r/anime Karma Ranking & Discussion | Week 2 [Winter 2026]

Week 2 of Winter and even with not all the shows released yet the karma situation already looks better than in Fall.
Despite multiple highly anticipated shows not yet airing we've already beaten last season's top score.

The surprise of the week probably is **Sentenced to Be a Hero** beating atleast one of **JJK**'s episodes.

Delighted to see **Ikoku Nikki** in 9th. My favourite so far and while things are gonna get more crowded I hope that word of mouth can keep it in the top 15 atleast.

The feet banner for the Darwin incident and im liking the maid banner for shiboyuhi. Ik chained soldier season 2 is gonna have some banger banners this season

It was quite a good week! I'm very happy that [**Sentenced to Be a Hero**](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1q2u3sf/comment/nxg3pz3/?context=3&utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) took 2nd place (sandwiched between [**Jujutsu Kaisen S3 EP2**](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1q7gj2q/comment/nygp55k/?context=3&utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) (1st place) and [**Jujutsu Kaisen S3 EP1**](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1q7gj2i/comment/nygian4/?context=3&utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) (3rd place)), and that [**Shiboyugi**](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1q6gbbg/comment/ny7p9f6/?context=3&utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) came in 4th place. These were my favorite shows this week, so I'm glad they ranked high.

Although I'm eagerly awaiting for next week's ranking, as other anime will join the fray, like **Oshi no Ko S3** (I'm particularly curious to see its result, since the manga's ending wasn't very well-received), **Jigokuraku S2**, and my personal favorite **'Tis Time for "Torture," Princess S2.**

As for other shows, it's nice to see [**My Hero Academia: Vigilantes S2**](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1q4mh08/comment/nxtmyyp/?context=3&utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) (8th place), [**Journal with Witch**](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1q3symw/comment/nxnavfm/?context=3&utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) (9th place), [**There Was a Cute Girl in the Hero's Party, So I Tried Confessing to Her**](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1q5jkix/comment/ny0z02e/?context=3&utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) (10th place), [**The Holy Grail of Eris**](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1q7e2lt/comment/nygaxs2/?context=3&utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) (11th place), and [**Wash It All Away**](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1q4lwpe/comment/nxudk0i/?context=3&utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) (14th place) on the left side of the ranking. Each of these shows had a really good first episode, so I'll definitely keep watching them in the coming weeks.

I'm a little sad that [**Tamon's B-side**](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1q6jbim/comment/ny9h7q1/?context=3&utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) dropped to 19th place; this show is so good and fun. I hope it'll gains more popularity here.

Oh i am very much looking forward to next week's chart when all the heavy hitters had done their debut

Edit: not looking forward to the expected big drop for Gnosia though

Go and watch Shuboyugi, don't ask why, don't why what it is about, just do it, don't let your season be yukiless, just do it

[](#cinema)

Image choice for the show this week, was due [to this Japanese bro comment](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/8924dc3150a6.jpg) that went around the web

Naoya frame is diabolical

**Chained Soldier** introduced the obligatory MILF. We’re going to get an oyakodon, aren’t we? Please let a man hope.

**Journal with Witch**, **Sentenced to Be a Hero**, and **Shiboyugi** impressed me the most among the new shows. I have confidence the latter two will continue to make noise throughout the season but seemed like the former will be (relatively) under the radar due to its topic and tone.

Wht an insane week for premieres, **Sentenced to Be a Hero**, **Shiboyugi**, and the double-whammy of **Jujutsu Kaisen**. We've been spoiled.

 

That being said, please make sure to check out **Tamon's B-Side**. Been off to a great start and both leads are just the right amount of crazy.

This season looks promising, with how high JJK and Sentenced to be a Hero's karma are. We expect greater heights in the next few weeks when Frieren and Oshi No Ko starts in the next few days.

Both Sentenced to be a Hero and Shiboyugi have great premieres, and I'm looking forward to the next episodes!

Tamon's B-Side is also funny and endearing, albeit it had a huge drop in rankings.

It’s been a while since looked forward to an anime season this bad.
Of course heavy hitters in frieren, jjk and fate.

