Wooper:<\/b><\/span> It\u2019s far too early to make this call, but fall feels like a backlog season to me. Spring and summer had a lot going for them from the jump, but several of this autumn\u2019s most promising shows are getting web-only releases, either before or after the traditional TV premiere period has ended. One is based on a video game (and it\u2019s not the Sekiro anime, which was announced as a January series just hours before I published this). Another is a seinen work that marks a first-time collaboration between two major studios. And then there\u2019s Steel Ball Run, which will finally adopt a weekly schedule beginning tomorrow \u2013 I figured I\u2019d mention it by name in the intro, since it\u2019s not included below. JoJo is listed in the poll at the end of this post, however, as are several other series without their own blurbs, so you can vote once you\u2019ve scrubbed through the preview. Let me know what I\u2019ve missed, because from what I can see, 2026\u2019s final quarter is looking a little thin.<\/p>\n Studio:<\/b> Arvo Animation The Premise:<\/b> A self-absorbed police officer with psychic powers takes a rookie cop under his wing.<\/p>\n This year hasn\u2019t been a fruitful one for gag manga adaptations, and given that Super Psychic Policeman Chojo\u2019s source material lasted barely over a year in Shonen Jump, I don\u2019t expect this anime to reverse the subgenre\u2019s fortunes. You have to fill out a season preview somehow, though, so this show gets the privilege of kicking things off. I do like the thicker outlines used for the character art, as they\u2019ll help the cast gel with what I assume will be a lot of impact lines and screentone backgrounds; this isn\u2019t exactly going to be an animation showcase. Neither anime about cops nor espers hold a particular attraction for me, but Choujou-senpai does appear to have a secret weapon in Robo-kun the rosy-cheeked police droid. If Cromartie High School taught me anything, it\u2019s that robot characters can improve any comedy anime (and that TV ratings<\/span><\/a> are irrelevant). Robo-kun may not be the next Mechazawa, I\u2019ll give him a chance to make me laugh this fall.<\/p>\n Studio:<\/b> David Production The Premise:<\/b> A terminally ill woman bargains for her life by proposing marriage to her would-be assassin.<\/p>\n Does anybody else remember the era when nearly every show on the late night anime block noitaminA felt like mandatory viewing? I\u2019m no prisoner to nostalgia, but I do miss discovering shows like Tatami Galaxy and Princess Jellyfish based on their positions in that once-prestigious time slot. By contrast, the show that will occupy that spot beginning this October is Hotaru no Yomeiri (\u201cFirefly Wedding\u201d), which has a synopsis so far-fetched that I doubt it could birth any convincing drama. Its bad boy assassin is covered in blood in much of the series\u2019 promotional material, yet he\u2019s apparently going to play the doting husband here \u2013 to a woman with a secret heart condition, no less. The main reason I\u2019m willing to spend half an hour of my time watching this is that it\u2019s set in the Meiji era, which could add a dimension to the story that I can\u2019t predict. Plus, the writing may be unhinged enough to transform Yomeiri into an unintentional comedy \u2013 that\u2019s always a fun possibility when it comes to \u201cI can fix him\u201d anime plots.<\/p>\n Studio:<\/b> E&H Production The Premise:<\/b> Three high school girls are called upon to save a parallel world from the clutches of a scheming priest.<\/p>\n Magic Knight Rayearth isn\u2019t the first 90s shoujo isekai manga to receive a TV anime this year. In fact, it\u2019s not even the second \u2013 both Red River and From Far Away will have aired first (the latter by just two days). Rayearth is the only one to have been adapted before, however, and fairly successfully at that. I gave the original show a couple tries and never got very far, but it\u2019s beloved enough to be celebrating its 30th anniversary, so what the hell do I know? Not much, other than that this reboot shares no staff with the 90s anime. It\u2019s happening at Seong-Hu Park\u2019s animation studio and he\u2019s listed as a \u201ccreative producer,\u201d so you\u2019d think it might bear the influence of his modern works (Ninja Kamui, Bullet\/Bullet), but the trailer looks pretty old school. Digital effects and (presumably) CG mechs will give Rayearth a new coat of paint, yet the biggest change may be Yuki Kajiura\u2019s involvement with the soundtrack. The second song in the PV gave me undeniable Madoka vibes, and though I\u2019m not knowledgeable enough about Rayearth to say whether she\u2019ll be a good fit, her music will likely improve my personal experience with the first episode. Maybe I\u2019ll even watch the second if it\u2019s a match made in heaven!