1Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The CalamityShonen Action - Tomohisa Taguchi - Pierrot - 25/06/2026 - 18+The fourth and final season of the adaptation of Tite Kubo's manga follows Ichigo Kurosaki and his allies into the decisive clash with Quincy emperor Yhwach after the fall of the Soul King, a conflict threatening to permanently upend the balance between the worlds of the living and the dead.Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity marks the start of the fourth and final season of the anime adaptation produced by studio Pierrot, released in June 2026 as a feature-length compilation of the first episodes in the concluding arc of the thousand-year war between Soul Reapers and Quincy. Based on the final stretch of Tite Kubo's manga, the story picks up right after the fall of the Soul King, mistakenly killed by Ichigo Kurosaki due to a trick orchestrated by Yhwach, an event that collapses the balance between the worlds of the living, the dead and souls in between and opens the way to the final confrontation with the Quincy emperor, bent on destroying the universe to remake it in his own image. This installment stages the confrontation between Ichigo and Uryu Ishida, now on Yhwach's side after inheriting the power of the Almighty, and sets up the transformation manga readers had waited longest for, the so-called Horn of Salvation, which Ichigo reaches by forcibly absorbing his enemy's spiritual pressure to awaken his inner Hollow. Technically, Pierrot maintains the high standard shown since the series' 2022 return, with an opening sequence multiple outlets have called one of the finest ever produced for a TV anime, a score that amplifies the tension of the final confrontation, and some of the most polished animation the saga has ever displayed. The writing conveys the weight of an arc fans had awaited for over a decade, even while juggling an unusually large ensemble cast: some observers have noted that the sheer number of characters involved in the final battle makes it hard, at times, to give everyone their due, a structural limitation more than a directorial misstep. Overall, The Calamity lives up to the expectations built by previous seasons, restoring Bleach's status as one of the absolute pillars of shonen action. Reception has been remarkably positive, with a 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes and over a thousand verified ratings, a result placing this installment among the best-reviewed chapters of the entire saga since its original television debut in 2004.see full review
12votesvote
2Mahoutsukai no YoruAction, Fantasy - ufotable - 11/20/2026 - 13+In the late 1980s, young Aoko Aozaki begins learning sorcery from the mysterious Alice Kuonji, as unknown intruders threaten the quiet town of Misaki. Based on the Type-Moon visual novel.Long awaited by Type-Moon fans, Mahoutsukai no Yoru finally arrives on screen courtesy of ufotable, the studio behind the Fate universe and Kimetsu no Yaiba, adapting the 2012 visual novel written by Kinoko Nasu. Set in Misaki in the late 1980s, the film follows Aoko Aozaki, heir to a family tasked with protecting the land, who discovers the magical arts under the guidance of the mysterious Alice Kuonji, resident of an old mansion local legend says is home to a witch. The town's quiet is disturbed by the appearance of supernatural intruders and the arrival of young Soujuurou Shizuki, whose presence proves central to the balance between the two worlds. Given the quality standard ufotable has built over the years on Type-Moon properties, expectations for the visual side are sky-high, with the promise of elaborate magical sequences and a style capable of doing justice to the source material's twilight, nostalgic atmosphere. Many observers consider the project one of 2026's most prestigious anime announcements, one poised to draw both the visual novel's longtime fanbase and newcomers approaching the Nasuverse for the first time through the ufotable name.see full review
11votesvote
3Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica: Walpurgis no KaitenMahou Shoujo, Dark Fantasy - Shaft - 08/28/2026 - 16+Official sequel to the 2013 film that closed out the series: the magical girls return to confront Homura Akemi's fate in a new chapter marking the franchise's tenth anniversary.Announced for Madoka Magica's tenth anniversary, Walpurgisnacht Rising is the official sequel to the 2013 film Rebellion, bringing Shaft, the franchise's longtime studio, back to continue the story left open by an ending that turned Homura Akemi into a new, morally ambiguous deity. While most of the plot remains under wraps ahead of release, the announcement immediately reignited anticipation for one of the most influential mahou shoujo series of the past fifteen years, one that upended genre conventions by combining dreamlike visuals, a strong psychological core and a Yuki Kajiura score that became legendary among fans. The official tagline, "Now, let's continue the story," suggests a direct continuation of Rebellion's events rather than a simple spin-off, fueling speculation about Homura's fate and that of the other leads. Given the franchise's stature and the meticulous care Shaft has always brought to the visual and sound design of its Madoka productions, the film is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated anime events of the second half of 2026, for longtime fans and international critics alike.see full review
