Spring 2026 Anime Evaluation & Review (Final Version Part 3)
Following the previous “Spring 2026 Anime Evaluation & Review (Final Version Part 2)”, this time, as “Final Version Part 3,” I have briefly summarized my thoughts on the concluded Spring 2026 anime.
As for the evaluation method, I have used the same six-level scale as before: S: Exceptional work, A: Particularly interesting work, B: Interesting work, C: Average, D: Continuing to watch for now, E: Dropped. For works within the same rank that I considered to be in the upper tier, I have added a plus sign, such as “A+”.
Snowball Earth
【Initial Evaluation: C+ ⇨ Final Evaluation: D】
Despite my complaints, I finished it to the end. To be honest, rather than it being particularly interesting, I think I kept watching it solely out of interest in the setting of a “Snowball Earth,” a planet completely frozen over.
Looking only at the premise, this work could have been a grand sci-fi story, but in reality, rather than directly depicting a global-scale crisis or the survival of humanity, it had a strong flavor of a buddy story between the protagonist, Tetsuo, and his robot partner, Yukio.
I don't think that direction itself was bad. The flow of Tetsuo, who has extreme social anxiety, gradually learning to face others through his relationship with Yukio, was an easy-to-understand coming-of-age story. There is also an appeal to the composition of a boy who is bad at socializing playing an active role on the extreme stage of space.
However, I also felt a lack of cohesion in the work as a whole. Despite dealing with the serious situation of a global freeze, the tone of the story was relatively comedic, and the sense of crisis or despair did not really come across. While the banter between Tetsuo and Yukio was fun, it is hard to say that it was sufficiently connected to the critical situation of this world. Also, I felt that Tetsuo's social anxiety setting and his position as a savior did not quite mesh with the sci-fi scale.
As a result of packing in elements like sci-fi, buddy dynamics, comedy, a coming-of-age story, and human salvation, I think it became difficult to see what the work wanted to depict most.
That said, the material itself has plenty of appeal. A frozen Earth, a protagonist who has fought in space, the relationship with a robot partner, and a story of human rebirth. I feel there is potential for it to be more interesting if these elements mesh well. At the moment, it feels a bit unbalanced, but if the direction of the story becomes clearer in the second season, it might become more interesting. I intend to keep watching.
Dr. STONE SCIENCE FUTURE 3rd Cour
【Initial Evaluation: A+ ⇨ Final Evaluation: S】
“Dr. STONE” has finally concluded.
Honestly, this work is so wonderful that it is difficult to write a review for it. No matter where I look, only the word “wonderful” comes to mind; it boasted a level of perfection throughout that is unparalleled.
The greatest appeal of this work is its sincere attitude toward science. While dealing with numerous scientific theories, it explained difficult content in an easy-to-understand way within a limited runtime, without compromising the essence.
Watching this work reminded me of the words of my high school earth science teacher. At the end of class, the teacher would often say, “Everything I just explained is a lie.” Of course, that didn't mean it was literally a lie, but rather that “reality is more complex, but I have simplified it for easier understanding.”
Dr. STONE is the same. Even if the scientific principles discussed in the work are correct, in reality, one cannot develop civilization at the speed Senku and his friends do. The development of reaching space in just 10 years after petrification is unrealistic, but that is a narrative expression to convey the essence of science. Omitting details while never bending the essence. That exquisite balance was the charm of this work.
In the final stages, the trial and error in rocket development were also depicted carefully. In reality, the H3 rocket overcame the failure of its first unit to succeed, and private rockets continue to go through trial and error. Science is about accumulating failures and using that experience as fuel to move forward. The fact that it sincerely depicted that reality is likely why this work was supported by so many people.
And the story closed by showing the possibilities for the future, such as mechanical life forms and AI. I think it was truly a one-of-a-kind work that depicted infinite curiosity toward science and the possibilities of humanity to the very end.
To the original author and everyone involved in the anime production, thank you for such a truly wonderful work.