<\/p>\n Studio:<\/b> Satelight The Premise:<\/b> A teenage boy is transported to an extradimensional wasteland where he uses psychic powers to do battle with others like him.<\/p>\n I\u2019m even less informed about Psyren than Magic Knight Rayearth. I know it\u2019s about people with psychic abilities, that it was one of the most popular Shonen Jump manga never to receive an adaptation (before this October, anyway), and that it\u2019s nearly 20 years old. Unfortunately, the show\u2019s production committee accounted for the source material\u2019s age before its popularity, as the PV forecasts below average animation \u2013 way below average<\/span><\/a>. Fans shouldn\u2019t expect Lucifer and the Biscuit Hammer levels of disappointment, but things are going to be rough all the same. On the plus side, Psyren is rumored to be scheduled for three cours, so it may have the opportunity to adapt the full story, abrupt though its ending may have been. It probably speaks to the bleakness of this project, though, that a mere rumor is forced to serve as its silver lining.<\/p>\n Studio:<\/b> Passione The Premise:<\/b> A private school freshman gets more than he bargained for when he joins the (predominantly female) student council.<\/p>\n At last, a fall series with some visual promise. Seitokai ni mo Ana wa Aru (\u201cEven the Student Council Has Its Holes\u201d) is far from the first anime themed around a high school student council, but it ought to be one of the best-looking thus far. Its staff list combines veterans from studio Shaft with some fresher faces from Bind productions like Mushoku Tensei and Onimai. This team was probably assembled in part due to their experience with ecchi material, since Seitokai\u2019s humor is apparently more than a bit raunchy. Still, I\u2019m not expecting it to be on the level of the aforementioned shows, and purposeful shot selection combined with lively animation can certainly enhance lowbrow comedy. And speaking of humor enhancers, how about music? Composer Tomoki Kikuya first came to my attention after balancing Bocchi the Rock\u2019s sweet victories and anxious freakouts, but truthfully, he\u2019s been operating at a high level ever since his work on Hidamari Sketch. His playful ear might be just what Seitokai needs to succeed \u2013 or maybe the show will be so stupid that the music won\u2019t make a dent. Guess we\u2019ll find out in a couple weeks!<\/p>\n Studio:<\/b> BN Pictures The Premise:<\/b> A platoon of amphibian aliens suffer constant distractions in their mission to conquer planet Earth.<\/p>\n Sgt. Frog (\u201cKeroro Gunsou\u201d) isn\u2019t on the level of Crayon Shin-chan or Detective Conan, but it\u2019s still a major property in Japan, with 350+ episodes, half a dozen films, and a quarter century\u2019s worth of manga chapters to its name. This reboot, which comes 15 years after the conclusion of the first TV anime, will bring Sarge and his fellow Keronians into the modern era, where I assume it will adopt a seasonal schedule (though that\u2019s not yet confirmed, so it may end up being a long runner). I\u2019ve seen around a dozen episodes of the original show, and I liked it pretty well \u2013 it\u2019s silly without being stupid and irreverent without being crude, and the voice performances are great. This new version has an entirely new cast, which will take some getting used to, but on the bright side, one of the primary directors from the first series (Nobuhiro Kondou) is returning for the reboot. Were I to watch any more Sgt. Frog, it\u2019d probably be the original, but I am a little curious about what tone the new one will strike, so I\u2019ll give it a shot.<\/p>\n Studio:<\/b> Comet The Premise:<\/b> Thirteen years after the zombie apocalypse, a teenage girl and her friends leave their village in search of her father.