Crunchyroll’s Biggest Surprise Hit Is a Must-Watch For Action Fantasy Fans

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Winter 2026 is shaping up to be an amazing anime season! We’re getting new seasons of popular shows like Jujutsu Kaisen, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Hell’s Paradise, and Fire Force, plus exciting new series like the highly anticipated You and I Are Polar Opposites from Shonen Jump. Crunchyroll will be streaming all the latest episodes as they come out. While the season is just starting and many shows haven’t premiered yet, fans are already calling it one of the best action-fantasy lineups of the year.

The anime series Sentenced to Be a Hero premiered on January 3rd, 2026, and quickly gained a following thanks to its beautiful animation, original story, and engaging plot. It’s already received nearly 30,000 likes on Crunchyroll, and that number is still growing. What’s particularly impressive is that the show didn’t generate much buzz before its release. If you enjoy action-packed fantasy anime and are looking for a new series to watch this season, Sentenced to Be a Hero is definitely worth checking out.

What Is Sentenced to Be a Hero About?

This story offers a dark twist on the idea of a ‘hero,’ bestowing the title only upon the most terrible criminals. The ultimate punishment isn’t death, but being forced to fight as a ‘hero’ against powerful Demon Lords. These convicts aren’t even allowed to die; they’re repeatedly resurrected to continue the endless war. However, this resurrection is a horrifying process, ripping their souls from hell and forcing them back into their bodies, which slowly erases their memories and sense of identity.

Xylo Forbartz, once a leader of the Holy Knights, now commands a unit of outcasts fighting in a brutal war. Accused of killing a goddess, he faces a terrible punishment. But when all seems lost, he encounters Teoritta, a formidable weapon offering him a chance for revenge. Xylo forms an alliance with the goddess and begins a dangerous quest filled with conflict and violence.

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2026-01-12 05:40