New year, new season of anime! It is Winter 2026 time! So, it’s time to talk about the shows that have already started airing and what will be airing in the coming days. If you would like a dedicated episode thread for a show that has aired but @rikka@ani.social didn’t make one, you can request it by pm. Like always, discussion about any other anime topic is also welcome!
As always, remember to be mindful of spoilers. If you want to know more about how to handle spoilers in this community, check the guide here (also linked in the sidebar).
This season I know I’ll be watching Frieren, Trigun, and Hell’s Paradise. Maybe more? I am unsure what to try at this point.
When it comes to Frieren, I have mixed feelings. I loved the early parts of the show and the quieter episodes. The longer running battle arcs were less interesting to me.
Trigun Stampede was another show I struggled with. I come from the 98 anime as my point of reference, and I have tried and failed to read the manga on a few occasions. With Stampede, I found myself wanting to see more of the silly lighthearted Vash before immediately diving into the sad interior. But alas, the show had other plans. I am going to stick Stargaze out however because I’m still curious where things are going.
In non-current season anime, my wife and I picked up My Dress-up Darling on a whim. It’s been hanging out on my list for a while and we were looking for something fun having finished up Ruri Rocks (a show I loved btw). It’s obviously very full of fan service, and don’t get me wrong I’m here for that too, but I also like the positive vibes. It’s very heart warming and funny so far.
I feel exactly the same way about Frieren. It’s not that the shounen battle stuff is done poorly - quite the opposite! But before the mage exam it felt like Frieren was a really unique story. Once the exam arc started it began to feel a tad generic (though still quite well-executed). I really liked the third exam though!