{"id":315699,"date":"2026-03-06T08:32:12","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T08:32:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/315699\/"},"modified":"2026-03-06T08:32:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T08:32:12","slug":"shonen-jumps-2026-anime-mega-hit-will-finally-dethrone-jujutsu-kaisen-and-demon-slayer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/315699\/","title":{"rendered":"Shonen Jump’s 2026 Anime Mega-Hit Will Finally Dethrone Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer"},"content":{"rendered":"

There’s no denying that Demon Slayer is the current king of sh\u014dnen anime, but there’s one Sh\u014dnen Jump franchise that has the potential to dethrone it sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n

Demon Slayer turned a movie into a cultural phenomenon last year with the release of Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle. While that movie broke record after record, there’s one series waiting to be adapted that could come for it all.<\/p>\n

Kagurabachi<\/a> is the new hotness in sh\u014dnen manga. It’s an exceptional series with amazing fights, some of the best manga panels in the art form, and a legitimate, undeniable potential that could see it dominating the next generation of sh\u014dnen anime.<\/p>\n

The Old-Gen of Sh\u014dnen Might (Finally) Be Coming to an End<\/p>\n

\"Best
\n Goku from Dragon Ball Z and Gear 5 Luffy from One Piece<\/p>\n

After decades, the older generation of sh\u014dnen anime looks like it’s finally coming to an end. Dragon Ball, One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach are all still airing in some capacity, but they won’t be after some time.<\/p>\n

Eiichiro Oda, creator of One Piece, has said that his series is coming to an end soon. The series is one of the longest-running in the history of anime<\/a>, but it looks like the upcoming Elbaph Arc might be working to conclude the series once and for all.<\/p>\n

Dragon Ball will never be the same after the passing of creator Akira Toriyama. A new anime will be coming out that will adapt the Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga, one of the best in Dragon Ball Super, but there hasn’t been any news as to a continuation of the manga. <\/p>\n

Bleach will be animating its final arcs soon, and it might be the first of the original “Big Three” to finally come to a conclusion. Naruto is still living on through Boruto, and while the anime is on an indefinite hiatus, the manga is still going strong. Somehow, most of the older generation of sh\u014dnen have actually outlasted their successors.<\/p>\n

The New-Gen Is Ending Soon Too<\/p>\n

The newest generation of sh\u014dnen anime are all ending before their predecessors. It goes to show just how different the generations are: the older generations value longevity while the newer generations value concision. It’s why series like Jujutsu Kaisen, Solo Leveling, and Demon Slayer barely have any filler, while One Piece and Naruto have a ton.<\/p>\n

\"One<\/p>\n

Related<\/p>\n

\t\t
\n\t\t\tIt’s Time to Say Goodbye to Long-Running Anime
\n\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

Anime continues to expand and rise to unimaginable heights. However, One Piece is marking the end of an era for long-running anime.<\/p>\n

My Hero Academia is the first of the latest generation to end. The final season of the hit sh\u014dnen series was nothing short of masterful, showcasing one of the best fights in the history of anime<\/a> when Bakugo took on All For One.<\/p>\n

Demon Slayer is ending with a trilogy of films, and the first became the highest-grossing Japanese film of all time. It’s a series that thrust anime into the mainstream, cementing the Japanese art form as a core part of American entertainment with a solid film.<\/p>\n

Solo Leveling and Jujutsu Kaisen have finished their manhwa and manga series respectively but still have a few seasons worth of material to be animated. Chainsaw Man is in the same boat, but Fujimoto’s creation isn’t showing any signs of slowing down.<\/p>\n

Kagurabachi Has What It Takes To Lead the Next Generation of Sh\u014dnen<\/p>\n

\"Color
\n Kagurabachi-Chapter-47-Color-Page<\/p>\n

If there’s one manga series that could truly lead the next generation of sh\u014dnen, it has to be Kagurabachi. It’s one of the most successful manga series of the last decade, and that’s saying something. The last few years have had no shortage of amazing sh\u014dnen hits, and through them all, Kagurabachi has come out on top.<\/p>\n

Kagurabachi has won the Next Manga Award in the print category, an award also won by My Hero Academia, Oshi no Ko, and Kaguya-sama: Love is War to name a few. It has also been nominated for the Shogakukan Manga Award and the Kodansha Manga Award, two of the biggest awards in manga.<\/p>\n

Kagurabachi Has the Potential to Dethrone Demon Slayer<\/p>\n

\"Kagurabachi-1\"<\/p>\n

Kagurabachi has an anime adaptation coming out, either in late 2026 or early 2027 if reports are true, and it might be the only series with the potential to take down Demon Slayer and Solo Leveling. <\/p>\n

