The year 2026 began with a wave of new anime series and films. While Crunchyroll has a larger selection in January, Netflix is offering a unique collection of visually impressive anime, available only on its platform. Netflix has been significantly investing in anime in recent years, bringing a wider range of stories and animation styles to viewers worldwide. One standout release is the original sci-fi film, Cosmic Princess Kaguya, which premiered on January 22nd, 2026. It quickly gained popularity, ranking as the 7th most popular non-English film on Netflix globally that week.
According to Netflix Tudum, the latest rankings are based on total views from January 19th to 25th. Despite only being out for three days, Cosmic Princess Kaguya still managed to get a million views! It’s currently the only anime on the list, likely because no other major anime films were released on Netflix this month. The anime is new and quickly gaining popularity, and it received support from well-known manga artists like Masashi Kishimoto (Naruto), Gege Akutami (Jujutsu Kaisen), and Tatsuki Fujimoto (Chainsaw Man), who created special illustrations. These illustrations were shared on the anime’s official X (formerly Twitter) account after the film’s release.
What Is Cosmic Princess Kaguya About?
This science fiction film with supernatural elements offers a fresh take on the classic Japanese story, The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. Cosmic Princess Kaguya marks the first feature film directed by Shingo Yamashita, who is known for his work on the opening sequences of hit anime series like Jujutsu Kaisen Season 1 and Chainsaw Man. The film centers on two girls who connect through music and perform in Tsukuyomi, a vibrant virtual world where dreams and aspirations merge. We follow Iroha Sakayori, a 17-year-old Tokyo student, as she strives to balance school, work, and her passions.
She finds solace in watching Yachiyo Runami, a well-known online streamer who manages a virtual world called Tsukuyomi. One day, she discovers a strangely glowing telephone pole, and to her surprise, a baby appears! Unable to leave the baby alone, she brings her home, only to find that she grows into a girl her own age at an incredible rate. Even more shockingly, this girl is revealed to be Princess Kaguya, but she’s become quite spoiled and self-centered.
As they grow closer, the two characters start making music together, but they don’t realize dangerous forces are plotting to return Kaguya to the moon. After the film was released, a manga adaptation also became available on Comic Walker, a Japanese website. Currently, there are no plans to release the manga in English outside of Japan.
What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!
https://comicbook.com/anime/news/netflix-officially-crowns-the-best-anime-of-winter-2026/embed/#
Read More
- Best Controller Settings for ARC Raiders
- Ashes of Creation Rogue Guide for Beginners
- Is XRP ETF the New Stock Market Rockstar? Find Out Why Everyone’s Obsessed!
- Neverness to Everness ‘Co-Ex Test’ sign-ups now available
- 10 Great Netflix Dramas That Nobody Talks About
- 7 Home Alone Moments That Still Make No Sense (And #2 Is a Plot Hole)
- 32 Kids Movies From The ’90s I Still Like Despite Being Kind Of Terrible
- Best Werewolf Movies (October 2025)
- DCU Nightwing Contender Addresses Casting Rumors & Reveals His Other Dream DC Role [Exclusive]
- 10 Best Anime to Watch if You Miss Dragon Ball Super
2026-01-30 00:11