In a major shake-up in the anime world, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End has officially overtaken Solo Leveling in manga sales in Japan as of December 2025. This shift in popularity, happening right at the start of January 2026, signals a new dominant phase for the fantasy series. The crown of absolute phenomenon that Solo Leveling had held since 2024 now belongs to the immortal elf, thanks to the impressive performance of volume 15 of its manga.
The numbers from the renowned Oricon chart show how this swap happened. While Frieren's manga led sales in the critical week of December 22 to 28, Solo Leveling's volume 23 only managed fourth place. This result is even more significant because it comes just before the premiere of Frieren's second season, scheduled for January 16, 2026. So the franchise enters the new year with formidable momentum, ready to dominate conversations among fans.
The Contrast That Explains the Shift
Meanwhile, the situation for Solo Leveling is quite different. The anime's second season finished airing in 2025, and so far there's no concrete date for a third. Experts point to a hiatus that could last two to three years, which naturally cools the hype around the series. This gap created the perfect window for Frieren, which already sits at number one on MyAnimeList's ranking, surpassing even the classic Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. The crucial difference, however, goes beyond the numbers.
Frieren's narrative wins over audiences with a more introspective and emotional approach, focused on the protagonist's personal growth rather than just battles and power escalation. This depth, exploring themes like time and memory, seems to have forged a more lasting connection with fans. In other words, the series proves that fantasy stories can shine without relying solely on explosive action scenes—a trump card that has kept it at the top for over a year.
Thus, the battle for the title of best anime of 2026 already has a strong frontrunner. With the imminent release of its new season and the sustained success of the manga, Frieren has all the ingredients to be the center of attention. Despite this, Solo Leveling's global legacy remains intact, but engagement data from Japan, its home market, paints a clear picture of change. So fans can expect a year where reflection and emotion vie for preference with pure adrenaline.