January Will Be a Spectacular Month for Anime Fans

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The start of 2026 will be great for anime fans as January will feature a plethora of releases that you don't want to miss out on. Crunchyroll has unveiled this month's release schedule, which features not only new shows but also new installments of popular titles, including Season 2 of one of the biggest fantasy series of the 2020s.

According to an official press release, Crunchyroll's 2026 lineup includes My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Season 2, which has already started airing; Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3; Oshi No Ko Season 3; and the highly anticipated second season of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End. Unfortunately, their English dubs have not yet been announced on the Crunchyroll website. Additionally, Crunchyroll has also announced new anime titles entering its lineup, which are The Case Book of Arne, Champignon Witch, Oedo Fire Slayer -The Legend of Phoenix-, Scum of the Brave, and Yoroi-Shinden Samurai Troopers. Other anime titles that will be returning to the platform this month are The Daily Life of the Immortal King, Anyway, I'm Falling in Love with You, Fire Force Season 3 Part 2, and To Your Eternity Season 3.

How 'Frieren: Beyond Journey's End' Became the Most Talked About Fantasy Anime in 2025

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End is a fantasy anime based on the ongoing 2020 manga of the same name by Kanehito Yamada. The first season premiered in September 2023 and consisted of 28 episodes, with the Season 1 finale airing on March 22, 2024. The show was highly praised by fans and critics alike, generating a perfect 100% critics' score and a 95% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, and was nominated for "Anime of the Year" at the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards, but lost to Solo Leveling.

Since its release, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End has been praised for its storytelling, which redefines the genre. Rather than telling the typical adventure story, Frieren takes place after the big bad is defeated and an Era of Peace has begun. However, Frieren (Atsumi Tanezaki), the elf mage who was part of the Hero party, begins her journey after the main adventure, after she expresses regret for not knowing her party members, despite spending 10 years together with them.

Season 2 of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End was greenlit in September 2024, during the anime's 1st anniversary. It will continue where Season 1 left off, with staff teasing new locations, expanded worldbuilding, and more character development, especially for Frieren's latest companions. At this time, the episode count for Season 2 has not been announced.

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Release Date September 29, 2023

Network Nippon TV, YTV, FBS, Chukyo TV, RNB, FCT, STV, KNB, HTV, YBS, RAB, TVI, YBC, UMK TV Miyazaki, TSB, MMT, TeNY, RNC, NIB, KKT, KTK, NKT, ABS, JRT, Daiichi-TV, FBC, RKC, KYT, KRY

Directors Kento Matsui, Kota Mori, Takahiro Natori, Morio Asaka, Lim Ka-hee, Taku Kimura, Ken Ando, Hirotaka Mori, Ayaka Tsuji

Writers Tomohiro Suzuki