Which summer 2026 anime are actually worth your time? Sanyukta reviews 13 shows, from Bleach and Re:ZERO to Sparks of Tomorrow, with her picks to watch—and two to skip.
This Anime Crunch recap covers returning favourites, new discoveries, romance, isekai and some questionable viewing choices. We discuss Mushoku Tensei Season 3, The Elusive Samurai Season 2, One Piece’s Elbaf arc and more, looking at the stories, animation and characters that stood out.
Why does Re:ZERO keep earning a recommendation? What makes Though I Am an Inept Villainess worth watching? And why did Black Torch and Chainsmoker Cat miss the mark for us?
⚠️ Spoilers for the anime and story arcs discussed.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Summer 2026 anime: What to watch and skip
00:13 Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity
01:02 Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 3
02:03 The Elusive Samurai Season 2
02:37 Though I Am an Inept Villainess
03:16 You and I Are Polar Opposites Season 2
03:55 Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You
04:32 Sparks of Tomorrow
05:18 Black Torch
06:07 Chainsmoker Cat / Yani Neko
06:58 One Piece: Elbaf
07:33 That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4
08:37 Daemons of the Shadow Realm
09:32 Re:ZERO Season 4 Part 2
10:38 Your favourites and final thoughts
Which anime was your favourite this season—and which one would you tell people to skip? Tell us in the comments.
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