I watched sentenced to be a hero and was surprised, it was insanely pretty. If there’s anyone who’s read the source material does the story hold up ? I like the premise so far

let the karma increase begin

Shiboyugi and Sentenced to be a Hero E1 = *chef’s kiss*

This season is stacked

I should hurry up clear previous seasons backlog

One of the most stacked season ever and there are still 4 big sequels: Hells Paradise, Fire Force, Frieren, Oshi No Ko and Polar Opposite just released today

Split discussion threads can't hurt JJK that much, must be the movie showing 2 episodes, so it didn't do as well as expected. However, OnK did it and received a second wave of hype so idk?


Frieren also has 2 episodes airing in Japan, wonder how that goes.

No. 26 and 28 are repeated

Shiboyugi being 3rd is massive (Jujutsu Kaisen is basically 1st), one of the most impressive premieres in a long time.

God I am *so* excited for Jujutsu Kaisen S3. It probably won't be #1 on the chart after next week since Frieren comes back this Friday, but it will be #1 in my heart.

[](#hypeoverload)

Also nice to see Isekai Office Worker make the chart. Was kinda expecting that one to get downvote trolled to keep its karma low.

What the heck is Shiboyugi?

Also, sentenced to be a hero was absolutely worth it after that first episode. Dear lord it was great

Damn, this so strong setup, while neither Oshi-no-Ko nor Frieren are out yet!

Good to see fate don't care about anything else

Finally some good stuff. Last season was below mid.

Anime is back. After an extremely dry season we are drowning in a flood of quality shows. From new upcoming IPs to hype sequels to multiple popular IPs. This season has it all. It is a great time to be an anime fan.

Winter 2026 is really kicking in now with the premieres as 16,847 karma is higher karma than any week in the Fall 2025 season and just under [Summer 2025 Week 13's 17,003 karma](https://i.redd.it/4d2l3ko4mwrf1.png). And not all of the big shows for this season have premiered yet either.
___
**JUJUTSU KAISEN: The Culling Game P1** debuts at 1st for Ep. 2 with 2920 karma and 3rd for Ep. 1 with 2569 karma. Ep. 2 has 586 comments which is 3rd in most comments for an episode thread this week and a comment to karma ratio of 0.20. Ep. 1 has 382 comments which is 4th most for the week and a comment to karma ratio of 0.15. MAL score starts off at 8.67. A more experimental artstyle already showing up for this season and *JUJUTSU KAISEN* has always been a visual spectacle which is helpful to contribute the almost 5.5k combined karma for this week.

**Sentenced to Be a Hero** debuts at 2nd with 2573 karma and barely preventing a *JUJUTSU KAISEN* Top 2. 749 comments is 1st in comments for the week and has a comment to karma ratio of 0.29. MAL score starts off at 8.51. Speaking of visual spectacle, this 1 hour dark fantasy premiere really wow'd. It's likely to contend with the big sequel shows of this season for the top of the karma rankings off this start.

**SHIBOYUGI: Playing Death Games to Put Food on the Table** debuts at 4th with 1144 karma. 632 comments is 2nd most for the week and has an incredibly strong comment to karma ratio of 0.55. MAL score starts off at 7.91. Speaking of visual spectacle (again, but also the sound design...), this also long premiere was beautiful and definitely interested me the most. I can get attached to characters through their designs alone so this is going to be a painful series for me to follow throughout the season. This first episode (and the genre and tone of the show too) is also great for getting people engaged relative to the show's karma.

**Chained Soldier S2** debuts at 5th with 1074 karma. 224 comments is 12th most for the week and has a comment to karma ratio of 0.21. MAL score starts off at 7.49. Big improvements immediately wit this switch to Passione and this had some action, great scenes with the girls, and formally introducing these commanders including one who is really [aura farming](https://imgur.com/8QbkCmF).

**Fate/strange Fake** debuts at 6th with 1023 karma and the last 1k+ karma show for the week (6 episode threads!). 245 comments is 9th most for the week and has a comment to karma ratio of 0.24. MAL score starts off at 8.30.

**Tune In to the Midnight Heart** debuts at 7th with 915 karma. 294 comments is 6th most for the week and has a strong comment to karma ratio of 0.32. MAL score starts off at 7.29. A harem romcom with a streamer mystery and a vocal performance niche, but also an interesting and atypical protagonist in Arisu Yamabuki. Divide on how much the animation in this first episode bothers you (which might have helped get the thread to almost 300 comments).

**My Hero Academia: Vigilantes S2** debuts at 8th with 808 karma. 168 comments is 20th most for the week and has a comment to karma ratio of 0.21. MAL score starts off at 7.46.

