{"id":353856,"date":"2026-03-29T15:44:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-29T15:44:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/353856\/"},"modified":"2026-03-29T15:44:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-29T15:44:13","slug":"the-12-best-anime-to-look-forward-to-in-spring-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/353856\/","title":{"rendered":"The 12 best anime to look forward to in spring 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spring anime<\/a> season is here, bringing with it a host of new and returning titles in this year\u2019s second release quarter (or cour in anime speak). This new beginning has ushered in the season finales of prominent Winter 2026 titles, including Jujutsu Kaisen: The Culling Game Part 1<\/a>, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End<\/a> season 2, and Trigun Stargaze<\/a>. Some under-the-radar winter anime, such as Digimon Beatbreak and Case Closed (Detective Conan), will also continue to stream episodes during the spring cour. That said, there\u2019s ample space for fresh, exciting offerings like Go For It, Nakamura-kun!! and Kusunoki’s Garden of Gods to subvert expectations or sweep us off our feet.<\/p>\n

Anime accommodates wide and eclectic tastes<\/a>. While anticipation for legacy shows<\/a> like the latest installment of Eiichiro Oda\u2019s One Piece<\/a> is thoroughly earned, the spring anime season will also bring niche manga adaptations worth investing in. With that in mind, here are 12 spring anime titles that will keep you hooked from April through June.<\/p>\n

12 <\/p>\n

Agents of the Four Seasons: Dance of Spring<\/p>\n

\"A
\n Image:\u00a0WIT Studio<\/p>\n

Release date: March 28<\/p>\n

Where to watch: Crunchyroll<\/p>\n

Kana Akatsuki\u2019s (Violet Evergarden<\/a>) light novel series, Agents of the Four Seasons, presents an interesting premise. It introduces us to a world where Winter is the only season that exists. However, Winter\u2019s loneliness becomes so acute that it cuts off a part of its essence to create Spring. Soon after, Summer and Autumn are born, commencing the cycle of the four seasons. To preserve this natural balance, human guardians known as Agents of the Four Seasons are appointed by Mother Earth, and humankind is promised abundance and stability in exchange. The first part of the light novel, Dance of Spring, is being adapted by Wit Studio (which produced the first three seasons of Attack on Titan<\/a>). The story follows Hinagiku Kayo, the Agent of Spring who was kidnapped by the Rebels (insurgents who detest the four-season cycle) 10 years before the events of the anime, causing Spring to be absent during that time period. Her return during the ongoing Reimei Era brings new hope, as Hinagiku must restore Spring to fulfill her divine duty.<\/p>\n

11 <\/p>\n

Dorohedoro season 2<\/p>\n

\"A
\n Image: MAPPA<\/p>\n

Release date: April 1<\/p>\n

Where to watch: Crunchyroll\/Netflix<\/p>\n

Caiman is more lizard than man in the post-apocalyptic setting of Dorohedoro<\/a>, which is populated by humans and sorcerers alike. Season 1 introduced us to the elevated social hierarchy sorcerers enjoy due to their ability to use magic, as strength determines social status in this lawless world. Due to their innate lack of power, humans are subjected to indiscriminate violence and forced to survive in the Hole, an ungoverned megacity that remains polluted by magic waste. Caiman\u2019s journey begins after a sorcerer erases his memories and replaces his head with that of a reptile, prompting him to search for the person responsible. Dorohedoro\u2019s season 1 finale aired in 2020 and ended with a major reveal about Caiman\u2019s restaurant chef friend Nikaido. Caiman\u2019s return is long-anticipated, as Dorohedoro\u2019s absurdist tendencies add an intriguing edge to this dark fantasy seinen<\/a>.<\/p>\n

10 <\/p>\n

Dr. Stone: Science Future season 4, part 3<\/p>\n

\"An
\n Image:\u00a0TMS Entertainment<\/p>\n

Release date: April 2<\/p>\n

Where to watch: Crunchyroll<\/p>\n

In Riichiro Inagaki\u2019s Dr. Stone<\/a>, humans are petrified in stone for 3,719 years after a mysterious green flash is seen in 2019. This bleak opener is immediately undercut by the revival of Senku Ishigami, an adolescent prodigy who grapples with the erosion of human civilization. After his friend Taiju Oki wakes up, Senku realizes that humanity can be saved by the power of science, which leads him on a challenging but fun quest to awaken more humans and rebuild civilization. TMS Entertainment\u2019s (Akira<\/a>) four-season Dr. Stone adaptation maps this ingenious journey, with the fourth and final season, Science Future, airing its third cour on April 2. This penultimate cour is expected to be more dramatic and emotional than the rest of Dr. Stone, as Senku and his friends must challenge Why-man, the elusive entity responsible for humankind\u2019s repeated petrification. It\u2019s time to save humanity once and for all.<\/p>\n

