New Anime from Original Berserk Studio is Off to a Strong Start

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The Winter 2026 anime season is off to a strong start! Highly anticipated returning series like Jujutsu Kaisen and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End are already popular with fans. Alongside these favorites, many new shows are attracting large audiences, offering a wide variety of genres – from action and romance to comedy and relaxing slice-of-life stories. First episodes are crucial for anime, with so many new releases competing for viewers each season. Considering its source material and creator, it’s not surprising that Scum of the Brave is already generating a lot of buzz.

You might not guess it from the look of the anime, but Scum of the Brave is made by OLM, the studio behind popular series like the 1997 classic Berserk and the recent hit The Apothecary Diaries. OLM is also known for well-known children’s shows such as Yo-Kai Watch and Pokemon. Because they work on such a variety of projects, OLM is actually organized into smaller teams, all working together. With such a strong track record, it’s no surprise many fans were eager to check out the first episode of Scum of the Brave.

The team that created the vibrant new show, which launched on January 11th, isn’t the only reason to expect success. The author, Rocket Shokai, also wrote Sentenced to Be a Hero, another highly-rated anime this season. While the two shows have some things in common, Scum of the Brave leans more towards chaotic action with a touch of comedy.

Scum of the Brave Is an Urban Fantasy Packed With Violent Gangs, Demon Lords, and Not-Your-Average Heroes

In the Tokyo-based series Scum of the Brave, a team of government-backed bounty hunters, known as “Heroes,” fight to dismantle the city’s criminal empires. The gang bosses they target have undergone dangerous surgeries, turning them into powerful figures called Demon Lords, making the Heroes essential to maintaining order. These Heroes gain their abilities from a special drug called E3. Yashiro, a solitary Hero, finds his life disrupted when he unexpectedly takes on a high school girl as his protégé in this perilous line of work.

The anime is being produced by Team Hikita at OLM, the studio behind the ongoing Ninjala anime based on the popular video game. Director Shinji Ushiro, though perhaps not a household name, has a solid track record with well-known series like Don’t Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro and Yo-Kai Watch, including several of its films. The music is another highlight, thanks to composer Kenichiro Suehiro, who brings his signature jazzy style to the soundtrack after previously working on shows such as Undead Unluck, Darwin’s Game, and Fire Force. Fans can expect a substantial story, as Scum of the Brave will be split into two parts. While the original 2016 light novel series isn’t translated into English, the manga is available, and this anime adaptation is likely to increase its readership.

Social media reaction after the show’s debut on January 11th was largely positive. While the animation wasn’t groundbreaking, the story idea itself generated a lot of genuine excitement for the next episode. Viewers particularly liked the show’s vibrant colors and how the characters interacted. Yashiro is portrayed as a jaded, older character, contrasting with Aki, who is enthusiastic and determined to fight for justice, even though she’s still quite inexperienced and physically weak.

The Author of Scum of the Brave Also Penned This Season’s Most Popular Dark Fantasy Anime

Rocket Shokai is enjoying a very successful year. The creator is also behind the new dark fantasy series Sentenced to Be a Hero, which has received an impressive 9.3 rating on IMDb for its first hour-long episode. This series offers a unique take on the idea of heroism. While his previous work, Scum, showed heroes with flaws and hidden lives, Sentenced to Be a Hero presents being a hero as a form of punishment – criminals are forced to battle demons endlessly. The author has clearly found a distinctive style and continues to explore these themes.

The first episode of Sentenced to Be a Hero has received an incredibly positive reaction, with many anime fans calling it one of the best premieres in recent memory. Viewers especially love the animation’s cinematic quality and the exciting, fast-paced action. Originally planned for release in October 2025, the series was delayed to ensure high quality, and fans are thanking Studio Kai for making that choice – it clearly paid off.

You can now watch Scum of the Brave on Crunchyroll, with fresh episodes released every Saturday. As for Sentenced to Be a Hero, new episodes will become available on Thursdays beginning January 15th.

While Scum of the Brave doesn’t feel exactly like Berserk, it shares OLM’s dedication to compelling stories, which is a hallmark of their work. Sentenced to Be a Hero offers a similar dark fantasy experience, and this season also features other shows with that same feel, like Shiboyugi: Playing Death Games to Put Food on the Table and the new season of Hell’s Paradise. It’s a busy time for anime fans, and that’s definitely a good problem to have!

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2026-01-14 02:06