<\/p>\n Only two full-length zombie anime have emerged so far this decade: Zom 100 and the second season of Zombie Land Saga (which also got an original film last year). That means Sagashitemasu doesn\u2019t have much competition, especially since many people remember Zom 100 for its declining production values rather than its exceptional premiere. Even without an abundance of competitors, though, I don\u2019t know whether this new series will generate much noise. This is only the director\u2019s second work, coming not-so-hot on the heels of Rent-a-Girlfriend\u2019s third season, and Studio Comet hasn\u2019t taken point on many memorable projects in their 40 year history. As far as the story goes, there\u2019s at least the detail of the traveling party members being too young to remember the zombie uprising, but I doubt that concept is wholly original. Not that I\u2019m an expert on zombie fiction \u2013 the reason I\u2019m mentioning Sagashitemasu at all is my guilt at avoiding live action zombie fiction. As a matter of fact, I probably ought to go on a George A. Romero binge rather than spend any time on this anime.<\/p>\n Top left:<\/b> Ranma \u00bd (2024) There are more popular sequels than these airing this season (Steel Ball Run, Apothecary Diaries), but those receive so much attention already that I thought I\u2019d mention some others. Of course, Black Clover is plenty popular itself \u2013 so much so that Lenlo watched and reviewed<\/span><\/a> the lengthy first season to see what all the fuss was about. I don\u2019t know the first thing about Black Clover, but the horror-tinged PV looked impressive, so I assume devotees are excited for the anime\u2019s five year break to end. The Ramparts of Ice underwent a much smaller hiatus \u2013 it\u2019s a show I\u2019m considering catching up on, since I really like Polar Opposites by the same author, but the teariness of the key visual makes me wonder how heavy this new season will be. Another romance anime getting the sequel treatment is Blue Box, which I\u2019m content to miss out on, though I appreciate that it\u2019s garnered a wide fanbase while integrating multiple sports into its story. Lastly, the Ranma reboot is back for a third cour of genderbending martial artistry, which is good news, since it\u2019s been providing a more manga-accurate pathway for old and new viewers alike. It\u2019s nice when remakes have creative reasons to exist in addition to financial ones, y\u2019know?<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Studio:<\/b> Shin-Ei Animation The Premise:<\/b> A sneaky mouse disguises himself as a loaf of bread in order to infiltrate and steal from bakeries.<\/p>\n You may question how anyone could be more excited about a children\u2019s show than dozens of seasonal anime airing in the same timeframe. My answer would be that after many years of fandom, most 12 episode series no longer pique my interest \u2013 Pan Dorobou, on the other hand, looks quite charming<\/span><\/a>. Based on the handful of trailers we\u2019ve gotten so far, the animation and color design look pleasant, and the soundtrack seems to be casting a wide net (waltz, samba, swing jazz) to go with Kyary Pamyu Pamyu\u2019s bouncy ending theme. Ayaka Asai will star as the titular bread thief, which is perfect casting if her delightfully weird turn as Clara Valac (Mairimashita Iruma-kun) is anything to go by. Sure, Pan Dorobou won\u2019t offer much food for thought, but it\u2019s not likely to be subbed, so I\u2019ll be watching for the food itself: cream pan, baguettes, choco cornets, soft pretzels, novelty cookies! I\u2019m hungry already.<\/p>\n Studio:<\/b> J.C. Staff The Premise:<\/b> The seven carefree princes of a landlocked kingdom journey to seven surrounding nations as diplomats.