Kami no Niwa-tsuki Kusunoki-tei
【Initial Evaluation: D ⇨ Final Evaluation: D】
This work depicted the daily interactions with various gods who come to the Kusunoki residence. Regardless of the work's evaluation, I feel it was not just a simple fantasy, but one that portrayed the mysterious sense of distance we Japanese vaguely feel toward gods in our daily lives.
In Japan, apart from the gods appearing in mythology, it is believed that there are eight million gods, and that a god resides in everything. This feeling is deeply rooted in modern life and unconsciously becomes part of our code of conduct.
It has long been believed that various gods reside in Japanese houses like the Kusunoki residence, which is the setting of this work. The Zashiki-warashi that appears in the story is a representative example. It is well known that a house with a Zashiki-warashi will prosper and that it is a being that brings good fortune to the home.
Also, it is believed that a toilet god resides in the restroom, and it has been cherished as a guardian deity of the house. There are legends such as 'keeping the toilet clean will help raise beautiful children' and 'it brings blessings for safe childbirth,' making it a god deeply connected to safe delivery and child-rearing.
A 'hearth god' resides in the kitchen, and it has been thought to prevent fires and protect the family's health and the blessings of food. Furthermore, there are gate gods at gates and entrances, which are said to play the role of preventing the intrusion of disasters and evil spirits from the outside. The custom of setting up Kadomatsu at New Year's is also for welcoming these gods.
Rituals such as the ridge-raising ceremony performed when building a house are also for praying for the safety of the building to the gods residing in the roof and pillars. In other words, I think a Japanese house is not just a place to live, but also a space to live together with various gods.
In the work, gods and spirit beasts such as the Mountain God, Wind God, Thunder God, Yinglong, Qilin, and Phoenix also appear. Since these have clear appearances, they are easy to depict as anime. On the other hand, many of the gods residing in the mansion originally do not have clear forms. Although Zashiki-warashi is sometimes depicted like a yokai, it is originally an invisible being, like one whose footsteps can only be heard.
As an aside, I couldn't help but laugh when I searched for 'Mountain God' and the Hakone Ekiden appeared as a related term. However, considering that words like 'Murakami-sama' and 'Kamitteru' (god-like) are born naturally, the sense of calling beings with special powers 'gods' must still remain among modern Japanese people.
Through this work, I was made to think again about the way gods exist in Japan. I think the fact that you can enjoy it in such a multifaceted way is one of the riches of Japanese anime.
Scum of the Hero
【Initial Evaluation: B ⇨ Final Evaluation: B】
This work was a quite sharp and unusual piece that overturned the image of traditional 'hero stories.' When we think of a hero depicted in anime, it is a hero who defeats the Demon King in another world, but the hero of this work is a bounty hunter who hunts Demon Kings (yakuza), and the protagonist, Yashiro, is also depicted as the 'scum of the hero.'
However, Yashiro is not 'just scum.' He is not fighting the Demon King for justice or for the sake of society, but merely for the bounty. He does not speak of ideals or a sense of mission, and only thinks about defeating his opponent. That figure can never be called a hero, but it is persuasive precisely because he faces the reality that he cannot live without money.
On the other hand, Yashiro is not just a cold-hearted person. Even toward the three of them—Shirogamine, Indou, and Sera—he initially says he has no intention of taking on disciples and treats them as a nuisance. However, in battle, he never abandons them, and at crucial moments, he shows them the way. The fact that he ends up supporting the growth of young people while pushing them away with his words is where his humanity overflows.
Shirogamine and the others are beings who, although immature, believe in justice straight on. They fight for justice, but by touching their desperation and purity, the emotion as a master who wants to help them grow also emerges in Yashiro's heart. I think the humanity of Yashiro, who is an adult who cannot believe in ideals but cannot completely deny the purity that young people have, is the great charm of this work.
Yashiro is a filthy existence far from being clean and honest. Even so, his weakness of not being able to abandon people and his somewhat compassionate side are his great charms. I think this work was one that carefully depicted 'the difficulty of humans living while wavering between justice as a hero and reality' through the figure of such a Yashiro. It was a work with the charm of Yashiro's human-like nature, which makes you deeply empathize precisely because he is not a good person.