At its core, Kagurabachi is a story about revenge. Over the past few years, the best sh\u014dnen series have been the simplest, and Kagurabachi takes that idea and runs with it. A great anime series doesn’t need to overcomplicate things to get its point across. It just needs a solid premise, a great protagonist, and amazing fights \u2014 Kagurabachi has all three in spades.<\/p>\n

Will Kagurabachi Get the Adaptation it Deserves?<\/p>\n

\"Kagurabachi,
\n Kagurabachi, Jujutsu Kaisen and Solo Leveling custom featured image\u00a0Custom Image by Ana Nieves<\/p>\n

There’s only one thing that could stop Kagurabachi on its journey to becoming one of the best modern-day sh\u014dnen series<\/a>: a good adaptation. A good adaptation means everything for a manga series, as it can make or break an anime adaptation.<\/p>\n

Currently, Jujutsu Kaisen is enjoying one of the best manga adaptations of all time. The series is a moving masterpiece, and there are more than a few frames that feel like they belong in a museum. Unfortunately, that’s not the case for every series.<\/p>\n

The Beginning After the End famously has one of the worst anime adaptations ever made. The source material the anime is based on is exceptional, and to call the anime that adapted it lackluster would be a massive understatement.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, it looks like Kagurabachi has a quality anime studio behind it. CygamesPictures is reportedly bringing the manga to life, and they’ve just animated The Summer Hikaru Died, a top-tier anime. If CygamesPictures gives Kagurabachi the anime it deserves, it may take over the entire shonen genre in an instant.<\/p>\n

\"Kagurabachi<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tCreated by \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTakeru Hokazono<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tCharacter(s) \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tChihiro Rokuhira, Kunishige Rokuhira, Togo Shiba, Gaku Ichimonji, Ayame (Kagurabachi), Hikobe (Kagurabachi), Hifumi (Kagurabachi), Shinnosuke (Kagurabachi)<\/p>\n

Kagurabachi is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Takeru Hokazono. It began serialization in Weekly Sh\u014dnen Jump in September 2023. The story follows Chihiro Rokuhira, an 18-year-old aspiring swordsmith whose father, Kunishige Rokuhira, was a renowned blacksmith known for forging six enchanted blades instrumental in ending the Seitei War. After his father’s murder by a criminal gang of sorcerers called the Hishaku, who also stole the enchanted blades, Chihiro embarks on a path of vengeance to reclaim them. Armed with his father’s last enchanted blade, Enten, Chihiro confronts various adversaries, including the Hishaku and other antagonistic groups.<\/p>\n

\"Demon<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tCreated by \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKoyoharu Gotouge<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tFirst Film \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDemon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tLatest Film \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDemon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – To the Hashira Training<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tFirst TV Show \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDemon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tLatest TV Show \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDemon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tFirst Episode Air Date \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tApril 6, 2019<\/p>\n

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is a wildly popular anime and manga franchise created by Koyoharu Gotouge. Set in Taish\u014d-era Japan, it follows Tanjiro Kamado as he battles demons and seeks a cure for his sister, Nezuko, who was turned into one. The franchise includes a manga, anime TV series, films, video games, and spin-offs. Known for its stunning animation and gripping storyline, Demon Slayer is one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time.<\/p>\n

\"Jujutsu<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tCreated by \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGege Akutami<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tFirst Film \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJujutsu Kaisen 0<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tLatest Film \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJujutsu Kaisen 0<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tFirst TV Show \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJujutsu Kaisen<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tLatest TV Show \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJujutsu Kaisen<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tUpcoming TV Shows \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJujutsu Kaisen<\/p>\n

Jujutsu Kaisen is a Japanese anime and manga series created by Gege Akutami. The story is set in a world where Cursed Spirits, born from negative human emotions, prey on humanity. It follows high school student Yuji Itadori as he becomes entangled in the world of Jujutsu Sorcery after swallowing a cursed talisman\u2014Ryomen Sukuna’s finger\u2014and becomes the host for one of the most powerful curses. Yuji joins the Tokyo Metropolitan Magic Technical College to learn how to combat curses while searching for the remaining fingers of Sukuna to exorcise him permanently.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"There’s no denying that Demon Slayer is the current king of sh\u014dnen anime, but there’s one Sh\u014dnen Jump…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":315700,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[156,111,139,69,437],"class_list":["post-315699","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tv","tag-entertainment","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-tv"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/315699","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=315699"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/315699\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/315700"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=315699"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=315699"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=315699"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}