Cool New Upcoming Summer 2026 Anime

The summer season of anime is coming up, and that means a new slate of shows are releasing. And beyond all the sequels like Mushoku Tensei season 3 and the finale of Bleach, there are tons of new anime releasing you might not have heard about. This ranges from historical dramas to modern Japanese takes on classic fairy tales, and all of the ones anime I’m about to highlight are ones you should definitely watch when they come out!

Jaadugar: A Witch In Mongolia

Historical anime, the majority of the time, take place in Japan during the Edo or Taisho periods. Think of Demon Slayer or Samurai Champloo. Jaadugar: A Witch In Mongolia is different. This anime features the medium’s first ever depiction of the country of Mongolia. The anime follows the real life escapades of Fatima, an actual historical figure who became a cabinet member of Töregene Khatun when she rose to power from 1241 to 1246. The original manga storyline is so faithful that reading the Wikipedia article on Fatima will actually spoil the story!

Along with the unique setting and story, what also sets this anime apart is the production. The world has a very storybook like quality to it, with vibrant colors that almost seem like they blend into each other, and excellent character and effect animation that sells the emotions of the scenes. No still frames or sudden cuts here! The anime is promising an authentic look into the culture and history of Mongolia, with breathtaking visuals and a story that’s both emotional and honest in how two women rose to power and shaped an entire nation for a brief five years.

Ghost In The Shell (2026)

Some readers may look at this entry and get confused. Another reboot of Ghost in the Shell? Yes, it is. But here’s the catch. Before Ghost in the Shell received an anime adaptation, it was originally a manga. For the 1996 and 2002 versions of the anime, the directors and scriptwriters took concepts like the characters and the world, then made original ideas around those concepts. They made the series darker, both in tone and color palette, and added anime original story lines and characters. But because both series were well written, it didn’t matter.

This anime will be a faithful adaptation of the manga. This means that Misato Kisuragi’s serious personalty will be more relaxed and goofy. There’s more color, from bright blue skies to the blazing reds and oranges of fires. However, that doesn’t mean the anime won’t have intense hand to hand combat and cool science fiction elements. From the trailers, there’s going to be cybernetic enhancements, hacking, and sentient robots. The anime is promising to start a new era of science fiction, and from how beautifully animated the trailers are, that level confidence is more than justified.

Though I Am An Inept Villainess

This next anime may seem like it’s an uninspired cash grab. This is thanks to the combination of the villainess genre and historical Chinese trends that have gained popularity in recent years. But Though I Am An Inept Villainess has another interesting trick up its sleeve: there’s body swapping as well! In the Kingdom of Ei, consort-in-training Reirin Kou has a sickly disposition but a gentle and kind personality, while Keigetsu Shu is the complete opposite, healthy but jealous and mean. The two end up swapping bodies after Keigetsu wishes on a meteor, and now they have to adapt to each other’s bodies and life situations.

The show promises difficult tasks for each heroine. Reirin has to clear Keigetsu’s name and many misdeeds in order to take advantage of her newfound freedom and physical fitness, while Keigetsu has to learn that being frail and sick all the time isn’t fun. It’s a tale of empathizing with others and learning that grass isn’t always greener on the other side. With some solid animation and overall production by Dogo Kobo, best known for animating Oshi no Ko, Though I Am An Inept Villainess is an easy watch for any fans of court dramas, villainess stories, and the body swapping concept, and I’ll be checking out the first episode the moment it drops.

Grow Up Show: Sunflower Circus

Grow Up Show: Sunflower Circus is an original anime, which already sets it apart in an environment focused on adaptations. In this anime, a cast of teenage girls perform and run the titular Sunflower Circus together during the mid 1950s. The circus is struggling, but with the mysterious arrival of child prodigy Mizuka Tsurumaki, the ringmaster Maria is ready to turn her circus’ fortunes around.

It’s a lighthearted comedic affair, with a large ensemble cast and iconic circus acts like the trapeze jump and jumping through hoops. Each member of the circus has their own issues that need solving and adapting to, and their character designs are all very distinct from each other. The show is promising an in-depth look at what goes into circus acts and how the performers practice them, as well as the business side of the industry and how circuses keep themselves running. If you’re a fan of fun ensemble comedies, Grow Up Show: Sunflower Circus is looking to be a perfect recommendation.

Goodbye, Lara

Last but certainly not least, we have a modern take on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid. In this adaptation, the mermaid Lara goes through the process of becoming a human and tries to fall in love with a human prince. However, she fails and returns to the ocean, then wakes up 200 years later in Japan’s Lake Biwa. From here she tries again to find and fall in love with the prince, all while adapting to modern life and meeting new friends, like a high school girl who loves boxing.

The production is incredible, with very old school character designs and beautiful water animation. There’s a person on the show’s team dedicated specifically to animating the water! The anime looks to revolve around Lara’s efforts to fulfill her dream and the many obstacles placed along her way to stop her, from jealous romantic rivals to her own awkwardness and insecurities. It looks very whimsical and beautiful, taking on the style and charm of fairy tales while giving it modern touches. It’s the anime I’m personally looking forwards to the most this season, and if you’re a fan of The Little Mermaid and fairy tale retellings, you’re going to want to check this anime out.