**Journal with Witch** debuts at 9th with 733 karma. 215 comments is 13th most for the week and has a comment to karma ratio of 0.29. MAL score start off at 7.82. Very strong premiere especially in its direction and I like the frankness and messiness of Makio yet the kindness is evident early on. I want to see where her and Asa's relationship goes from here.

**There was a Cute Girl in the Hero’s Party, so I Tried Confessing to Her** debuts at 10th with 699 karma. 235 comments is 10th most for the week and has a strong comment to karma ratio of 0.34. MAL score starts off at 6.91. Props to Yoki who reincarnated into a demon and is taking the rejection well and yeah I get why he would jump at the chance to be in a relationship with Cecilia. I like her and HanaKana's performance for her.

**The Holy Grail of Eris** debuts at 11th with 602 karma. 246 comments is 8th most for the week and has a very strong comment to karma ratio of 0.41. MAL score starts off at 7.21. Villainess revenge story is an engagement driver and Scarlett is fun. There's a bit more edge to this with Scarlett's execution and Pamela's feet dance punishment too.

**Golden Kamuy: Final Chapter** debuts at 12th with 485 karma. 109 comments is 25th most for the week and has a comment to karma ratio of 0.22. MAL score starts off at 8.03.

**The Darwin Incident** debuts at 13th with 435 karma. 199 comments is 15th most for the week and has a very strong comment to karma ratio of 0.46. MAL score starts off at 6.87. Certainly unique both in premise and setting, but I don't think it's for me.

**Wash It All Away** debuts at 14th also with 435 karma. 189 comments is 16th most for the week (which is 10 short of tying *The Darwin Incident* in karma and comments for 13th) and has a very strong comment to karma ratio of 0.43. MAL score starts off at 6.97. I can get in the mindset and relate a little bit in finding laundry soothing to appreciate this comfy show. Kinme has a great design too.

**Easygoing Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord: Production Magic Turns a Nameless Village into the Strongest Fortified City** debuts at 15th with 432 karma. 231 comments is 11th most for the week and has an incredibly strong comment to karma ratio of 0.53. MAL score starts off at 6.96. Long title, but vibes are alright (and are getting people talking) for this isekai series with an industrial bent (well...there is the buying a slave part).

**Roll Over and Die** debuts at 16th with 426 karma. 334 comments is 5th most for the week and has an incredibly strong comment to karma ratio of 0.53. If we're going to be getting a bunch of kicked out of the hero party stories, we should at least get some with a female protagonist and wow this is a shitty world Flum is in. Like the cursed item/equipment bent Flum has for power boosting and the OP.

**You Can't Be In a Rom-Com with Your Childhood Friends!** debuts at 17th with 388 karma. 174 comments is 18th most for the week and has a very strong comment to karma ratio of 0.45. Meta title, but the romcom is full of idiots. There's trashy fun to this show, but I foresee it staying on the right of the chart for the season.

**The Demon King's Daughter Is Too Kind!!** debuts at 18th for Ep. 1 with 356 karma and 24th for Ep. 2 with 264 karma. Ep. 1 has 108 comments which is 26th most for the week and a strong comment to karma ratio of 0.30. Ep. 2 has 42 comments which does not make Top 30 for the week and has a comment to karma ratio of 0.16. This is both really cute and really sweet. Hits the weakpoints for me so I'll be following this one.

**Tamon’s B-Side** moves down -8 spots to 19th with 323 karma which is -10 karma from last week. 139 comments is -7 comments from last week, 22nd most for the week, and a very strong comment to karma ratio of 0.43. Already want to see Utage and Tamon together. These two messes deserve to be an even bigger mess. And maybe it'll help Utage stop dying inside and hold it together more.

**Champignon Witch** debuts at 20th for Ep. 1 with 314 karma and 23rd for Ep. 2 with 272 karma. Ep. 1 has 100 comments which is 28th most and a strong comment to karma ratio of 0.32. Ep. 2 has 89 comments which is 30th most and a strong comment to karma ratio of 0.33. Going from one mushroom spawner to a literal one here and this double episode premiere is about Luna's doomed first romance. Hope the next one can be better.

**The Invisible Man and His Soon-to-Be Wife** debuts at 21st with 283 karma. 117 comments is 24th most for the week and has a very strong comment to karma ratio of 0.41.

