The Most Anticipated Anime Arrivals in January 2026

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January 2026 looks like it will be an amazing month for anime fans! We’re expecting the return of popular sequels, the exciting conclusions to ongoing stories, and brand new shows based on manga and light novels. There’s a huge variety coming – everything from epic fantasy adventures and intense magical fights, to stories about shadowy mercenary groups and characters starting over after being dismissed from their hero teams. It can be hard to keep up with everything, so here’s a simple guide to what’s on the way and who is creating it.

Here are ten important new anime series and returning favorites. We’ve included a brief overview of each story, as well as the main people involved – the staff and cast. Keep in mind that release dates might be different depending on where you are and what streaming service you use. Think of this as a handy guide to help you understand what new anime is coming in January, who created it, and where you can watch it.

‘Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End’ (2023– )

Okay, so I’m super excited for Season 2! It’s coming back to Madhouse, which is *fantastic* news, with Keiichirō Saitō directing and Tomohiro Suzuki writing – the same team that made Season 1 so amazing. Evan Call is thankfully returning to do the music, too. It’s scheduled to air on Nippon TV’s Friday Anime Night starting around mid-January, and from what I’ve heard, it’s going to continue following Frieren, Fern, and Stark as they head towards Aureole – so more of their journey north! And the best part? Atsumi Tanezaki, Kana Ichinose, and Chiaki Kobayashi are all coming back to voice Frieren, Fern, and Stark, respectively. Huge win!

The series is based on the fantasy manga by Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe. It tells the story of Frieren, a mage who lives forever, and what happens after she and her hero team defeat the Demon King. The story explores themes of memory, sadness, and how time affects her relationships with people who don’t live as long as she does. The broadcast information and first artwork show a world filled with crystals, and new episodes will air every Friday. You can continue to watch it online through the same streaming services as before.

‘Hell’s Paradise’ (2023– )

The second season, created by the animation studio MAPPA and directed by Kaori Makita, will debut in January 2026. Yoshiaki Dewa is returning as the composer, and Koji Hisaki will once again handle character design, with Akira Kindaichi continuing as series composer. Joining the cast are Kōji Yusa as Jikka, Maaya Uchida as Kiyomaru, and Sayaka Ohara as Isuzu.

The series, adapted from Yūji Kaku’s manga, centers around ninja Gabimaru and executioner Sagiri as they navigate the dangerous secrets of Shinsenkyo in their quest for the Elixir of Life. Trailers for Season 2 hint at the next set of challenges on the island and how the Asaemon characters will interact, and several sources have reported that new episodes will be released in January alongside their Japanese broadcast.

‘Chained Soldier’ (2024– )

The second season of ‘Chained Soldier’ (Mato Seihei no Slave) is scheduled to arrive in 2026. This follows announcements that confirmed the continuation after the show first aired in 2024. Season 1 was created by Seven Arcs, with Junji Nishimura serving as chief director. Gorō Kuji directed, Yasuhiro Nakanishi handled the series composition, and Kōta Yamamoto composed the music. Yūya Hirose and Akari Kitō star as Yūki Wakura and Kyōka Uzen, respectively.

The original manga by Takahiro and Yōhei Takemura tells the story of a boy who makes a deal with the leader of an all-female fighting force to battle creatures invading from other dimensions. Current information about Season 2 indicates that the same staff members are working on it, ensuring a consistent production quality, and it’s currently scheduled to air in 2026.

‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ (2020– )

Season 3 will cover the ‘Culling Game’ storyline and is scheduled to debut in January 2026. Shota Goshozono is directing the animation at MAPPA, and Hiroshi Seko is once again handling the series composition. The voice cast will reprise their roles, including Junya Enoki as Yuji Itadori, Yūma Uchida as Megumi Fushiguro, Megumi Ogata as Yuta Okkotsu, and Daisuke Namikawa as Choso.

The story centers on Yuji, Megumi, and their friends as they participate in a dangerous competition hosted by Kenjaku. Their goals are to save Tsumiki, safeguard Tengen, and deal with the consequences of the events in Shibuya. Before Season 3 begins, a special compilation film will be released in Japan in November and in North America in December 2025, followed by the weekly release of new episodes starting in January.

‘Oshi no Ko’ (2023– )

The third season is scheduled to premiere in January 2026, produced by Doga Kobo. Daisuke Hiramaki will return as director, Kanna Hirayama as character designer, and Jin Tanaka will handle series composition – the team was announced right after the Season 2 finale. The main voice actors, including Takeo Ōtsuka as Aqua and Yurie Igoma as Ruby, are also confirmed to reprise their roles.

