As the calendar turns toward the warmer months, the anime industry is gearing up to deliver another massive wave of highly anticipated titles for the summer season. Building on the momentum of the year’s first half, this slate features series continuing straight from their successful spring premieres, such as Liar Game and Daemons of the Shadow Realm. New and returning titles also dominate the roster, spanning shonen epics, high-stakes action, fantasy dramas and ambitious video game adaptations. While every entry on this list is noteworthy, heavy hitters like Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War are preparing to take their final bow, just as the legendary Ghost in the Shell franchise receives a fresh reimagining. To help you navigate the packed schedule, here are the 10 anime releases we are keeping our eyes on, complete with what fans can expect from the studios bringing them to life.

Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia 

Release Date: July 4, 2026

Kicking off the season is Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia, an adaptation that promises to be a visual and cultural feast. Set against the sweeping steppes of the 13th-century Mongol Empire, the story follows a young captive named Sitara, who plots her revenge against the empire from within. Fan expectations are incredibly high with Studio Science SARU at the helm. Naoko Yamada – renowned for her emotive storytelling in A Silent Voice and K-ON! – serves as chief director alongside Science SARU’s Abel Góngora, whose recent co-helming credits include Scott Pilgrim Takes Off and DAN DA DAN. Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will stream via Crunchyroll starting July 4, debuting with a special one-hour broadcast featuring the first two episodes.

Daemons of the Shadow Realm Second Cour

Release Date: July 6, 2026

Following the critical success of its spring run, Hiromu Arakawa’s Daemons of the Shadow Realm transitions seamlessly into its second cour without interruption. The first installment was heavily praised for flawlessly establishing Arakawa’s signature world-building and moral ambiguity, ending with Yuru uncovering the terrifying truth about his village. Studio Bones (Bones Film) continues to handle the animation, guaranteeing a consistent, high-quality production. Manga fans are eagerly anticipating this continuation as it delves deeper into the complex conspiracies and conflicts among various Daemon-wielding factions. The new episodes will be available on Crunchyroll, Netflix and Disney+ in select Asian regions.

Sparks of Tomorrow

Release Date: July, 5, 2026

Adding a touch of grounded, emotional storytelling to the lineup is Sparks of Tomorrow. This original anime production centers on an alternate 20th-century Kyoto, following two youths who dream of ushering in the “Age of Electricity” using a mysterious electrical catalog. Produced by Kyoto Animation – the powerhouse behind Free!, Sound! Euphonium and Violet Evergarden – expectations are understandably high. Audiences anticipate the studio’s trademark breathtaking background art, nuanced character acting and emotionally resonant narrative to shine through in this ambitious sci-fi and historical drama. The series will make its exclusive global debut on Netflix.

Mushoku Tensei Season 3

Release Date: July 6, 2026

The pioneer of the modern isekai genre finally returns after a two-year break. Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation enters its highly anticipated third season, with Studio Bind once again helming the project. Despite a noticeable dip in animation quality during Season 2 – stemming from a change in director and key animation staff – the previous installment still garnered widespread acclaim for its delicate handling of Rudeus’s personal growth, ending on a bittersweet note as he settled into family life. Season 3 will comprise 27 episodes split over two cours and will stream on Crunchyroll. Given its length, this new installment will likely encompass some of the narrative’s most critical storylines, including the Eris Training Arc, the Asura Kingdom Arc and the highly anticipated Turning Point 4 (Human-God Arc).

Liar Game Part 2

Release Date: July 6, 2026

The mind-bending psychological warfare of Liar Game continues. The first part of the anime adaptation was lauded by both newcomers and longtime manga fans for how Madhouse perfectly captured the suffocating tension of Shinobu Kaitani’s intricate puzzles. Picking up exactly where the cliffhanger left off, Nao Kanzaki and Shinichi Akiyama are thrust into even more ruthless rounds of the tournament. Readers of the source material have high expectations for Part 2, eager to see how Madhouse’s sharp visual direction and haunting soundtrack will elevate the famously convoluted games without sacrificing the manga’s logical clarity. For those needing to catch up, the first part of the series is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

THE GHOST IN THE SHELL

Release Date: July 7, 2026

Masamune Shirow’s legendary cyberpunk masterpiece is returning to the screen with a brand-new adaptation. Helmed by the visionary minds at Science SARU, this iteration promises a major stylistic departure from the iconic 1995 film adaptation by Production I.G. Fans of the original manga will be especially thrilled, as this version aligns more closely with the source material’s lore and vibrant ’80s art style. THE GHOST IN THE SHELL will stream globally on Amazon Prime Video starting July 7, 2026.

Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War – The Calamity

Release Date: July 25, 2026

After years of buildup, the definitive conclusion to Tite Kubo’s iconic shonen saga is finally here. Subtitled The Calamity, the final part of the Thousand-Year Blood War will chronicle the ultimate clash between the Soul Reapers and Yhwach’s Quincy forces. Studio Pierrot has treated this revival with unparalleled care. Because the original manga’s ending was famously rushed, longtime fans have high expectations for this final act to deliver the satisfying conclusion the franchise has always deserved. Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity will stream exclusively on Hulu in the US and on Disney+ in select international markets.

The Elusive Samurai Season 2

Release Date: July, 2026

Yusei Matsui’s historical action-comedy The Elusive Samurai sprints back onto screens for a second season. The first season was a breakout hit, praised for how Studio CloverWorks blended bizarre humor with brutal historical realities, wrapping up with young lord Tokiyuki Hojo successfully gathering his core retainers. As the series moves into an all-out war to reclaim the shogunate, fans are expecting CloverWorks to maintain the kinetic camera work and highly experimental visual gags of the first season while successfully scaling up the massive battlefield clashes that define the upcoming arcs. Just like its predecessor, the new installment will stream weekly on Crunchyroll and Netflix in select Asian regions.

The Ribbon Hero

Release Date: August 8, 2026

A late-season surprise, The Ribbon Hero is an upcoming animated feature film that brings a legendary piece of manga history into the modern era. Directed by Yuuki Igarashi and animated by Studio Outline, the film is a brand-new adaptation of Osamu Tezuka’s pioneering classic, Princess Knight. Co-produced by Twin Engine and Netflix, fans of the “God of Manga” are watching this project closely. Expectations are high to see how Outline honors Tezuka’s original trailblazing vision while updating the animation style and pacing for a contemporary global audience.

Sekiro: No Defeat

Release Date: September, 4, 2026

Rounding out the season is an adaptation that has had the internet buzzing: Sekiro: No Defeat. Based on FromSoftware’s notoriously punishing video game Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, the series will translate the bloody journey of the One-Armed Wolf to animation. Produced by studio Qzil.la, expectations are incredibly stringent; fans expect the studio to flawlessly translate the game’s oppressive atmosphere and distinct combat rhythm into animation. Sekiro: No Defeat will arrive on Crunchyroll following its limited theatrical release in Japan.