**Jack-of-All-Trades, Party of None** moves down -6 spots to 22nd with 273 karma which is +58 karma from last week. 175 comments is -103 comments from last week, 17th most for the week, and an incredibly strong comment to karma ratio of 0.64. The rare karma increase, but getting knocked down in placement by a majority of the big shows debuting over the past week. We found new members after getting kicked from the hero party, but there is one specific childhood friend in Luna who was kept in the dark about Orhun's dismissal and wants him back. Hope this subplot doesn't drag and makes the early decision to join him.

**Isekai Office Worker: The Other World’s Books Depend on the Bean Counter** debuts at 25th with 249 karma. 292 comments is 7th most for the week and has an absurd comment to karma ratio of 1.17 (for a very specific reason). 82% upvotes for this show. ~~People hate accounting that much.~~ Hope it doesn't get downvote bombed out of the Top 30.

**Kunon the Sorcerer Can See** debuts at 26th for Ep. 1 with 213 karma and 28th for Ep. 2 with 190 karma. Ep. 1 has 106 comments which is 27th most for the week and has an incredibly strong comment to karma ratio of 0.50. Ep. 2 has 93 comments which is 29th most for the week and has a very strong comment to karma ratio of 0.49. Threads didn't seem super hot on this show, but Iko is fun at least.

Really surprised nobody seems to care about Golden Kamuy, that show is amazing

Journal with witch got there by quality alone.  Tamon's relatively poor showing is disappointing. 

**Shiboyugi** in 4th place. Hooray!

It pleasantly surprised me how good that one was. The music, the character design, the suspense, oh my!

This season is way too stacked. Watchlist keeps increasing

As someone who went in completely blind, Shiboyugi shook me strongly. My heart still hasn't recovered. I also discovered the series' director is the same of Days with my stepsister, which checks out given the familiar feeling from the narrative atmosphere. I'm just worried my heart can't keep up with the next episodes.

Also loved Fate/Strange Fake, for which I had no doubt as a Fate fan, and Sentenced to be a Hero. I was pleasantly surprised to find myself so interested in the latter's lore.

And of course, all three were simply beautiful, each in a different way, but all so dazzling you can't turn your eyes, ears and attention elsewhere when watching.

Ikoku Nikki, Wash It All Away, Polar Opposites has been my fav non-sequels so far

Damn, people truly abandoned Fall lmao.

My wife made me watch Tamons B-side. Unironicaly, i think people are sleeping on that.

This season is crazy stacked. I know for a fact that quite a few shows I'll be watching won't make the list since I'm already at close to 30 shows I'm sticking with, with some big shows not even having aired yet.

Once Medalist, Onk, Trigun, Jigokuraku and Frieren join the list, I expect most of the top seeds to be taken by sequels, but I expect Sentenced to be a Hero might even get a few top 3 appearances if it continues like this, even though beating Frieren, JJK and OnK on the regular would be a really tough task.

As for new shows, my personal favourites so far are: Champignon no Majo, Ikoku Nikki, Shiboyugi, Eris no Sehai and Yuusha Shikaku. But there are also a lot of other ones that highly exeeded my expectations and are a really great watch.

I cannot believe you did not use *that* Chained Soldier scene here.

[deleted]

Ikoku Nikki should be even higher. Usagi Drop is one of the first series I ever watched and part of how I got into anime (not when it originally aired), and ever since I've felt we need a lot more of these calm and thoughtful intergenerational coming of age family drama Josei series, and was saddened to see not as many of them in existence as one might initially think there would be (and comparatively to other genres).

Wish there were was at least one every season balanced against all the isekai, JRPG, hero's party-esque stuff.

In general, this is the second week where not even every series has released and most series which have done so have only had their first episode air, so it's easy for everything to break into the chart and appear now, including ones we'll never see again after this or not until the tail end of the season.

But I for one hope that series like Ikoku Nikki, The Darwin Incident, and Shiboyugi: Playing Death Games to Put Food on the Table remain on it and as high up as possible throughout the season. As ones like these to me have more interesting premises and/or execution.

Shiboyugi was the best episode so far this season, it was crazy good.

The double-bills will end just in time for more big shows to take their place so things like **Yoroi Shin Den Samurai Troopers** (1.24 comment/karma which I think is the highest of the week) are probably no hopers or it'll need strong word of mouth and others to fall off.

**Journal with Witch** is one where you can feel writers intent and has a lot of things you can read into and between the lines of. Visually it's not hyper-animated or particle effect spam but it functions for what it needs to do. Some might find androgynous character designs off-putting but it's a nice chance of pace.