Based on the manga by Aka Akasaka and Mengo Yokoyari, the series follows twin siblings as they try to uncover what really happened to idol Ai Hoshino while working in the Japanese entertainment world. Recent announcements mention new episodes coming in January and hint at more focus on the film production aspects of Aqua’s investigation.

‘To Your Eternity’ (2021– )

For Season 3, there have been some changes to the team behind the scenes. Sōta Yokote is now the director, while Kiyoko Sayama, who directed Season 2, is taking on the role of chief director. Several key staff members are returning, including script supervisor Shinzō Fujita, character designer Kōji Yabuno, composer Ryō Kawasaki, and sound director Takeshi Takadera. The animation is still being produced at studio Drive, with help from other production companies (details can be found in related articles).

The series, adapted from Yoshitoki Ōima’s manga, centers on Fushi, an immortal character, and his growth as he experiences life through relationships and heartbreak. Previews for Season 3 suggest a new setting and the introduction of new characters, while also promising the return of the same creative team responsible for the audio and visual style of the previous season.

‘Fire Force’ (2019– )

The second part of ‘Fire Force’ Season 3 (episodes 13-24) will be released in January 2026. The season was split into two parts, with the first beginning in April 2025. This final season will finish airing during the winter 2026 broadcast season. You can watch it on Crunchyroll, and it will likely become available on other streaming services soon. The main voice cast, including Gakuto Kajiwara as Shinra, are all returning for their roles.

The ongoing story of Soul Eater by Atsushi Ōkubo keeps unfolding with intense battles and new details about the series’ history and larger universe. New episodes air every Friday in Japan, covering the first part of the story, and will return in January to finish adapting the complete narrative.

‘Fate/strange Fake’ (2026– )

The television series continuing the story from the 2023 special ‘Fate/strange Fake: Whispers of Dawn’ will start airing on January 3, 2026. A-1 Pictures is handling the animation. The 2023 special featured Shun Enokido and Takahito Sakazume as directors, with scripts written by Daisuke Ōhigashi, character designs by Yūkei Yamada, and music composed by Hiroyuki Sawano (SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]).

Ryōgo Narita’s take on the Holy Grail War introduces “fake” rules and takes place in America, creating unconventional pairings of Masters and Servants and offering lore that differs from ‘Fate/stay night’. The English-dubbed special and official website materials act as an introduction to the main story, which expands on the unusual Grail conflict hinted at in the beginning.

‘Sentenced to Be a Hero’ (2026– )

Studio KAI is creating an anime based on Rocket Shokai’s ‘Sentenced to Be a Hero: The Prison Records of Penal Hero Unit 9004’, planned for release in January 2026. Hiroyuki Takashima will direct the series, and Kenta Ihara is in charge of the series’ composition. The music will be created by Shunsuke Takizawa. Shun Horie is among the confirmed cast members, and Crunchyroll will stream the anime.

The story centers around prisoners who are forced to fight in extremely dangerous battles as part of a special unit, with the promise of reduced sentences if they survive. These events are presented as official, but bleak, prison documents. Originally published on the Kakuyomu website, the story was later adapted into both printed novels and a manga. The anime adaptation, initially planned for October 2025, has been postponed to January 2026 to allow for further refinement and ensure higher quality.

‘Yūsha Party o Oidasareta Kiyōbinbō’ (2026– )

The TV anime adaptation of Itsuki Togami’s light novel-known in Japanese as ‘Yūsha Party o Oidasareta Kiyōbinbō’-will debut in January 2026. Hiroyuki Kanbe is directing the series at studio42, with Masashi Suzuki handling series composition and Naoto Nakamura designing the characters. Takeo Ōtsuka is confirmed to be part of the cast, voicing the main character-the adventurer who was kicked out of his party (named Orun or Orhun in English translations).

The story centers around a skilled, yet overlooked swordsman who is kicked out of the hero’s group. He must then work to improve his well-rounded abilities, which others didn’t value. Kodansha publishes both the novels and manga versions, and current information suggests the anime adaptation is scheduled for release in January 2026, along with several other anticipated sequels. This places it in a competitive January 2026 release window. The character is forced to rebuild on his own and hone his skills.

Share which January 2026 title you’re most excited about in the comments!

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2025-10-02 11:17