<\/p>\n When I first read it, the synopsis for Seven Knights of Marronnier reminded me of ACCA, that globetrotting political series from nearly 10 years ago (where has the time gone?). Rather than one man visiting 13 territories himself, however, the Marronnier anime will send one son to each of its seven bordering countries. That will require either entire episodes dedicated to individual brothers or an unwieldy amount of cross-cutting; either way, the plot will be difficult to condense, as the manga has been serialized for a full decade. \u201cFlowers\u201d is the publication in question, a josei magazine that previously ran such works as Umimachi Diary and Kids on the Slope, so I\u2019m hoping the storytelling will hold my attention. The shadowless character designs and striking red costumes should do the same, even if I don\u2019t expect the animation to be top shelf. Marronnier has a unique aesthetic and an unconventional 20 episode order, so if the writing is strong, there\u2019ll be enough of it to follow into 2027.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Studio:<\/b> Trigger The Premise:<\/b> A young filmmaker documents the corruption and carnage of Night City as several of its other residents fight for their piece of the pie.<\/p>\n Cyberpunk\u2019s second season may not share any characters with the first, but its real life crew does. New showrunner Bartosz Sztybor was one of the writers on the original Edgerunners, and he picked Kai Ikarashi to direct the follow-up based on the strength of his contributions to season one. It\u2019s been four years, but some of you probably still remember Ikarashi\u2019s episode \u201cGirl on Fire,\u201d which visualized cyberpsychosis in such arresting fashion that he earned himself a promotion for the sequel. Along with China (the person<\/span><\/a>, not the country), he\u2019s one of the young-ish talents whose style most impresses me, so I\u2019m counting on Edgerunners II to push the envelope artistically and psychologically. All the sneak peak footage that has made its way online seems to point in that direction, but there\u2019s also a camera-toting character whose function will be to record the events of the story from a limited perspective. Press materials describe him as a cinephile who prefers manually captured footage rather than \u201cbraindances,\u201d the in-universe term for sensory recordings of real world experiences. It sounds like we\u2019re in for some commentary on the value of traditional media in an age of surging technology, which sounds good to me \u2013 I just hope it\u2019s incorporated into the larger story with grace.<\/p>\nChoujun! Choujou-senpai<\/h2>\n
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Director:<\/b> Junichi Yamamoto
Series composition:<\/b> Hayashi Mori
Source:<\/b> Manga<\/p>\nHotaru no Yomeiri<\/h2>\n
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Director:<\/b> Takahiro Kamei
Series composition:<\/b> Yuuko Kakihara
Source:<\/b> Manga<\/p>\nMagic Knight Rayearth<\/h2>\n
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Director:<\/b> Yui Miura
Series composition:<\/b> Shigeru Murakoshi
Source:<\/b> Manga<\/p>\nPsyren<\/h2>\n
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Director:<\/b> Katsumi Ono
Series composition:<\/b> Shin Yoshida
Source:<\/b> Manga<\/p>\nSeitokai ni mo Ana wa Aru!<\/h2>\n
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Director:<\/b> Naoyuki Tatsuwa
Series composition:<\/b> Masahiro Yokotani
Source:<\/b> Manga<\/p>\nSgt. Frog<\/h2>\n
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Directors:<\/b> Nobuhiro Kondou, Toshihiko Sano
Series composition:<\/b> Toshimitsu Takeuchi
Source:<\/b> Manga<\/p>\nZombie Sagashitemasu<\/h2>\n
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Director:<\/b> Shinya Une
Series composition:<\/b> Aki Itami, Kenichi Yamashita
Source:<\/b> Manga<\/p>\nSequel Showcase<\/h2>\n
Top right:<\/b> The Ramparts of Ice
Bottom left:<\/b> Blue Box
Bottom right:<\/b> Black Clover<\/p>\nPan Dorobou<\/h2>\n
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Director:<\/b> Takahiko Kyougoku
Series composition:<\/b> Mariko Mochizuki
Source:<\/b> Children\u2019s book<\/p>\nThe Seven Knights of the
Marronnier Kingdom<\/h2>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/starcrossedanime.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Seven-Knights-of-the-Marronnier-Kingdom-1024x572.jpg\")
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Director:<\/b> Kiyoko Sayama
Series composition:<\/b> Shinzou Fujita
Source:<\/b> Manga<\/p>\nCyberpunk Edgerunners S2<\/h2>\n
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Director:<\/b> Kai Ikarashi
Series composition:<\/b> Masahiko Ootsuka
Source:<\/b> Video game<\/p>\nFool Night<\/h2>\n
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