12 Anime Worth Watching This Summer

byOnePerspective -
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An evil child, a former shinigami, and cybernetics are what you can expect this summer anime season. There's a new season full of anime to check out this Summer like the return of The Ghost in the Shell, the beautiful The World Is Dancing, and the highly anticipated finale of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War. Across Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, Hulu, and Netflix, as well as others, there are a lot of places to enjoy anime at the moment.

Check out some anticipated series in the video above or the slideshow gallery below, followed by the full list of new Summer season 2026 anime and where to watch them in the U.S. and their respective streaming platforms. Anime listed are available now unless otherwise stated.

Sparks of Tomorrow (Netflix)

In an alternate reality where steam power is king, young Kihachi is infatuated with the power of electricity. He and a girl named Inako navigate the taboo of this new electric technology in the hope of ushering in a new future. Kyoto Animation, known for Violet Evergarden and Sound! Euphonium, is heading up production on this new series, and the visuals are amazing. From the painted-style backgrounds to the various ways of showcasing electricity, it’s a feast for the eyes. The story so far is also reminiscent of series like Orb: On the Movements of the Earth, which is a plus in my book. It’ll be interesting to see how the rest of the series unfolds as our protagonists attempt to safeguard vital information for a new era.

The World Is Dancing (HIDIVE)

Set in 14th century Japan, the series follows Oniyasha, the son of a theater troupe leader as he struggles to find his personal identity in his father’s teachings and becomes inspired through a chance meeting. Cypic, the studio formerly known as CygamesPictures, has worked on series like The Summer Hikaru Died and Apocalypse Hotel. The visuals have been quite engrossing so far, representing dancing in a raw and abstract way, and while there are also some muted performances in contrast, they’re elevated by a change in lighting or color with the wave of a hand. It’ll be a vibrant journey as Oniyasha builds on his sudden inspiration throughout the season.

Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You (Crunchyroll)

This wholesome series follows Sasaki, an unhappy salaryman who finds comfort in visiting a young supermarket worker at the end of his day; it’s here that he eventually finds a mysterious smoking buddy to confide in. Asahi Production, the studio behind Heaven's Design Team and A Galaxy Next Door, handles the animation and provides a nice break from some of the dark and action-packed series this season as Sasaki awkwardly communicates with his new friend.

Chainsmoker Cat (Netflix)

You want the opposite of wholesome? Try this new series, which follows Yaniko, a down-and-out catgirl whose smoking habit is not helping her at all. This series from Bibury Animation Studios (known for Witch Watch and The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You) is probably the most talked about so far this season… for all the wrong reasons. It can be quite sickening if you have a weak constitution, with some aspects even being censored. That aside, the opening credits are quite cool, imitating what Chainsaw Man did with recreating popular scenes in media. If you’re at all interested in seeing what the fuss is about and think you have the stomach for it, check it out.

Young Ladies Don’t Play Fighting Games (Crunchyroll)

This fun comedy series follows Aya, a new student at a prestigious all-girl school who hopes to become a proper lady. She soon discovers another student passionately playing Street Fighter 6 despite a video game ban; how will this duo balance the strict policies of their school with their newfound relationship centered around a forbidden hobby? Diomedéa, the studio behind Squid Girl and Domestic Girlfriend, is handling the animation for this series.

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 (Crunchyroll)

Of course, we also have returning series this summer, including the highly anticipated Season 3 of Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation. It’s been a couple of years since we last saw Rudeus and the gang as he rekindles an old flame. It’s been even longer since we’ve seen his companion Eris, who went missing, so it’s refreshing to see what she’s been up to at the start of this new season. Studio Bind returns again to handle the animation, so look forward to more sleek fight sequences as the story unfolds. It’ll be interesting to see Eris’ growth knowing what Rudeus has been up to since her disappearance. The focus on swordplay is also a nice change of pace, so here’s hoping there are more epic duels down the line in her journey to defeat the Dragon God.

