5 Winter 2026 anime that didn't live up to the hype

As Anime winter season 2026 is coming to an end, there are many series that will leave fans wanting more. Hits like The Suitor, Oshi no Ko and Jujutsu Kaisen were the highlights of this season, and everyone will be waiting for news about upcoming seasons or movies.

But as usual, there are shows that we all wanted to check out, but when we did, they weren't as good as we thought. Thankfully, the season wasn't full of them, but there were some. Here are some of the anime that didn't exactly live up to the hype this winter (or summer, if you live south of the equator).

Yoroi-Shinden Samurai Troopers

The new Ronin Warriors wasn't as big as fans wanted

The return of Ronin Warriors with a brand new series, Yoroi-Shinden Samurai Troopersshould have been good news to anyone who watched the series decades ago. It is a sequel to a story from 1988 with plenty of room to deliver a great story. However, as with many revivals of old franchises, the execution has not lived up to the hype for some, although the anime was able to find a loyal fan base. It's a bit of a love it or hate it case.

First, the anime relies heavily on 3D animation that feels empty, which doesn't match the aesthetics of the old series. These revivals of franchises from the 1980s or 1990s usually use a “cleaner” design that feels more in touch with younger audiences, but often fails to please the older fans.

The anime is still ongoing and can still get better, especially since fans are excited about some familiar faces appearing in the new anime. But so far, the plot and pacing haven't lived up to expectations, and the new characters haven't really won over fans (although this is a common obstacle for sequels without the original characters).

Trigun Stargaze (Reboot)

The sequel to Trigun Stampede

Trigun Stampede was a polarizing reboot of Trigun series, but many fans still thought so Trigun Stargazethe sequel to Stampedcould address some issues and live up to the legacy of the franchise. Even those who enjoyed themselves Stamped now expresses its disappointment about the continuation.

Even if Stamped and Stargaze never claimed to be one-to-one adaptations of the manga, many feel that the series is rushing into this season. Sure, it's more of a “retelling” of the story, keeping many events but changing the settings for a more “modernized” approach (which is polarizing in itself), but the anime fails to explore the original story as much as it should. There have been complaints about characters like Meryl, Milly, and even Vash. While some issues seem to stem from production issues, there are many things mostly direction and writing choices that have not pleased even Stamped fans.

The Darwin Incident (Darwin Jihen)

Cool idea with poor execution

This one is arguably the most debatable “disappointment” of this anime season. There are many people who enjoy the series, which takes some bold stances on very philosophical and political issues in our world, such as animal rights and even terrorism. But the direction often does not meet the potential of The Darwin Incident.

The premise is fantastic: after an extremist animal rights organization called the Animal Liberation Alliance (ALA) raids a research laboratory, they rescue a pregnant chimpanzee. The chimpanzee soon gives birth to a human-chimp hybrid (“humanzee”) named Charlie, who is adopted and raised by a human couple. His existence is the source of a clash between scientists, institutions and animal rights advocates. The story focuses on 15-year-old Charlie as he navigates high school and the prejudice surrounding his existence.

The series sometimes takes a path that seems too simple and the dialogue often feels quite shallow. The scores on sites like MyAnimeList are lower than expected since this was a big release for the season, although they are still fair (it's 6.61 on MAL). But while the series is still quite thought-provoking with its unique premise, the animation also feels lacking. Some stories don't need “best animation ever” to be good, but it's always better when animation quality and storytelling are at least consistent.

Hell's Paradise (Jigokuraku)

The pace slowed down in the new season

Image via studio MAPPA.

After a great first season, fans expected a lot from the sequel Hell's paradisebut the production took an unexpected turn. While the animation quality remains good, many find the pacing to be terrible, and there are a lot of flashbacks and replays of scenes. There are also many complaints that the dialogue is too revealing.

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Still, fans who didn't watch the first season just because of the fight scenes and action in general have a more positive opinion of the new season. It might just be an issue related to this specific arc, but fans seem to be divided on the series now.

Hana-Kimi (Hanazakari no Kimitachi)

A 30-year wait not worth the patience

Hana-Kimi was a popular shoujo manga in the mid-1990s and early 2000s, and fans were definitely excited when the anime was announced. The series has been adapted into major dramas in Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea, and the anime marks the 30th anniversary of the manga. There was simply no reason why it couldn't go well.

But it didn't. While the story has some themes that definitely resonate with anime audiences today, including a proactive protagonist who isn't shy about chasing the boy she loves (which was a bit rarer back then), the animation doesn't live up to the legacy. First, the design doesn't match the late Hisaya Nakajo's art style, and the budget seems to be a big issue, as the animation is limited. It feels like the anime lacks identity, and the slow pace doesn't help. It's a shame for such a classic manga that clearly deserved more.