10votesvote
4Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken: Soukai no Namida-henFantasy Adventure - 8-bit - 02/27/2026 - 13+Second film in the saga: Rimuru and his companions are invited by the Sorcerous Dynasty of Thalion, but their rest on a private resort island is cut short by the arrival of a mysterious girl.The film "That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: The Tears of the Blue Sea," directed by Yasuhito Kikuchi for studio 8-Bit, brings the popular isekai franchise to the big screen with an original story set after the founding of the Federation. The plot follows Rimuru and his allies during a vacation on the private island of the elven empress Elmesia, where the arrival of the mysterious Yura turns their relaxation into a new crisis to face. The movie surprises with its narrative choice of sidelining protagonist Rimuru to give space to characters like Gobuta, who proves to be a credible hero, and with a clear upgrade in visual quality, especially in the marine and action sequences. Distributed in Italy by Crunchyroll in April 2026, the film stands as a successful experiment, accessible even to new viewers but particularly appreciated by fans for its deeper exploration of secondary characters.see full review ▶ crunchyroll.com
8votesvote
4COCOON – ONE SUMMER OF GIRLHOODAnime film based on the manga by Machiko Kyo, releasing in theaters beginning September 4, 2026 (GKIDS distribution)."Cocoon: One Summer of Girlhood" emerges as one of the most intense and promising anime of 2026, a cinematic adaptation of Machiko Kyo's war manga inspired by the tragic real-life story of the Himeyuri students of Okinawa during World War II. Directed by Yukimitsu Ina in his feature film debut and animated by Studio Sasayuri, founded by a Ghibli veteran, the film follows the young students San and Mayu, whose carefree life on an island is shattered when they are forced to serve as nurses in a military hospital hidden in a cave. Distributed by GKIDS and set to hit North American theaters on September 4, the film stands out for its poetic Ghibli-style animation and bold stylistic choices, such as depicting wartime violence with flowers instead of blood, creating a heart-wrenching contrast between beauty and horror.see full review ▶ youtube.com
8votesvote
6Made in Abyss: Mezameru ShinpiAdventure, Dark Fantasy - Kinema Citrus - 10/23/2026 - 16+Sequel to the film Dawn of the Deep Soul: a new chapter in the descent into the Abyss, weaving together the wonders and horrors of one of recent Japanese animation's most acclaimed dark fantasy worlds.Dawn of the Mystery Awakens continues the Made in Abyss film saga right after the events of Dawn of the Deep Soul, bringing Riko, Reg and Nanachi back to the screen as they descend ever deeper and more dangerously into the Abyss, the chasm hiding both archaeological wonders and threats capable of corrupting body and mind. Still produced by Kinema Citrus, the film keeps the stylistic signature that has made the series a rare case in contemporary animation: landscapes of extraordinary painterly beauty set against moments of violence and despair capable of unsettling even seasoned viewers, true to the philosophy of Akihito Tsukushi's original work, where the wonder of exploration and the horror of its consequences are always two sides of the same coin. Kevin Penkin's score, part of the series' identity since its first season, remains one of the production's strongest assets, amplifying both the awe and the emotional distress of its harshest moments. Eagerly awaited by longtime fans, the film stands as another essential piece of one of recent years' most respected and debated dark fantasy works.see full review
6votesvote
7Seishun Buta Yarou wa Dear Friend no Yume wo MinaiRomantic Drama, Psychological - CloverWorks - 10/16/2026 - 13+Theatrical sequel in the Rascal Does Not Dream saga: Sakuta Azusagawa must stop Touko Kirishima before reality is rewritten, in a new chapter about the "Adolescence Syndrome".A direct sequel to the film Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus, this new chapter in the Rascal Does Not Dream saga sees CloverWorks return at the helm of one of recent Japanese animation's most beloved romantic-psychological series. The plot picks up from the collective shock triggered by the revelation that the mysterious internet singer is secretly the nation's most beloved actress, Mai Sakurajima, an event that matches exactly a premonitory dream Sakuta Azusagawa once had. From that moment on, seemingly impossible events start piling up, while the hashtag "Yumemiru," tied to wishes coming true, mysteriously vanishes from social media. Forced to confront an alternate version of himself from a different reality, Sakuta sets out on a mission to stop Touko Kirishima before reality is irreversibly rewritten, in what promises to be one of the most ambitious explorations yet of the "Adolescence Syndrome" concept underpinning the entire saga. The film continues the series' tradition of exploring identity, perception and personal growth through a fantastical register tinged with romance, with CloverWorks tasked with upholding the visual and emotional standard that has made Rascal Does Not Dream a touchstone for fans of the genre.see full review