**Wash it away** was a very relaxing slice of life with a slight mystery (and it's one of those settings where it feels like everyone knows everyone) and near the end it had a brief (but emphasised) [fanservice moment](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/8a68511e65e4.jpg) (including a bit with [a comedic camera angle](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/debbd3a27c96.jpg) to imply something dirtier).

**The Darwin Incident** was my disappointment of the week. The setting and writing are a little off on this one (IDK how much of it down to the source material, adaptation or translation). I imagine this how Orb detractors felt.

So many good continuations this season with Jujutsu Kaisen, Golden Kamuy, and Fate/Strange Fake personally on my radar and they didnt disappoint.

But some of the new shows have surprised me: Journal With Witch and The Darwin Incident seem promising, and Playing Death Games to Put Food on the Table really impressed me with its tone and artistic direction. Hard to believe it's from Studio Deen!

A bit disappointing karma totals for JJK season 3, I ain't gonna lie... I feel like we shouldn't be too surprised given how sequel karma has been down since Dandadan season 2 and Spy x Family season 3, but it is still weird to see a two episode opener with neither of them making over 3k karma in 48 hours. Maybe the CSM Reze post obscured them from view?

But I feel it is time to temper expectations that Frieren or Oshi no Ko will make similar amount of karma to their previous seasons. They might still do it, but I wouldn't be surprised if both are down to 2k - 3k.

Still, there's been some really good anime already. I was surprised by how much I liked those two JJK episodes, and Sentence to be a Hero was almost like a mini movie. Some of the bigger names are still to come out, the first of them this evening. Really enjoying Winter over the lackluster Fall so far.

How many of these shows will be dubbed?

I can never get into these subtitle shows. Reading the text pulls me out of the visuals.

Jujutsu Kaisen proved once again why it is peak in every single way and peak fantasy indeed, even if when Frieren S2 joins the fray.

Shiboyugi was insanely good. I think it truly deserves to be a greatest surpoise of this season, or maybe this year. Journal with Witch and Was it All Away are also quite solid as well, hope they can keep it that momentum.

Chained Soldier is actually really peaking right now, that improvements really benefitted it in a good way. Strange Fake could have been a bit higher in my opinion.

I recommend to anyone who like frieren and other shows with beautiful soundtrack to check out champignon witch. You are gonna know if you like it in the first minute. 

What's the dark horse anime of this season?

Damn, only 2.9k? Back in covid high profile anime premiere would be like... 6-7k. 2k debut is like... Vivy in spring 2021? Which is like way below mushoku and 86. Karma inflation/deflation is real.

It's funny to see FSF episode 1 thread here.

It's been a while since I visited this thread. Also I just realized... 2021 is 5 years ago... But still, I guess the number on pandemic era Anime is an anomaly..

Edit: why is Tamon B-side so low???

JJK performed way worse than I expected. Double drop and movie premiere definitely affected it but still, it's a bad result.

I expect Frieren premiere to at least double this.

It also kinda shows how this sub has been on a constant downward trajectory since 2021 peak.

Why is JJK first and third and no one is talking about it? I'm out of the loop, so is it that obvious?

Although there’s plenty of female characters who arguably hold better cards to claim this season’s best girl, I’m critically weak to Francesca’s charms.

Just take a look at the banner for **Fate/Strange Fake**. How can you not love her already!?

This post reminded me a new fate is here. Thx

Can someone tell me how to read this "graph" are both animes on right and left side karma ranked ? Sorry I am to stupid to understand it

I’m looking forward to Frieren’s domination (and I am here for it). Besides Frieren, I’m watching romances like You and I are Polar Opposites, In the Clear Moonlit Dusk and Anyway I’m Falling in Love with You. I’m glad that I enjoyed them all, but they’ll pale in comparison to Frieren S2.

I'm surprised we didn't get the [hat eating books](https://www.reddit.com/r/animenocontext/comments/1qa067n/champignon_witch/) for Champignon Witch's episode 1 picture. I've never seen Midsommar, but that Roll Over and Die picture reminds me of its promotional images.



If I were to try to shill every series I'm sticking with this season, I'd still be writing after the season finished. Still, I can't help wanting to support some shows where the appeal isn't immediately obvious.

