Crunchyroll’s New Winter 2026 Anime Is The Perfect My Hero Academia Replacement

by

In 2025, the popular anime series My Hero Academia concluded after a decade of incredible storytelling. The final season was deeply moving, and the culmination of ten years of amazing content had a powerful impact on fans. My Hero Academia has now become a legendary series that people will continue to discuss and remember for many years to come.

Now that the popular series has ended, fans are looking for something new to watch, and Crunchyroll has a promising option that recently began airing in Winter 2026. This new series is already a success and, like My Hero Academia, centers around the world of heroes. While it explores the hero theme in a unique way, it’s just as captivating. The series generating all the buzz is called Sentenced To Be A Hero, and it’s quickly becoming a potential top hit on Crunchyroll.

My Hero Academia’s Ending Left A Huge Gap Behind

  • MHA Season 8 Concluded In 2025
  • New Series Will Be Looking To Replace It

Now that My Hero Academia has finished, many fans are feeling its absence. The series premiered in 2016 – a decade ago – and quickly rose to become one of the most popular anime ever made.

The series wrapped up in late 2025 with Season 8, which featured the Final War Saga. Adding to the bittersweet ending, Season 8 was the shortest season of the show, with only 11 episodes.

Fans didn’t have much chance to say goodbye to the series before it ended last year, but that didn’t stop My Hero Academia Season 8 from being a huge hit. Many consider it the best anime of 2025, and it’s easy to understand why fans feel the same way.

Season 8 of My Hero Academia was a stunning achievement, with top-notch animation, direction, and overall production quality from Studio Bones. The finale clearly benefited from a lot of effort, and fans responded incredibly well. Throughout the season, My Hero Academia consistently ranked among the highest-rated anime of 2025, with every episode earning a score of 9 or higher – a truly remarkable feat that highlights how exceptional this final season was.

My Hero Academia Is Over, But Sentenced to be a Hero Could Replace It

  • Crunchyroll’s New Winter 2026 Hit Is Already Making Waves

Now that My Hero Academia has finished, longtime fans—those who’ve followed the anime for ten years—are looking for new shows to watch.

My Hero Academia has a compelling story about Izuku Midoriya, who dreams of becoming a top hero in a world where most people have superpowers and fight against evil.

Crunchyroll’s new anime, Sentenced to be a Hero, is quickly becoming a fan favorite. Premiering in January 2026 with a one-hour special, the series has already gained a lot of attention, thanks to the impressive work from Studio Kai. While different from My Hero Academia, many viewers think Sentenced to be a Hero has the potential to become the next big hit in the hero anime genre.

Sentenced to be a Hero Takes a Whole Different Spin on Being a Hero

  • Becoming a Hero Is A Punishment
  • A Unique Twist On My Hero Academia

Although both My Hero Academia and Sentenced to be a Hero feature heroes, they approach the concept in quite different ways.

In the anime My Hero Academia, becoming a professional hero is a highly respected achievement. Many children aspire to attend hero academies, hoping to become pro heroes themselves. At the start of the series, Deku dreamed of becoming a hero even though he was born without any special abilities, called a ‘Quirk’.

Unlike many stories, “Sentenced to be a Hero” flips the script. People aren’t eager to become heroes; they’re forced into the role, and being a hero isn’t seen as an honor—it’s a punishment. The main character, Xylo Forbartz, is spared from execution only by being forced to become a hero.

Sentenced to Be a Hero Is a Must Watch on Crunchyroll

  • The Series Will Have 12 Episodes In Total
  • Airs Every Thursday

I’ve been keeping up with the Winter 2026 anime season, and right now, “Sentenced to be a Hero” is definitely one to watch. It’s been getting a ton of buzz online, and fans are really excited – it’s confirmed to have 12 episodes, so we’re in for a good ride!

The first episode was an hour long, but all future episodes will be a standard length. You can watch new episodes of Sentenced to be a Hero every Thursday on Crunchyroll. Given how popular it’s become, many fans expect a second season to be announced soon. While it’s different from My Hero Academia, it offers a unique take on the superhero genre and is worth watching each week.

My Hero Academia Still Has More In Store Despite Its Anime Conclusion

  • More MHA Projects Are coming in 2026

The popular series My Hero Academia officially ended in 2025, but there’s one last installment planned for fans. A final episode, titled “More,” is scheduled for release in May 2026, and will serve as the definitive conclusion to the story. This episode will adapt Chapter 431 of the manga, providing a proper ending for manga readers and anime viewers alike.

I’ve noticed something interesting – while we’re enjoying Sentenced to be a Hero, a continuation of the My Hero Academia story is also currently being released. It’s My Hero Academia Vigilantes, and it’s officially back for a second season! Though it wasn’t written by the original author, it’s still a really engaging story and I’d recommend giving it a watch.

My Hero Academia tells the story of a world where people are born with superpowers called Quirks. Amidst a constant battle between heroes and villains, a young boy named Deku dreams of becoming the world’s greatest hero, inspired by his idol, All Might. The manga recently finished its run after 431 chapters, and you can read it all on Manga Plus. The anime is also wrapping up with a final season of 11 episodes, available to stream on Crunchyroll.

Read More

2026-01-11 23:35