5votesvote
8ScarletFantasy Anime - Mamoru Hosoda - Studio Chizu - 21/11/2025 - 13+A princess who failed to avenge her father wakes in the Land of the Dead, doomed to fade into nothingness unless she confronts her enemy. A young man from the world of the living offers her a chance at a future free of bitterness. A fantasy anime inspired by Hamlet.Scarlet is the new animated feature from Mamoru Hosoda, the director behind The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and Belle, who this time takes on Shakespeare's Hamlet filtered through a vividly colorful fantasy world and Studio Chizu's signature visual style. The protagonist is Scarlet, a princess who failed to avenge her father Amleth's murder at the hands of her uncle Claudius, and who as a result wakes up in the Land of the Dead, a realm on the border between life and death where, unless she completes her mission and reaches the so-called Endless Place, she is doomed to fade into nothingness. Wounded and struggling, Scarlet encounters an idealistic young man from the world of the living, who not only helps her heal but shows her the possibility of a future free of bitterness and vengeance, a plot that partially inverts the bleak premises of the Shakespearean tragedy to open it up to a more hopeful register. True to the studio's tradition, the film pairs visual spectacle with emotional introspection, exploring themes of identity and redemption in a way that speaks to both adult and younger audiences. Critical reception has been cooler than for Hosoda's previous work, some observers praised the ambition of reworking an absolute classic of Western literature through the tools of fantasy animation, while others found the writing thin, the secondary characters underdeveloped, and the pacing uneven, unable to fully hold up against either its Shakespearean source or Hosoda's own earlier achievements. It remains an ambitious project within the director's body of work, one that has divided audiences and critics more than his recent films, and it has recently returned to attention after several outlets named it among the best animated films of the year's first half, a recognition that renewed interest in the title months after its release.see full review
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity
The fourth and final season of the adaptation of Tite Kubo's manga follows Ichigo Kurosaki and his allies into the decisive clash with Quincy emperor Yhwach after the fall of the Soul King, a conflict threatening to permanently upend the balance between the worlds of the living and the dead.
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity marks the start of the fourth and final season of the anime adaptation produced by studio Pierrot, released in June 2026 as a feature-length compilation of the first episodes in the concluding arc of the thousand-year war between Soul Reapers and Quincy. Based on the final stretch of Tite Kubo's manga, the story picks up right after the fall of the Soul King, mistakenly killed by Ichigo Kurosaki due to a trick orchestrated by Yhwach, an event that collapses the balance between the worlds of the living, the dead and souls in between and opens the way to the final confrontation with the Quincy emperor, bent on destroying the universe to remake it in his own image. This installment stages the confrontation between Ichigo and Uryu Ishida, now on Yhwach's side after inheriting the power of the Almighty, and sets up the transformation manga readers had waited longest for, the so-called Horn of Salvation, which Ichigo reaches by forcibly absorbing his enemy's spiritual pressure to awaken his inner Hollow. Technically, Pierrot maintains the high standard shown since the series' 2022 return, with an opening sequence multiple outlets have called one of the finest ever produced for a TV anime, a score that amplifies the tension of the final confrontation, and some of the most polished animation the saga has ever displayed. The writing conveys the weight of an arc fans had awaited for over a decade, even while juggling an unusually large ensemble cast: some observers have noted that the sheer number of characters involved in the final battle makes it hard, at times, to give everyone their due, a structural limitation more than a directorial misstep. Overall, The Calamity lives up to the expectations built by previous seasons, restoring Bleach's status as one of the absolute pillars of shonen action. Reception has been remarkably positive, with a 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes and over a thousand verified ratings, a result placing this installment among the best-reviewed chapters of the entire saga since its original television debut in 2004.
see full review
Mahoutsukai no Yoru
In the late 1980s, young Aoko Aozaki begins learning sorcery from the mysterious Alice Kuonji, as unknown intruders threaten the quiet town of Misaki. Based on the Type-Moon visual novel.