9 <\/p>\n

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime season 4<\/p>\n

\"A
\n Image:\u00a08bit<\/p>\n

Release date: April 3<\/p>\n

Where to watch: Crunchyroll<\/p>\n

After being accidentally stabbed by an unknown assailant, salaryman Satoru Mikami gets reincarnated in a sword and sorcery world as a blue, translucent slime. This marks his rebirth as Rimuru Tempest in That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime<\/a>, the beloved isekai anime that is returning with its fourth installment soon. While Rimuru\u2019s journey has been long and arduous so far, his Jura-Tempest Federation is slowly inching towards a world where humans and monsters can coexist. Season 4 presents Granbell Rosso (a former Hero and head of the Five Elders of the Kingdom of Siltrosso) and his blonde-haired granddaughter Mariabell Rosso as key antagonists, who will challenge this hard-earned status quo. There\u2019s also the Demon Lord Leon Cromwell, the ruler of El Dorado, whose grander motivations are yet to be revealed. Additionally, the franchise anime film That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea<\/a> will release on May 1.<\/p>\n

8 <\/p>\n

Snowball Earth<\/p>\n

\"A
\n Image:\u00a0Studio KAI<\/p>\n

Release date: April 3<\/p>\n

Where to watch: Crunchyroll<\/p>\n

Yuhiro Tsujitsugu\u2019s seinen manga, Snowball Earth, makes competent use of (and subverts) mecha anime<\/a> conventions. In this story, a shy teen named Tetsuo and his giant robot Yukio fight alien monsters to protect Earth, but Yukio gets destroyed in battle. Managing to survive in an escape pod, Tetsuo awakens from cryosleep and lands back on Earth after eight years. He is stunned to find the planet entirely frozen, with everything covered in snow and ice. Although Tetsuo prefers his solitude due to an inability to connect with people, he must push through these sentiments to help save what remains of humanity. Studio Kai (Sentenced to Be a Hero<\/a>) is bringing this moving saga to life. Snowball Earth might end up being a welcome addition to the mecha genre, which is bound to undergo a resurgence with Yoko Taro\u2019s Evangelion anime<\/a> on the horizon.<\/p>\n

7 <\/p>\n

Daemons of the Shadow Realm<\/p>\n

\"Two
\n Image: Bones Film<\/p>\n

Release date: April 4<\/p>\n

Where to watch: Crunchyroll<\/p>\n

Do you miss Hiromu Arakawa\u2019s sweeping, but intimate Fullmetal Alchemist<\/a>? There\u2019s reason to rejoice, as the mangaka\u2019s acclaimed Daemons of the Shadow Realm<\/a> is getting a promising adaptation by Bones Film (who handled My Hero Academia\u2019s final season and season 1 of Gachiakuta). In this Arakawa saga, certain humans can control mighty supernatural duos called Daemons. Twins Yuru and Asa, dubbed “the children who sunder day and night,\u201d are prophesied to rule over Daemons, but they\u2019re separated at a young age, and their true natures are kept secret. As the twins gradually become aware of their birthright, the burden of saving the world falls on their shoulders, while they must also fight hard to make their way back to each other. Yuru and Asa faintly echo Edward and Alphonse\u2019s sibling dynamic in Fullmetal Alchemist, but Arakawa\u2019s modern-day, rural Japanese setting in Daemons of the Shadow Realm is distinct from the military nation of Amestris.<\/p>\n

