Japan Has Officially Chosen Spring 2026’s Best Anime

It might be premature to declare the best anime of the season just two weeks into Spring 2026, but not with a title that’s currently dominating Japan on both streaming platforms and manga sales. Last season brought hits like Journal with Witch and Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3, but spring 2026 could very well be the one to claim the title of best of the year with series that have left viewers speechless from their very first episodes.

While the number of views on streaming platforms has been used to determine the impact of new series, it’s well known that Japan’s most successful anime are those that boost their manga sales. Although there are already popular titles among Western fans, like That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4 and Witch Hat Atelier, the anime that’s proving its potential to reach the Japanese audience is none other than Daemons of the Shadow Realm.

Daemons of the Shadow Realm Is Taking Over Japan In Spring 2026

According to the Shoseki Top 500 Manga Sales Chart shared by the Shosekiranking blog from April 6th to 12th, all 12 volumes of Daemons of the Shadow Realm made the ranking. While the latest release is ranked highest at number 29, all 12 volumes are spread across the top 166 spots. The second anime with the biggest sales increase so far this season is Prime Video’s Nippon Sangoku, with six of its seven available volumes ranking between 26th and 123rd on the Shoseki chart.

While volume 1 of The Warrior Princess and the Barbaric King and volume 7 of Nippon Sangoku currently occupy the third and fourth positions among the best-selling manga on Amazon Japan, Daemons of the Shadow Realm also has several entries that are among the top 50. Additionally, other series that have seen moderate success include Akane Banashi, Witch Hat Atelier, and Petals of Reincarnation, each with four entries on the chart.

Furthermore, with only two episodes, Daemons of the Shadow Realm is currently holding the number one spot on the Niconico video streaming service, which boasts the season’s largest anime selection. In a season so packed with excellent anime, reaching the top spot is no easy feat. Created by the renowned author of Fullmetal Alchemist, Hiromu Arakawa, Daemons of the Shadow Realm is full of characters with intriguing backstories waiting to be uncovered, which has probably motivated many viewers to follow the story.

Daemons of the Shadow Realm Could Become Anime of the Year

Daemons of the Shadow Realm has already garnered attention from fans in the West, having achieved a remarkable 8.06 rating on MyAnimeList and an 8.6/10 on IMDb. Featuring incredible animation by Bones Film and a surprising plot twist in its first episode, the story is filled with mystery, exploring a pair of siblings with an impending fate, as well as battles using supernatural beings.

This initial success suggests that Daemons of the Shadow Realm has all the ingredients to become the anime of the year, so fans should definitely keep an eye on the series, which is currently available on Crunchyroll. Since nothing is guaranteed, viewers shouldn’t miss other explosive titles in the spring 2026 anime lineup.

Release Date

April 4, 2026

Network

Tokyo MX, Gunma TV, BS11, Tochigi TV

Directors

Masahiro Ando

Cast

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  Takako Honda

  Left (voice)

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  Yume Miyamoto

  Asa (voice)

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  Yuichi Nakamura

  Dera (voice)