2026 is an incredible year for movies and shows alike, with some highly awaited titles dropping in theaters and streaming platforms. And if you’re an anime lover, there’s something for you too, whether it’s a returning hit show or a new adaptation that fans have been waiting for.
Netflix is releasing some anime titles in the U.S. that will transform your streaming list. Here are some of the best anime shows to look out for on the platform this year.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End season 2
A mage’s long journey through time and land
When it comes to some of the most popular anime titles in recent years, one can’t skip Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. Set in a magical fantasy world, the series follows the elven mage Frieren after she and her party defeat the Demon King, restoring peace after a ten-year quest.
The show follows Frieren on a journey to the resting place of souls to reunite with her former human comrade Himmel, meeting with old comrades and making new friends while still discovering magic. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End spans several years, depicting how the passage of time and the fleeting nature of human life affect an immortal soul like Frieren.
The second season of this magical fantasy show, which was released earlier this year, picks up Frieren’s journey where it left off, with obstacles in her path as new friends and foes emerge.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Release Date
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September 29, 2023
- Network
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Nippon TV, YTV, FBS, Chukyo TV, RNB, FCT, STV, KNB, HTV, YBS, RAB, TVI, YBC, UMK TV Miyazaki, TSB, MMT, TeNY, RNC, NIB, KKT, KTK, NKT, ABS, JRT, Daiichi-TV, FBC, RKC, KYT, KRY
- Directors
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Kento Matsui, Kota Mori, Takahiro Natori, Morio Asaka, Lim Ka-hee, Taku Kimura, Ken Ando, Hirotaka Mori, Ayaka Tsuji
Devil May Cry season 2
Dante’s journey through hell
Based on the video game of the same name, Devil May Cry is an urban fantasy show that increases your adrenaline with every episode. Set in a world where demons exist in a parallel universe as humans and are only kept out by a weakening barrier, the story follows the quirky and skilled demon hunter Dante as he is chased by a government organization (DARKCOM) and a terrorist threat, White Rabbit, for a precious amulet whose powers he is unaware of.
Devil May Cry features action-heavy sequences, upbeat rock music, and music from artists such as Limp Bizkit and Evanescence. While the show does have its fair share of criticism from DMC’s original fans, it has received positive feedback from critics and viewers alike. Devil May Cry’s second season focuses on a war between worlds, pitting an evolved Dante against a character that was revealed at the end of the first season.
Devil May Cry season 2 begins streaming globally on May 12, 2026.
Dandelion
A short anime about two peculiar angels
From Gintama creator Hideaki Sorachi comes Dandelion, an anime show based on his one-shot manga. This supernatural comedy show follows two unconventional angels, Tetsuo Tanba and Misaki Kurogane, who work in the Send-Off Department of the Japanese Angel Federation.
Their job is to help restless spirits move on, but unlike other angels who rush their cases, they take a more compassionate approach, listening to each soul’s regrets and helping them find closure. Meanwhile, their own characters flesh out.
Dandelion begins streaming globally on April 16 on Netflix.
Dandelion
Cast
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Chikahiro Kobayashi
Tetsuo Tanba
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Megumi Han
Misaki Kurogane
Sparks of Tomorrow
Two dreams collide in this alternate reality
Sparks of Tomorrow is a dystopian sci-fi thriller that you don’t want to skip this year if you’re an anime fan. Set in an alternate 1907 Meiji-era Japan, where advanced steam power leaves Kyoto covered in smog, the story follows two protagonists—Kihachi, a pessimistic boy with a knack for inventing machines grieving the death of his brother, and Inako, a devout girl from a family of sake brewers concealing her dream—as they search for the “20th Century Electrical Catalog” to achieve their goals and revive the lost promise of electricity. Kyoto Animation is producing the show.
Sparks of Tomorrow is coming to Netflix in July 2026.
Steel Ball Run (JJBA)
An epic race featuring colorful participants
Major spoiler for Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean part 6 ahead.
One of my favorite anime shows is back after a long wait, and it delivered with a bang. After a shocking universe reset and a devastating loss for the main cast in its sixth part, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, the grand and bold anime show, is back for its highly anticipated seventh part. Steel Ball Run, which follows a Western-themed, alternate-universe storyline set in 1890s America, unfolds in a different world from JJBA’s first six parts.
The story of former jockey Johnny Joestar is told in the context of the mega Steel Ball Run, which is a cross-country horse race with a massive reward for the winner. Here, Johnny meets some interesting participants, including Gyro Zeppeli, a man who holds in his palm something that could change Johnny’s life.
With adventure, action, and Stands making an appearance in later episodes, Steel Ball Run premiered with overwhelmingly positive reviews for its first episode. As a manga reader, I was very impressed with the adaptation’s accuracy and animation style. However, fans will have to wait for more episodes to drop, with the seventh part not following a weekly schedule.
Steel Ball Run: Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure is now streaming on Netflix.
Netflix’s anime collection is impressive, especially in terms of its original titles. If you’re looking to expand your anime watchlist, you can also look into a Crunchyroll subscription.
- Subscription with ads
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Yes, $8/month
- Simultaneous streams
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Two or four
Stream licensed and original programming with a monthly Netflix subscription.