Long awaited by Type-Moon fans, Mahoutsukai no Yoru finally arrives on screen courtesy of ufotable, the studio behind the Fate universe and Kimetsu no Yaiba, adapting the 2012 visual novel written by Kinoko Nasu. Set in Misaki in the late 1980s, the film follows Aoko Aozaki, heir to a family tasked with protecting the land, who discovers the magical arts under the guidance of the mysterious Alice Kuonji, resident of an old mansion local legend says is home to a witch. The town's quiet is disturbed by the appearance of supernatural intruders and the arrival of young Soujuurou Shizuki, whose presence proves central to the balance between the two worlds. Given the quality standard ufotable has built over the years on Type-Moon properties, expectations for the visual side are sky-high, with the promise of elaborate magical sequences and a style capable of doing justice to the source material's twilight, nostalgic atmosphere. Many observers consider the project one of 2026's most prestigious anime announcements, one poised to draw both the visual novel's longtime fanbase and newcomers approaching the Nasuverse for the first time through the ufotable name.
see full review
Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica: Walpurgis no Kaiten
Official sequel to the 2013 film that closed out the series: the magical girls return to confront Homura Akemi's fate in a new chapter marking the franchise's tenth anniversary.
Announced for Madoka Magica's tenth anniversary, Walpurgisnacht Rising is the official sequel to the 2013 film Rebellion, bringing Shaft, the franchise's longtime studio, back to continue the story left open by an ending that turned Homura Akemi into a new, morally ambiguous deity. While most of the plot remains under wraps ahead of release, the announcement immediately reignited anticipation for one of the most influential mahou shoujo series of the past fifteen years, one that upended genre conventions by combining dreamlike visuals, a strong psychological core and a Yuki Kajiura score that became legendary among fans. The official tagline, "Now, let's continue the story," suggests a direct continuation of Rebellion's events rather than a simple spin-off, fueling speculation about Homura's fate and that of the other leads. Given the franchise's stature and the meticulous care Shaft has always brought to the visual and sound design of its Madoka productions, the film is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated anime events of the second half of 2026, for longtime fans and international critics alike.
see full review
Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken: Soukai no Namida-hen
Second film in the saga: Rimuru and his companions are invited by the Sorcerous Dynasty of Thalion, but their rest on a private resort island is cut short by the arrival of a mysterious girl.
The film "That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: The Tears of the Blue Sea," directed by Yasuhito Kikuchi for studio 8-Bit, brings the popular isekai franchise to the big screen with an original story set after the founding of the Federation. The plot follows Rimuru and his allies during a vacation on the private island of the elven empress Elmesia, where the arrival of the mysterious Yura turns their relaxation into a new crisis to face. The movie surprises with its narrative choice of sidelining protagonist Rimuru to give space to characters like Gobuta, who proves to be a credible hero, and with a clear upgrade in visual quality, especially in the marine and action sequences. Distributed in Italy by Crunchyroll in April 2026, the film stands as a successful experiment, accessible even to new viewers but particularly appreciated by fans for its deeper exploration of secondary characters.
see full review
COCOON – ONE SUMMER OF GIRLHOOD
Anime film based on the manga by Machiko Kyo, releasing in theaters beginning September 4, 2026 (GKIDS distribution).
"Cocoon: One Summer of Girlhood" emerges as one of the most intense and promising anime of 2026, a cinematic adaptation of Machiko Kyo's war manga inspired by the tragic real-life story of the Himeyuri students of Okinawa during World War II. Directed by Yukimitsu Ina in his feature film debut and animated by Studio Sasayuri, founded by a Ghibli veteran, the film follows the young students San and Mayu, whose carefree life on an island is shattered when they are forced to serve as nurses in a military hospital hidden in a cave. Distributed by GKIDS and set to hit North American theaters on September 4, the film stands out for its poetic Ghibli-style animation and bold stylistic choices, such as depicting wartime violence with flowers instead of blood, creating a heart-wrenching contrast between beauty and horror.
see full review
Made in Abyss: Mezameru Shinpi
Sequel to the film Dawn of the Deep Soul: a new chapter in the descent into the Abyss, weaving together the wonders and horrors of one of recent Japanese animation's most acclaimed dark fantasy worlds.
