The fall 2026 anime season (October onwards) is shaping up to be a sequel-heavy lineup that fans won’t want to miss. Whether you’re a newcomer or someone who watched the previous seasons a while back and needs a refresher, here’s a rundown of what happened before and what to look forward to in each upcoming sequel.

1. Kusuriya no Hitorigoto Season 3 — From the Inner Palace to the Streets

This Chinese-historical mystery follows Maomao, a pharmacist’s daughter raised in the red-light district, who uses her knowledge of poisons and medicine to solve cases inside the imperial rear palace. Season 2 opened with a striking case of white-powder poisoning and escalated into political intrigue — including the schemes of the Shi clan and the true identity of Shisui — while the dynamic between Maomao and the charming Jinshi continued to quietly evolve.

Season 3 shifts the setting from the palace to the city at large, where natural disaster omens, a mysterious shrine maiden, and Jinshi’s duties as an imperial prince draw the pair into new cases.

• Premiere: October 2026
• Director: Fudezaka Akinori
• Cast: Maomao — Yuki Aoi / Jinshi — Otsuka Yoshihisa (main cast returning)

2. Ao no Hako Season 2 — A Love Triangle Still Looking for Resolution

This coming-of-age romance centers on Daiki, a badminton club member who ends up living under the same roof as Chinatsu, the older girl he admires and the star of the girls’ basketball team. Their shared daily life gradually closes the distance between them, but things grow complicated when Daiki’s close friend Hina confesses her own feelings, creating a bittersweet love triangle. By the end of Season 1, Daiki had confronted his own true feelings, pushing the romance into new territory.

Season 2 introduces Kido Yuka, a former teammate of Chinatsu’s, whose arrival promises to shake things up further.

• Premiere: Sunday, 4 October 2026
• New cast: Kido Yuka — Aoyama Yoshino

3. Black Clover 2nd Season — The Final Battle for the Spade Kingdom

The beloved shonen battle fantasy follows Asta, a boy born without magic who wields anti-magic swords in pursuit of becoming the Wizard King. The first series saw him and his Black Bulls squadmates — along with rival Yuno — overcome countless enemies, culminating in the Elf Reincarnation arc before the story pivoted to the Dark Triad, a trio of devil-wielding rulers. In the final stretch, Asta forged a contract with his inner devil Liebe and mastered Devil Union.

Arriving more than five years after the first series, 2nd Season will deliver the climactic all-out war of the Spade Kingdom arc.

• Premiere: October 2026
• Director: Tanemura Ayataka (returning from Season 1 and the film)
• Studio: Studio Pierrot
• Cast: Asta — Kajiwara Gakuto (main cast returning)

4. Tensei Kizoku, Kantei Skill de Nariagaru Season 3 — The Succession War Enters a New Phase

This isekai fantasy follows young noble Ars Louvent, who possesses an “Appraisal” skill that lets him see the hidden talents of those around him. By recruiting gifted individuals, he steadily develops his domain. In Season 2, Ars joined the Misian succession war alongside swordsman Rietz and strategist Rozel, eventually becoming lord of Canale and marrying Lithia.

Season 3 sees the succession war enter a new stage, with fresh characters joining and the scale of both battles and domain-building expanding considerably.

• Premiere: Fall 2026
• Cast: Ars Louvent — Fujiwara Natsumi

5. Aoashi Season 2 — Premier League Football Awaits

This soccer drama follows Aoi Ashito, a talented but raw player from Ehime who earns a spot in Tokyo’s J-Youth club Esperion. Season 1 saw him converted from striker to left back, where he developed a panoramic vision of the pitch and learned to play “thinking football.” After a pivotal match against Musashino, he earned promotion to the A-team.

Returning after roughly four years, Season 2 throws Ashito into the Premier League, where elite competition will push his tactical thinking to its limits.

• Premiere: Sunday, 4 October 2026, NHK Eテレ (weekly Sundays)
• Cast: Aoi Ashito — Osuzu Koki (main cast returning)

Watch the Previous Seasons on DMM TV

All of the above predecessor seasons are available to stream on DMM TV, DMM’s comprehensive video-on-demand service covering anime, variety, 2.5D stage productions, dramas, and films. The DMM Premium subscription costs ¥550/month (tax included) and offers access to over 220,000 titles as of July 2026. The service has ranked No. 1 for the number of new anime titles available for unlimited streaming on Japanese subscription platforms for three consecutive years.

New subscribers receive a 14-day free trial and 550 points redeemable across DMM services including DMM Books, DMM GAMES, and DMM Online Crane. The service supports smartphones, PCs, TVs, and game consoles, allows up to four simultaneous viewers at no extra charge, and offers offline downloads for on-the-go viewing.