Clevatess Season 2 (Crunchyroll)

Another fantasy series is back as Clevatess Season 2 debuts this summer. Alicia is one of many heroes sent to destroy the aforementioned demon king, Clevatess; following some unplanned events, Clevatess decides to observe humanity a little longer before deciding on their fate. Lay-duce studio, known for Tomo-chan Is a Girl! and Magi: Adventure of Sinbad, returns to head up production. Clevatess was a nice surprise last year with its dark fantasy and mature warring themes, but this season takes a different route as our protagonists investigate the source of the recent demonic invaders, which happens to be near a school of magic.

Saga of Tanya the Evil Season 2 (Crunchyroll)

The long-awaited return of Saga of Tanya the Evil is finally here! It’s been about six years since Saga of Tanya the Evil: The Movie, which took place after Season 1 of the series and was the last time we saw the infamous magical military might wreaking havoc on the battlefield. For those unfamiliar, this series follows Tanya, a reincarnated salaryman now in the body of an orphaned girl because he challenged an otherworldly entity. Studio NUT returns again to helm this season, and fans can expect more of the same frenzied predicaments that Tanya gets herself into during a devastating war. With her added responsibility of commanding a new unit and the problems that come with it, it’ll be interesting to see how she adapts as tensions continue to grow between regions and rivals.

Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia (Crunchyroll)

This new series follows Sitara, a young enslaved girl who finds herself under the care of a prestigious family in the hope of being educated. At first hesitant and trying to flee, Sitara becomes inspired by a gifted child in the family. From the character designs to the art direction, there’s a lot to appreciate as we come along on this journey of discovery and loss. Science SARU, famously known for Dandadan and Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!, is producing the series.

The Ghost in the Shell (Amazon Prime)

Speaking of Science SARU, the studio has another potential banger on their hands this summer with the newest adaptation of a Masamune Shirow classic, The Ghost in the Shell. This latest take keeps the same name as the manga and stays true to the original character designs as compared to past iterations of the popular sci-fi series. Even though these visuals are different from what anime fans are familiar with, we still get the gritty and dark themes of this cyberpunk world with the fun touch this studio usually brings to their work. And the score! From the electronic and jazz background music to Millennium Parade’s ending theme, the series has a vibe reminiscent of Cowboy Bebop. It’s looking great so far, and we can’t wait to see what else they bring as the season progresses.

Star Wars: Visions Presents - The Ninth Jedi (Disney+, Hulu - premieres August 5)

A galaxy far, far away is making a full series debut this summer with Star Wars: Visions Presents - The Ninth Jedi. Initially introduced in the Star Wars anthology series, Visions, The Ninth Jedi gets a full eight-episode limited run to flesh out the rest of the short story. Production I.G., the studio well known for Haikyu!! and Psycho-Pass, returns to animate all the flashy lightsaber fight scenes as we follow our ragtag group of Jedi in their attempt to restore the Jedi Order. The Ninth Jedi has been a fan favorite of the Visions anthology, so it’s nice to see a unique take on that sci-fi franchise getting a chance to build out its vision for both anime and Star Wars fans to see.

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity (Disney+, Hulu - premieres July 25)

Finally, Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War reaches its conclusion with The Calamity this season. Now in the fourth and final part of its arc, the series follows Ichigo and allies as they fight tooth and nail to reach the Soul King palace while Yhwach continues to grow stronger. Pierrot Films returns from the previous part, The Conflict, to round out the last chapter of this highly anticipated storyline. From the trailers we’ve seen so far, we expect even more long-awaited Bankai reveals and the return of Aizen as the Soul Reapers become desperate to change the course of the conflict.

Those are some of our most anticipated new and returning anime available to watch this summer 2026, if you want even more, check out our list of the winter and spring 2026 anime in case you missed the last batch of new series.

All the New Anime Arriving in Summer 2026

Here’s the full list of anime coming out in Summer 2026 that will be available to watch in the US:

Crunchyroll

Netflix

Hulu

HIDIVE

Disney+

Amazon Prime

What anime are you watching this Summer? Let's discuss in the comments!



source https://www.ign.com/articles/new-anime-to-watch-in-summer-2006
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