Dawn of the Mystery Awakens continues the Made in Abyss film saga right after the events of Dawn of the Deep Soul, bringing Riko, Reg and Nanachi back to the screen as they descend ever deeper and more dangerously into the Abyss, the chasm hiding both archaeological wonders and threats capable of corrupting body and mind. Still produced by Kinema Citrus, the film keeps the stylistic signature that has made the series a rare case in contemporary animation: landscapes of extraordinary painterly beauty set against moments of violence and despair capable of unsettling even seasoned viewers, true to the philosophy of Akihito Tsukushi's original work, where the wonder of exploration and the horror of its consequences are always two sides of the same coin. Kevin Penkin's score, part of the series' identity since its first season, remains one of the production's strongest assets, amplifying both the awe and the emotional distress of its harshest moments. Eagerly awaited by longtime fans, the film stands as another essential piece of one of recent years' most respected and debated dark fantasy works.
see full review
Seishun Buta Yarou wa Dear Friend no Yume wo Minai
Theatrical sequel in the Rascal Does Not Dream saga: Sakuta Azusagawa must stop Touko Kirishima before reality is rewritten, in a new chapter about the "Adolescence Syndrome".
A direct sequel to the film Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus, this new chapter in the Rascal Does Not Dream saga sees CloverWorks return at the helm of one of recent Japanese animation's most beloved romantic-psychological series. The plot picks up from the collective shock triggered by the revelation that the mysterious internet singer is secretly the nation's most beloved actress, Mai Sakurajima, an event that matches exactly a premonitory dream Sakuta Azusagawa once had. From that moment on, seemingly impossible events start piling up, while the hashtag "Yumemiru," tied to wishes coming true, mysteriously vanishes from social media. Forced to confront an alternate version of himself from a different reality, Sakuta sets out on a mission to stop Touko Kirishima before reality is irreversibly rewritten, in what promises to be one of the most ambitious explorations yet of the "Adolescence Syndrome" concept underpinning the entire saga. The film continues the series' tradition of exploring identity, perception and personal growth through a fantastical register tinged with romance, with CloverWorks tasked with upholding the visual and emotional standard that has made Rascal Does Not Dream a touchstone for fans of the genre.
see full review
Scarlet
A princess who failed to avenge her father wakes in the Land of the Dead, doomed to fade into nothingness unless she confronts her enemy. A young man from the world of the living offers her a chance at a future free of bitterness. A fantasy anime inspired by Hamlet.
Scarlet is the new animated feature from Mamoru Hosoda, the director behind The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and Belle, who this time takes on Shakespeare's Hamlet filtered through a vividly colorful fantasy world and Studio Chizu's signature visual style. The protagonist is Scarlet, a princess who failed to avenge her father Amleth's murder at the hands of her uncle Claudius, and who as a result wakes up in the Land of the Dead, a realm on the border between life and death where, unless she completes her mission and reaches the so-called Endless Place, she is doomed to fade into nothingness. Wounded and struggling, Scarlet encounters an idealistic young man from the world of the living, who not only helps her heal but shows her the possibility of a future free of bitterness and vengeance, a plot that partially inverts the bleak premises of the Shakespearean tragedy to open it up to a more hopeful register. True to the studio's tradition, the film pairs visual spectacle with emotional introspection, exploring themes of identity and redemption in a way that speaks to both adult and younger audiences. Critical reception has been cooler than for Hosoda's previous work, some observers praised the ambition of reworking an absolute classic of Western literature through the tools of fantasy animation, while others found the writing thin, the secondary characters underdeveloped, and the pacing uneven, unable to fully hold up against either its Shakespearean source or Hosoda's own earlier achievements. It remains an ambitious project within the director's body of work, one that has divided audiences and critics more than his recent films, and it has recently returned to attention after several outlets named it among the best animated films of the year's first half, a recognition that renewed interest in the title months after its release.
see full review
