Tour
Girls Last Tour is a heartwarming yet melancholic anime series set in a post-apocalyptic world. Released in 2017 with 12 episodes, it follows two girls as they journey through the ruins of civilization, searching for food, shelter, and other necessities. What makes the show unique is its charming art style, which beautifully contrasts with the bleakness of the setting. Despite knowing their journey will eventually end, the girls find joy in the small things, and the series highlights the beauty that can be found even in a desolate world.
4) Magical Girl Raising Project
Don’t let the adorable look of Magical Girl Raising Project fool you – this anime tackles surprisingly dark and complex themes. Originally released in 2016, a second season, Magical Girl Raising Project: Restart, is planned for 2026. The series blends the magical girl genre with elements of a survival game, and doesn’t hold back from showing the harsh realities of its story. The premise revolves around a smartphone app that turns ordinary girls into real magical girls. However, if too many girls gain powers, they’re forced to battle each other to the death to maintain them and stay alive.
3) Wonder Egg Priority
Wonder Egg Priority, released in 2021, is a 13-episode anime that blends the magical girl genre with realistic and difficult themes. The show tackles important issues like mental health, grief, bullying, and the power of friendship, setting it apart from many other anime. The story centers on Ai Ohto, a depressed young girl who is given a chance to revive her deceased best friend. To do so, she must become a magical girl and venture into a dream world where she protects the spirits of other girls who have experienced trauma.
2) Made in Abyss
Since its debut in 2017, Made in Abyss has become a standout anime thanks to its original story and stunning animation. The series has continued with several films, and a new installment, Made in Abyss: Awakening Mystery, is scheduled for release in 2026. Fans love the show’s nostalgic art style, imaginative world, and distinctive setting. Made in Abyss follows a young girl and her robotic friend as they venture into a dangerous, mysterious chasm called the Abyss, hoping to find her missing mother. Despite appearing heartwarming at times, the anime is known for its surprisingly dark and intense themes, which really emphasize the challenges faced by the characters.
1) School-Live!
School-Live! is a unique and wonderful anime that doesn’t get enough attention. Originally airing in 2015, it later received a live-action adaptation in Japan in 2019. What makes it special is its surprising combination of a typical schoolgirl slice-of-life story with a post-apocalyptic zombie setting. The series follows a group of girls trapped in their school who try to maintain a sense of normalcy and find joy in small things despite the danger and decay surrounding them. School-Live! thoughtfully explores themes like friendship, survival, mental health, and overcoming difficult challenges.
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2026-01-03 02:11