2026’s Biggest Anime Won’t Be Jujutsu Kaisen Or Frieren

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This post contains spoilers for Steel Ball Run.

2026 looks like it will be an incredible year for anime! Fans can look forward to a steady stream of exciting new shows, as well as the return of some beloved classics. There will be plenty to watch and enjoy throughout the year.

Fans are excited for the return of two popular anime series in January 2026: Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 2. Both shows have dedicated followings who have been waiting a long time for new episodes. While both are strong candidates for Anime of the Year, one series is expected to be a clear frontrunner.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run Is 2026’s Biggest Anime

  • Steel Ball Run manga is highly rated
  • The anime is being produced by David Production

After a four-year wait, a new season of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is on its way! The last animated part, Stone Ocean, finished some time ago, and the studio, David Production, began working on Steel Ball Run. Fans grew a little worried by the lack of news, but thankfully, Netflix recently announced that the Steel Ball Run anime will arrive in 2026.

The official social media pages for JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure and Netflix recently released new trailers, images, and character designs, giving fans a preview of the upcoming Steel Ball Run anime. If fans prefer to be surprised, they can simply wait for the anime’s release on Netflix, as the release date has already been announced.

Fans of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure will be able to start watching the Stone Ocean (SBR) anime on March 19, 2026. The first episode is confirmed to premiere on that date and will be approximately 47 minutes long. It appears Netflix will be releasing episodes weekly, rather than all at once, as they’ve done in the past.

Many fans were disappointed with how Stone Ocean was released, as the schedule hurt excitement for the anime. Releasing episodes weekly allows fans to discuss them while they’re still fresh and look forward to the next one. Hopefully, Netflix will address these concerns soon.

Steel Ball Run Is A Phenomenal Manga

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is split into different story arcs, and new viewers often wonder if “Steel Ball Run” is a good place to start. The answer is complicated. While “Steel Ball Run” happens in its own separate universe, meaning you don’t need to have seen the earlier parts to understand it, there are many references to characters from those previous stories. Without that background, you might miss a lot of those connections and inside jokes.

Steel Ball Run Anime Might Overtake Frieren On MyAnimeList

The first season of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End was highly praised, and Madhouse, the animation studio, truly deserves the recognition. Many consider it a masterpiece of storytelling and creating a believable world. However, several manga series are just as impressive, and Steel Ball Run is definitely one of them.

Steel Ball Run is incredibly popular, currently ranked as the second-highest-rated manga on MyAnimeList, just below Berserk. These ratings reflect what fans think, so they’re a good indicator of the story’s quality. If the upcoming anime adaptation is as well-made as the source material, it has the potential to surpass Frieren as the best-rated anime. A lot of pressure is on the animation studio, David Production, but fans have good reason to be confident, as they consistently create excellent adaptations, and Steel Ball Run should be no exception.

What Is Steel Ball Run About?

Steel Ball Run tells the story of Johnny Joestar, a former champion jockey who became paralyzed in an accident. After losing his ability to walk, he was abandoned by those around him and disappeared from public view. Just when things seemed hopeless, Johnny’s life took a turn when he encountered Gyro Zeppeli.

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2026-01-10 19:35