6 <\/p>\n

One Piece – Elbaph Arc<\/p>\n

\"A
\n Image:\u00a0Toei Animation<\/p>\n

Release date: April 5<\/p>\n

Where to watch: Crunchyroll<\/p>\n

One Piece<\/a> is back with its 22nd season, which will adapt the Elpabh Arc from Oda\u2019s acclaimed, ongoing manga series. Monkey D. Luffy’s adventures with his Straw Hat Pirates continue as usual, but the crew is joined by familiar faces (like the Giant Warrior Pirates and the pirate Bonney) in their journey to Elbaph, a nation in the New World inhabited by giants. In a major change<\/a>, the anime is adopting a two-split cours annual schedule from here on out, and this shift allows the vibrant, complex story to unfold at its own pace. Elbaph has always been teased as a long-awaited destination for the Straw Hats, and the nation will undoubtedly become the site for challenge-filled adventures, with the antagonistic Knights of God preparing to annex Elbaph for the World Government. For Luffy and his crew, the ultimate goal is to find the near-mythical \u201cone piece\u201d (which is now a treasure hunt in the real world<\/a>!), but they will always make time to help their friends and allies along the way.<\/p>\n

5 <\/p>\n

Witch Hat Atelier<\/p>\n

\"A
\n Image: Bug Films<\/p>\n

Release date: April 6<\/p>\n

Where to watch: Crunchyroll<\/p>\n

Evoking favorable comparisons<\/a> to Frieren: Beyond Journey\u2019s End, Kamome Shirahama\u2019s Witch Hat Atelier is a beautiful and layered exploration of the ethics of using magic. An inquisitive child named Coco, who is enamored by all things magic from a young age, crosses paths with a witch named Qifrey on a mundane afternoon. As everybody in Coco\u2019s world believes that only witches can use magic due to innate abilities, Coco silently yearns for a similar power, which ignites her curiosity toward Qifrey\u2019s mysterious craft. Unfortunately, Coco\u2019s longtime dreams of becoming a witch come at a hefty price, compelling her to weigh the morality of spellcasting and navigate a brand new world. Bug Films (the studio behind the survival horror anime, Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead) will usher us into the evocative world of Witch Hat Atelier with a two-episode premiere, which will lay the foundation for Coco\u2019s strange and magical journey.<\/p>\n

4 <\/p>\n

Liar Game<\/p>\n

\"A
\n Image: Madhouse<\/p>\n

Release date: April 6<\/p>\n

Where to watch: Crunchyroll<\/p>\n

Battle Royale had an obvious influence on Squid Game, Hwang Dong-hyuk\u2019s survival thriller that became a global phenomenon on Netflix. That said, Hwang Dong-hyuk\u2019s compelling premise also owes a debt to Shinobu Kaitani\u2019s Liar Game<\/a>, which will grace our screens soon, courtesy of Madhouse (Frieren, Orb: On the Movements of the Earth). This seinen anime follows a college student named Nao Kanzaki, who receives a package containing $1 million and a note that she is now a contestant on the Liar Game. In this tournament, lying and cheating are encouraged, as the aim is to snatch other contestants’ money and have the loser pay the incurred debt. After Nao’s first opponent steals her money, she employs a con man named Shinichi Akiyama to help retrieve it. Liar Game will be of interest to anyone who enjoys twisty survival games, especially one with a protagonist who might be too forthcoming for her own good.<\/p>\n

3 <\/p>\n

Marriagetoxin<\/p>\n

\"A
\n Image: Bones Film<\/p>\n

Release date: April 7<\/p>\n

Where to watch: Crunchyroll<\/p>\n

Another long-awaited offering by Bones Film, Mizuki Yoda\u2019s Marriagetoxin follows Hikaru Gero, a member of the Poison Clan of professional assassins. Due to the highly regimented nature of his life, Hikaru doesn\u2019t care much about societal expectations surrounding dating and marriage. Things drastically change after the Poison Clan demands that Hikaru marry and produce an heir, while threatening to force his sister Akari into a marriage if he fails to comply. Scrambling for a solution, Hikaru enlists the aid of a marriage swindler named Mei Kinosaki, who agrees to coach him during his quest to charm women and find someone he wants to marry. Marriagetoxin employs fish-out-of-water humor to flesh out Hikaru\u2019s social awkwardness, leading to an action-packed, but charming story about finding love.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Spring anime season is here, bringing with it a host of new and returning titles in this year\u2019s…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":353857,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[156,111,139,69,437],"class_list":{"0":"post-353856","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-tv","8":"tag-entertainment","9":"tag-new-zealand","10":"tag-newzealand","11":"tag-nz","12":"tag-tv"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/353856","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=353856"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/353856\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/353857"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=353856"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=353856"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=353856"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}