Kill Blue
【Initial Evaluation: B+ ⇨ Final Evaluation: C】
It was a work that I initially thought might be a candidate for the top spot, but after finishing the final episode, I feel it was a work that left a little something to be desired.
In the beginning, diverse elements such as action, school drama, family warmth, romantic comedy, gourmet, and gags blended into one story surprisingly naturally. I think that balance was the great charm of this work.
However, from the middle onwards, elements other than action, school drama, and gags gradually became thinner, and I think the impression of it being a battle work set in a school became stronger.
At the same time, I feel that the decrease in Noren Mitsuoka's appearance scenes from the middle of the story significantly affected the overall interest of the work. I think this story is a work where the relationship between Juzo Ogami and Noren Mitsuoka is an important axis.
Also, Noren is not just a heroine, but an important person involved in the mystery of the rejuvenation drug that Mitsuoka Pharmaceutical is said to be developing, which is the core of the story. In that sense, I feel that the lack of major progress in the mystery of Mitsuoka Pharmaceutical and the rejuvenation drug, which are the core of the story, was one of the factors that weakened the tension of the work. Because this element did not progress, the weight was placed on school drama and gags, but as for whether there was an outstanding interest there, it left a little something to be desired.
Furthermore, I feel that the premise of the thirteen assassins was not fully utilized. Even if they didn't need to kill openly, if there had been a bit more of the exhilaration that comes from striking down evildoers from the shadows, the series' appeal might have stood out a bit more.
I had suspected that the story wouldn't fit into a single cour, so I am genuinely glad that a second season has been greenlit. In the second season, the mysteries surrounding the core of the story—Mitsuoka Pharmaceutical and the rejuvenation drug—should be explored in earnest. I look forward to seeing how things develop while keeping an eye on future episodes.
Botan Kamiina, her drunken form is like a lily flower.
【Initial Rating: D ⇨ Final Rating: C】
This series was a standout yuri anime for the season, delicately depicting the beautiful emotional connections between girls.
However, they rarely express their feelings of "love" directly; instead, they try to convey their hidden thoughts for one another indirectly through casual words, glances, and slight touches of the hand. This was a series themed around so-called "soft yuri."
Because straightforward emotions are rarely expressed in words, the atmosphere of the series is somewhat heavy, and it doesn't feel particularly bright. It quietly depicts how the subtle relationships among the six girls living under one roof change little by little over time.
On the other hand, the scenery, centered on Chichibu, was depicted very beautifully. When it comes to Chichibu, the "Chichibu Trilogy" is incredibly famous, and its traditional atmosphere has become a sacred ground that no one can infringe upon. However, I think this series may have depicted the surrounding scenery more precisely than any previous Chichibu-based work.
Another theme of this series is alcohol. Scenes of the girls talking while drinking are a major feature. The characters' names are also derived from regions famous for their distilleries and breweries; for instance, "Kamiina" in Botan Kamiina refers to the Mars Komagatake Distillery, and "Tonami" in Ibuki Tonami refers to the Saburomaru Distillery, both famous Japanese whisky distilleries. Not only were Chichibu's own "Chichibu Beer," "Chichibu Nishiki," and "Buko Masamune" featured, but many other fine products from across the country were also introduced.
Since the characters are female college students, the series is very fashionable. Costume design is specially credited in this series, and the original author, Mr. Hei, has also spoken about his commitment to fashion.
While the expressive aspects are all wonderful, I still find myself thinking that "something is missing." Personally, I feel that the lack of plot movement and the fact that the characters' relationships were a bit heavier compared to other yuri works are negative points.
My favorite yuri work is "Bloom Into You," which also does not depict yuri through direct expression within the scope of the anime. However, in the original manga, Yuu and Touko spend the night together after confessing their feelings to each other. While Botan and Ibuki do end up in a similar relationship by the end of this series, it remains strictly a soft relationship. Many might argue that this is for the best, but for me, I felt a slight sense of dissatisfaction regarding the development of the story and the changes in their relationship.
That concludes “Spring 2026 Anime Ratings & Reviews (Final Version Part 3)”. It will continue in the next installment, “Final Version Part 4”. See you then.