It’s been a minute since I had time to sit down and write here. My contracted position at CBR.com changed again recently, which means a heavier workload and less time to write outside the job. This is a good thing, but I do need to make some time to write over here, just for me. Especially since I haven’t even talked about the Spring 2026 Anime Season at all, yet.
I’ve missed my outlet, for sure. There’s been some amazing new anime I’ve been watching during the Spring 2026 Anime Season. Not taking time to talk about them here has been weird. So I thought I’d drop in and give a brief overview of everything I’m watching now.
My Anime Watchlist This Spring 2026 Anime Season
Daemons of the Shadow Realm (Yomi no Tsugai)
Image property of Bones Film
I was really looking forward to Daemons of the Shadow Realm, and, so far, it has not disappointed. Created by Fullmetal Alchemist mangaka Hiromu Arakawa, twin siblings Yuru and Asa are torn apart by mysteries Yuru can’t even begin to understand. Torn from their hidden village in the mountains and thrust into a modern world unlike anything he ever imagined, Yuru is forced to seek out his sister for answers.
Accompanied by the village guardians (a.k.a. just two of the Daemons,) everything about Yuru’s life and world is turned on its head, and finding answers means facing off against his twin, who seems to have been a part of this world far longer than he could have ever imagined.
So far, I am really enjoying this. The story presents initially like a lot of similar shonen anime, but quickly shifts to set itself apart in a world of same-ol, same-ol tropes and plot devices. Yuru is a fascinating protagonist, and unraveling the mystery he finds himself wrapped up in is a definite high point.
Image property of Bones Film
MARRIAGETOXIN
Marriagetoxin just looked hilarious from the get-go, so I was right on top of adding that to my watchlist the minute it premiered. Poison Clan assassin Gero Hikaru needs to pass the clan’s legacy on to an heir, but he’s dedicated to his work. He has no interest in women or family, so his sister and her partner agree to have a baby instead.
When a contract puts him face to face with the notorious Marriage Swindler, Kinosaki Mei, something changes Hikaru’s mind. Mei is one of the most beautiful “women” Hikaru has ever encountered, but it isn’t long before he learns the swindler is actually a man. Mei is known for seducing both men and women, though he prefers dressing as a beautiful woman.
In a bargain to save Mei from execution, Hikaru asks the swindler to help him find a wife. If that sounds hilariously heartwarming, it is. The bond between Hikaru and Mei is quirky and fun from the start. As Hikaru begins dating (if it could actually be called dating,) each one turns into an unforgettable challenge that sets him up for a long line of marriage prospects.
Needy Girl Overdose Is Easily the Spring 2026 Anime Season’s Most Disturbing Offering
Image property of Yostar Pictures
Based on visual novel game Needy Streamer Overload, Needy Girl Overdose is not quiet in its disturbance. It’s loud, brash and highly reminiscent of the internet culture that dominates the world as we know it today.
Following OMGKawaiiAngel, an approval-seeking young girl out to become the next internet Angel, she will stop at nothing to gain likes. It’s psychologically unhinged, at best, making the viewer pause to think through every outrageous stunt she pulls.
Needy Girl Overdose is definitely going to be everyone’s cup of tea. I tend to like the psychological deep dives into our world culture, especially since I’ve seen the drastic shift in lifestyle and culture across my 5+ decades of life. It’s easy to deny the urge to seek approval on the level of Needy Girl Overdose’s protagonist. That being said, the internet has made it easier than ever to gain self-gratification through approval-seeking.
Image property of Madhouse
LIAR GAME
I haven’t given myself much space to talk about my love for death game series and TV shows. The Winter 2026 Anime Season‘s SHIBOYUGI was on my watchlist, which gave me an outlet for death games. I didn’t cover the full season, but I did watch it. So, it was a no-brainer I’d be watching LIAR GAME during the Spring 2026 Anime Season.
LIAR GAME is based on the 2005 seinen manga by Kaitani Shinobu, which would go on to inspire the creator of Netflix’s hit thriller, Squid Game. Where Squid Game is all brutality and thrills, LIAR GAME is a more cerebral thrill.
Following the most trusting and honest female protagonist in the world, Kanzaki Nao, LIAR GAME wastes no time throwing Nao into the deep end of the pool. After receiving a mysterious invitation to the LIAR GAME in the mail, along with a suitcase holding 100,000,000 yen, panic sets in quick. In the event that she somehow manages to lose even a hundred yen during the time period, she becomes responsible for paying back the 100,000,000 herself.
Seeking out the advice of a conman named Akiyama Shinichi as he’s being released from prison, Shinichi finds himself drawn into Nao’s naivete. Being kind in such a cutthroat world is death sentence. Even though he’s put out by the idea of helping her at first, it isn’t long before he can’t help himself. Drawn more deeply into the game, Nao has no choice but to learn how to scheme and lie. If she wants to survive and come out of the LIAR Game debt free, she needs to become ruthless. Too good, this series. Everyone should be watching it!
Witch Hat Atelier: Spring 2026 Anime Season Must-Watch
Image property of Bug Films
There is something about magical fantasy anime that hits the spot. With Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End making waves in the world since its debut, the anime adaptation of Witch Hat Atelier was bound to be a huge hit.
Following a young girl who’s always wanted to be a witch, the realization of Coco’s wish comes at a cost she can’t bear to live with. After meeting Master Qifrey and seeing him perform magic, Coco attempts to do the same using a book she was given as a child. The outcome is disastrous, encasing her mother and her home in crystals.
The magic is dark and forbidden, from a source Qifrey has been tracking for years: the Brimmed Cap. The only way to finally catch up to the Brimmed Cap is to bring Coco into the world of magic and make her his apprentice.
What should be a dream come true for Coco is tainted by the circumstances that landed her apprenticeship under Master Qifrey. The Brimmed Cap has had designs on Coco for years, and making her strong enough to withstand his dark draw is a challenge only Qifrey can answer. There is no denying Witch Hat Atelier‘s standing as the absolute best of the Spring 2026 Anime Season. It’s dark, magical and innocent in ways that call out to corruption in the sweetest voice. (Plus, Master Qifrey is Gojo-level hot.)
