The Biggest Upcoming Isekai Anime

Reincarnated as a Dragon Hatchling is actually quite old by the standards of isekai stories, as the original light novel debuted in 2015. The manga has also been around for nearly a decade, so the anime has volumes worth of content to pull from. While that is not a guarantee of quality, it can result in an adaptation that is more confident and focused; conversely, we have seen many, many cases of an anime speedrunning the early chapters to try and get to the good stuff, only to leave behind a mess only comprehensible to those familiar with the source material. Felix Film and Ga-Crew previously collaborated on The Most Notorious “Talker” Runs the World’s Greatest Clan, an unapologetically edgy anime that ended up being very entertaining. Reincarnated as a Dragon Hatchling should be way more lighthearted and adventurous, a blend that typically attracts an audience.

There Was A Cute Girl In The Hero’s Party, So I Tried Confessing To Her

A Demon Falls In Love With A Priestess…Also, Isekai

• Japanese Title: Yuusha Party ni Kawaii Ko ga Ita node, Kokuhaku shitemita.
• Release Date: January 2026
• Subgenres: Comedy, Adventure, Fantasy, Romance
• Studio: Gekkou
• Source Material: Light Novel/Manga by Suisei
• Streaming Service: Crunchyroll

Isekai and romance have an odd history. The two cross streams frequently, but their marriages have birthed very few genuinely memorable couples. More often than not, love and romance are substituted with devotion and harems, making for a show that prioritizes fulfilling all tastes rather than supplying a single satisfying meal. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a harem anime, but it is refreshing to get a more traditional isekai romance every once in a while. There was a Cute Girl in the Hero’s Party, so I Tried Confessing to Her will be that anime for the early parts of 2026, although “traditional” might not be the best way to describe Youki and Cecilia’s relationship.

After battling a car and losing, Youki starts over as a demon so powerful, he could reign supreme if he pleases. As he is not interested in that type of life, he initially opts to act as one of the demon lord’s underlings and help out humans who try to take down the big bad. In due time, he grows weary of this routine and craves change; more importantly, he falls head over heels for Cecilia, the priestess of a hero party defeated by him. As Youki has a spine, he confidently declares his love, largely as a way to force himself to leave the demon lord’s orbit and begin fresh as a (disguised) human adventurer. Before long, he is hired by Cecilia, giving the two plenty of time to get to know each other. The above might sound like a lot, but it all happens in the first two chapters of the manga. It is just the setup for the rest of the story, which is mostly just cute.

There was a Cute Girl in the Hero’s Party, so I Tried Confessing to Her should be a fun little adventure anime with a healthy helping of romantic shenanigans. Youki is delightful as a strong protagonist who occasionally gives in to his chuunibyou urges, and Cecilia has more going for her than just acting as the MC’s cheerleader. The isekai element is hardly essential to the story, but it does influence Youki’s dramatic nature.

Magic Knight Rayearth

An Isekai Anime Minor Classic Gets A New Lease On Life

• Japanese Title: Majikku Naito Reiāsu
• Release Date: 2026
• Subgenres: Action, Adventure, Mecha
• Studio: TBA
• Source Material: Manga by Clamp

In recent years, we have seen an increase in the number of anime remakes, with most of the projects seemingly focusing on ’90s classics. Trigun and Ranma 1/2 are probably the biggest examples, and the trend will not end anytime soon. While those two are masterpieces in every form, Magic Knight Rayearth is arguably a more interesting choice for a reboot, as the original series is good but has room for improvement.

Released way before isekai was part of the popular zeitgeist, Magic Knight Rayearth blends magical girl, sword and sorcery, mecha, and isekai to create a character-driven epic that gradually becomes more mature as it goes along. The original series is accessible nowadays through several streaming services, and I would recommend it for those who have never seen it. That said, the anime has pacing issues and inconsistent animation, both of which could be improved by a reboot.

More importantly, Magic Knight Rayearth will have a chance to reach a brand-new generation in an era when anime is far more accepted and celebrated than during its initial run.

Reincarnated as a Sword (Season 2)

The 2026 Isekai Anime Sequel That Should Be Huge

• Japanese Title: Tensei shitara Ken deshita
• Release Date: Fall 2026
• Subgenres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
• Studio: C2C
• Source Material: Light Novel/Manga by Yuu Tanaka

Here it is, the one sequel that warrants an exception. Reincarnated as a Sword aired its first season in 2022, and it grew in stature with every new episode. Although it reflects the inciting incident, the title makes the anime seem way more gimmicky than it actually is, and it does not remotely highlight the story’s strongest element: the father-daughter dynamic between Teacher (the sword) and Fran. Although the protagonist is powerful, he is limited by the fact that he is, well, a sword, and every blade needs the right wielder. In comes Fran, a beast girl who has been through hell and has mostly given up on herself and the world, only to rediscover her smile as she develops a bond with her talkative weapon.

By the time season 2 airs, four years will have passed since its predecessor, which can feel like a lifetime for a new release. However, Reincarnated as a Sword has had enough staying power to, hopefully, set the stage for the sequel to inspire an explosion in popularity. If you missed the first season, find some time and give it a watch. You will not regret it.