Unlike other villainess stories [The Holy Grail of Eris](https://myanimelist.net/anime/60151/Eris_no_Seihai) is first and foremost a mystery series, and not of the episodic variety. For those that complain about the lack of villainy in their "villainess" series, Scarlet is as arrogant as they come and has the charisma and social skills to get away with it. However, the whole being dead thing has prevented her from getting her revenge on whoever framed her, and so she has to work with the only person who can see her, the meek Constance Grail.

I'm a source reader for [Roll Over and Die](https://myanimelist.net/anime/61587/Omae_Gotoki_ga_Maou_ni_Kateru_to_Omouna_to_Yuusha_Party_wo_Tsuihou_sareta_node_Outo_de_Kimama_ni_Kurashitai). At first I regretted my purchase as a significant chunk of the first volume felt like pretty standard edgy slop. Then it pulled off a really well done genre switch to horror. That said, it's still primarily an action series about a girl who acquires a Wolverine style regeneration power. Expect a lot of gore. I eventually dropped the series, but that was mostly due to poor pacing which is one aspect guaranteed to change when making an adaptation, though not necessarily for the better.

The protagonist of [Noble's Vacation Recommendation](https://myanimelist.net/anime/60071/Odayaka_Kizoku_no_Kyuuka_no_Susume) is very much a noble with a perpetual air of smugness about him, and he's adept at manipulating others. I don't even care what the plot is; the show is worth watching just for him.

While [Bean Counter](https://myanimelist.net/anime/60226/Isekai_no_Sata_wa_Shachiku_Shidai)'s protagonist was caught up in someone else's summoning, he wasn't a bystander. He actively tried to help the woman who was pulled in to be the saint. He is a very respectable, hard working man. While this is a BL series so far the dynamic between the leads doesn't resemble what's typical for fujoshi bait. The apparent plot seems standard for a saintess series, but the show has some key points of appeal that make it worth watching.

It's wild to me how different my taste is to most anime watchers. I didn't like sentenced to be a hero or shiboyugi and I dropped off of JJK after season 1 :/

**Shibiyugi** started strong with 1,144 karma and caught people off guard with its auteur direction. Definite dark horse of the season. Everyone should at least give it a shot. The double-episode premiere basically works as a standalone opener.

My personal favorite is **The Holy Grail of Eris**. We’re never short on villainess shows, but this one feels like it’s building toward a deeper mystery around Scarlett’s death. Last I checked, its MAL score went from 7.11 to 7.21. I hope the show can stay strong enough to hold its spot in the top 15.

Gnosia had a big episode yesterday because so many things are starting to come together. Very excited to see how these plotlines come together.

Now mentioning all of the shows that started this season.

* **Journal with Witch** \- A Josei manga adaptation is rare, and this was being animated by Shuka. They animate stuff like "Natsume’s Book of Friends" and the first episode did a fantastic job of setting up what the story will be focusing on. I am invested to see how the relationship this aunt & niece duo will shape both of them.
* **Golden Kamuy Final Season** \- Golden Kamuy is simply a fantastic series. The manga itself is a masterpiece, and the anime adaptation is one that improves with each season. While the anime may not live up to how good the manga is. (Mostly because of pacing issues with early arcs skipped.) The anime really holds up well and is worth a watching. Especially since S3. We will be wrapping up this adventure, and I urge everyone to give this series a shot, either manga or anime.
* **The Demon King's Daughter Is Too Kind!!** \- Do you love wholesome, fluffy shows? Then watch this one. Dou is an adorable cinnamon roll, and is there any other reason to want to watch this one?
* **The Case Book of Arne** \- I didn't know this was a game adaptation at first, and it offered a decent first episode. Though the world is oddly interesting, it looked good considering Silver Link's standards. Though the OP looks outstanding.
* **An Adventurer's Daily Grind at Age 29** \- Tbh the only reason I didn't drop this one is because it is being animated by HORNETS and I like their work. At first it seems fun and cute, and Hajime knows what being alone can feel like. Though there are stuff added to the story that feels off-putting. It could be one of the shows I end up dropping.
* **Shiboyugi: Playing Death Games to Put Food on the Table** \- I read the light novel, and I really got to praise the staff for such a creative first episode. In fact, the anime feels like a different experience than the light novel. The light novel is more Yuki's perspective, while the anime puts you more in a spectacular viewpoint. Direction has a very Monogatari artistic direction that works really well. Unless the core concept of Death Games is a skip for you, I urge you to try this one.
* **Jujutsu Kaisen: The Culling Game Part 1** \- This probably looks the best that JJK has been so far. The fact Mappa made it a split cour even more so implies that. With that being said, this series is more like Shibuya than Hidden Inventory from this point onward.
* **Reincarnated as a Dragon Hatchling** \- I tried this one on a whim because it airs early. Honestly the first episode looks fun. Nothing too noteworthy, but this could be a decent isekai.
* **Scum of the Brave** \- The other Kreis the "Sentenced to Be a Hero" author, wrote that it is being animated this season. Much more lighthearted and fun than "Sentenced to Be a Hero". In fact, the main duo has banter potential that we had in "Detectives These Days are Crazy". I wished it had 2 episodes at the start, but it being confirmed for 24 episodes is quite nice.
* **A Misanthrope Teaches a Class for Demi-Humans** \- While the dialogue is clunky and a bit awkward, I do like the setup of a human who has grown to hate humans teaching demi-humans who seek to become human.

