2026’s Anime Of The Year Is Coming And It Will Dethrone Solo Leveling

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This post contains spoilers for Solo Leveling.

The first season of *Solo Leveling* created a lot of excitement, but it was the following season that truly made the anime a global phenomenon, establishing it as one of the most popular series worldwide.

After a fantastic second season, *Solo Leveling* has become the defining action anime. If you’re an anime fan who loves exciting, fast-paced battles, you absolutely need to give it a watch – it’s truly excellent. However, while the action is top-notch, the series falls short when it comes to things like developing its world, interesting side characters, and a complex plot, leaving room for other shows to potentially surpass it. Currently, *Daemons of the Shadow Realm* is a strong competitor.

Daemons Of The Shadow Realm Will Dethrone Solo Leveling In 2026

Daemons Of The Shadow Realm Can Overtake Solo Leveling

  • Daemons of the Shadow Realm has a lot of potential
  • The anime will release in April 2026

Many people haven’t heard of Daemons of the Shadow Realm, so here’s a quick introduction. It’s a fantasy story about two siblings who become separated, and it features supernatural beings called Daemons. The story and characters are actually stronger than those in Solo Leveling, and a good adaptation could help it become even more popular and surpass Solo Leveling.

Hiromu Arakawa, the creator of the beloved manga Fullmetal Alchemist, also wrote Daemons of the Shadow Realm. Fullmetal Alchemist has been adapted into two anime series: a standard version and Brotherhood. Brotherhood is the more popular of the two and was once the highest-rated series on MyAnimeList, currently holding the number two spot after being surpassed by Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End.

I’ve been following Hiromu Arakawa’s *Daemons of the Shadow Realm* since it started appearing in 2021, and it’s gained enough popularity to get an anime adaptation! The animation is being handled by Bones Film, which is part of Studio Bones – they did a fantastic job with *My Hero Academia: Vigilantes* and *Gachiakuta*, so I’m expecting this adaptation to look really good too.

The anime series has released two trailers offering a preview of the upcoming season. It’s now confirmed that Daemons of the Shadow Realm will premiere in April 2026. The studio likely chose this date to avoid the crowded January 2026 release window, which was a good call. Here are the anime already scheduled to launch in January 2026:

  • Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
  • Hell’s Paradise
  • Oshi no Ko
  • Jujutsu Kaisen
  • Fire Force
  • Trigun Stargaze

Launching alongside so many other major releases would make it hard for ‘Daemons of the Shadow Realm’ to get noticed. Therefore, we’ve decided to release it in April 2026 instead.

Solo Leveling’s Throne Is In Jeopardy

Solo Leveling May Lose The Next Anime Of The Year Award

Besides *Daemons of the Shadow Realm*, several other series could challenge *Solo Leveling*’s popularity. *Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End* and *Jujutsu Kaisen* are strong contenders with large, dedicated fanbases and compelling stories. Plus, *Steel Ball Run*, based on a highly-rated manga, is scheduled for release in 2026 and will likely be another major competitor.

Season 2 of Solo Leveling was great, but it likely won’t be enough to keep the show’s momentum going. Fans have been eagerly awaiting news about a third season for months, and A-1 Pictures needs to make an announcement to reassure them. The delay probably stems from the studio being overloaded with other projects and potentially lacking the staff needed for Solo Leveling. Hopefully, A-1 Pictures can find a solution soon.

Fans can likely expect the third season of Solo Leveling to arrive in late 2027. Because the show is known for its excellent quality, the studio needs ample time to create it without feeling pressured to hurry the process.

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2025-10-11 21:45