Although a bit late, here’s what’s playing for the Winter Crunchyroll season. It’s a familiar mix of a few new series, a lot of returning ones, and my own picks on what’s worth the time. I never try to catch everything. After sampling trailers and leaning into the genres that usually reward my attention, I narrow things down to a focused shortlist. It’s easier to manage, especially alongside theatre trips and a growing pile of graphic novels.
In addition to my top five choices, two movies deserve mention too. Please see below for what I’m looking forward to:
Sentenced to Be a Hero
Studio Kai, Jan 3
This adaptation of Rocket Shōkai’s light novel flips heroism into a sentence rather than a calling. In a world where being a “hero” is punishment, Xylo Forbartz, a condemned goddess killer, is assigned to Penal Hero Unit 9004, forced into endless combat against monstrous abominations. Death offers no release, only resurrection and more violence. I’m drawn to how openly this interrogates systems of power, turning the usual fantasy reward structure into something oppressive and cyclical. When Xylo encounters a mysterious new goddess, their uneasy alliance threatens to unravel the machinery of eternal punishment itself.
Continue reading “Top 5 Winter Crunchyroll Picks To Warm Up To In 2026”
Autumn’s creeping in and the anime leaves are turning — which means it’s the perfect time for a dive into something mysterious, uncanny, or just a little weird. This Top Spooky Anime picks list is not full-on horror (we’ll save the jump scares for later), as some of it began early in the Summer. However, since some folks began planning even then, what this list considers are our top spooky 
This long weekend marks the Dog Days of Animated Wonders, with 
Now broadcasting on Crunchyroll;
Available to view on