Crunchyroll Might Have Found Its Next Solo Leveling to Kick Off 2026

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When the anime Solo Leveling came to Crunchyroll, it was so popular that it reportedly caused technical difficulties with the streaming service. While other shows like Attack on Titan have had similar effects, it’s unusual for a show to cause problems with its very first episode. Now, a new anime planned for release in 2026 is generating a similar level of excitement. Although it didn’t crash Crunchyroll’s servers, early reviews suggest it could be just as successful as Solo Leveling.

I’m completely hooked on Sentenced To Be A Hero! It dropped on Crunchyroll on January 3rd, and ever since, everyone online has been raving about it – and for good reason! It’s brought to us by Studio Kai, the team behind shows like Uma Musume Pretty Derby, so I had high hopes, and they delivered! The story actually started as a novel by Rocket Shokai, and then became light novels and manga in 2021 and 2022. But the anime? It’s really something special. People are giving the first episode a 9.4/10 on IMDB, which is incredible! I’m dying to know what makes this series so captivating, and I can’t wait to dive deeper into the world of Xylo Forbartz.

Sentenced To Be A Success

If you haven’t seen the latest anime on Crunchyroll, here’s what it’s about: In a world where being a hero is actually a punishment, Xylo Forbartz, who was once known as a goddess killer, fights countless monsters as part of a special unit. She can’t escape death, but she keeps being resurrected to fight again and again. Everything changes when she meets a mysterious goddess, and together they start a rebellion that could end the endless cycle of punishment. The first season of this twelve-episode anime is already gaining a lot of attention.

Although Sentenced To Be A Hero doesn’t follow the same story as Solo Leveling, its main character, Xylo, shares a lot of similarities with Jinwoo Sung. Like Jinwoo, Xylo is incredibly powerful, wielding blades and supernatural abilities to battle massive groups of monsters. He didn’t choose to be a hero, but was forced into this life by a dangerous situation. Now, he must fight with other warriors to prove his strength against overwhelming monster attacks. Unexpectedly, he also uncovers a potential path to revenge against those who caused his predicament. With plenty of source material available, Sentenced To Be A Hero could potentially have a long run similar to Solo Leveling, though a second season hasn’t been confirmed yet.

Now that Sentenced To Be A Hero is getting great reviews after premiering on Crunchyroll, we want to hear your thoughts! Share your opinions in the comments and join the discussion in the ComicBook Forum.

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2026-01-06 19:43