>Golden Kamuy

WHAT HOW DID I NOT KNOW THIS

The images for JJK are mixed up

Nice! **Bean Counter** made the chart despite the weirdos downvoting it. The real fun starts next week, so I hope people stick around.

Really happy to see **Ikoku Nikki/Journal with Witch** in the top ten. The direction, soundtrack, and voice acting are elevating a story we don't often get in anime. It's my first 10/10 premiere in years.

I'm Typhoon Graphics' #1 hater, but I have to admit that **Champignon Witch** didn't look bad at all. The first arc makes a nice prologue, so it's good they did a double premiere.

And, once again, I am asking you to watch **Tamon's B-Side**. It's a hilarious romcom with fantastic voice acting that's one of the best produced shoujo we've seen in years. It's a great time.

This season is super stacked so I'm not surprised the competition is fierce, and the heaviest hitters still haven't made their first ep debut yet, but I hope **Tamon's B-side** makes a comeback with the following eps. It deserves to be a *lot* higher than its current rank. Utage and Tamon are super unique and likeable romcom leads in any animanga series.

**Holy Grail of Eris** had a phenomenal opener, so while it disappointingly didn't make it into the Top 10, it still manages to edge close by taking the 11th spot. It's a very good mystery series after all, and the two main leads' dynamic is probably one of my favorite Cinnamon Roll MC x Girlboss Villainess pairs lol, so I hope more people get hooked by the story as the season goes on.

**Champignon Witch** also being low (but still managing to get 20th place) is disappointing when it had such good debut eps. The 2nd ep being *lower* than the first is especially disappointing given its bittersweet conclusion.

**Hana-Kimi** needs more attention! It's one of *the* highly influential shoujo that influenced so many of the modern tropes we see in shoujo romance nowadays that I think it deserves more attention that it currently has!

Didnt expect Chained Soldier to out-karma Fate. Is it that good or its just for gooners?

And it's not just challenging JJK for karma on Reddit. Just look at what Sentenced to be a Hero did on MAL. +77k new members in 7 days. It's the biggest first-week MAL member growth we have seen since Dandadan in Fall 2024. A quick list of notable new releases in recent years after their first week:

Oshi no Ko: +164k
Dandadan: +100k
Solo Leveling: +87k
Hell's Paradise: +80k
**Sentenced to be a Hero: +77k**
Frieren: +64k
Sakamoto Days: +63k
Gachiakuta: +58k
Kaoru Hana: +50k
Wistoria: +49k
Wind Breaker: +48k
Kaiju No. 8: +47k
Lazarus: +30k
Apothecary Diaries: +23k

Why is Tamon-kun so low? Are people sleeping on this great show? It's so good ffs!

Naoya aura-farming was such a great moment. Great seeing Fubuki and Francesca too.

I'm really surprised how much love the new season of JJK is getting. The action scenes and art style are still on par with last season but the story/scene flow has been awful. The story and location changes feel really choppy with weird editing choices (one frame of a reaction, twice) that gives the anime a real clunky feeling so far. So far this feels like a significant downgrade from last season, but all I'm seeing are people praising it as if its as good or better than last season.

Ah my beloved bean counter made the list! Can't wait for the unknowing to find out its a BL next episode loooool

JJK's karma seem oddly low. Why?

I remember back in season 1 it would do 10K. I know engagement dropped on this subreddit, but i've seen episodes get very high.

Not a lot of good shows so far this season tbh