Japan’s biggest streaming platforms can provide one of the clearest snapshots of what anime audiences in Japan are actually watching, and U-Next’s latest rankings offer an early look at 2026’s biggest anime hits. Covering viewership from January 1 through June 8, the list highlights the series that dominated the country’s largest streaming service during the year’s first five months.
Rather than focusing on critic scores or social media buzz, U-Next ranked titles strictly by total viewers, according to the statistics from PR Times. The platform, which hosts more than 400,000 movies, TV series, and anime, crowned familiar blockbusters alongside several breakout newcomers. While fan favorites like Re:Zero and Witch Hat Atelier earned widespread praise this year, neither had enough viewers in Japan to crack the platform’s top 10.
Jujutsu Kaisen, Frieren, and Reincarnated As A Slime Continue Their Reign
Unsurprisingly, Jujutsu Kaisen: Culling Game Part 1 finished as the most-watched anime on U-Next during the first half of 2026. The long-awaited continuation picks up after the devastating Shibuya Incident, following Yuji Itadori and the remaining sorcerers as they enter Kenjaku’s deadly Culling Game. The franchise’s immense popularity once again translated into unmatched streaming numbers.
Second place belonged to Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 2, proving the fantasy phenomenon has not lost momentum. Even without a traditional season-long main conflict, the series maintained exceptional audience interest while laying the groundwork for the upcoming highly anticipated Golden Land Arc and introducing the powerful antagonist Macht. Its slower, reflective story clearly resonated with Japanese viewers in the first half of 2026.
Rounding out the top three was That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4. Rimuru Tempest’s newest adventure shifts toward larger political struggles as the Jura-Tempest Federation expands while confronting threats from the influential Rozzo family. The franchise remains one of anime’s defining isekai successes, comfortably outperforming nearly every other fantasy series besides Frieren that was released this year.
New Anime Break Through As Several Favorites Miss The Cut
Beyond the established giants, U-Next’s rankings showcased several fresh adaptations that quickly attracted substantial audiences. Jack-of-All-Trades, Party of None claimed fourth place, while Noble Reincarnation: Born Blessed, So I’ll Obtain Ultimate Power followed closely behind. Oshi no Ko Season 3 landed sixth after remaining a consistent fixture throughout its broadcast.
- Jujutsu Kaisen: Culling Game Part 1
- Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 2
- That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4
- Jack-of-All-Trades, Party of None
- Noble Reincarnation: Born Blessed, So I’ll Obtain Ultimate Power
- Oshi no Ko Season 3
- Nippon Sangoku
- Easygoing Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord
- Hell Mode: The Hardcore Gamer Dominates in Another World with Garbage Balancing
- Daemons of the Shadow Realm
The remainder of the top 10 anime of 2026 so far featured Nippon Sangoku, Easygoing Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord, Hell Mode: The Hardcore Gamer Dominates in Another World with Garbage Balancing, and Daemons of the Shadow Realm. Several of these adaptations premiered in 2026, demonstrating that audiences embraced new fantasy and action series alongside returning blockbuster franchises.
What was possibly the biggest surprise was which anime failed to qualify. Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World Season 4 delivered some of the year’s highest-rated individual episodes, while Witch Hat Atelier earned widespread acclaim for its breathtaking animation and imaginative worldbuilding. However, U-Next’s rankings measured total viewers rather than critical reception, showing that popularity and acclaim do not always translate into the same results. The final standings reveal a Japanese audience that continues to support established anime franchises while remaining eager to embrace promising newcomers.
