Frieren Takes Solo Leveling’s Throne as Best Anime in 2026

In a shake-up in the anime world, Frieren: Beyond Journey"s End has officially surpassed Solo Leveling in manga sales in Japan in December 2025. This shift in popularity, coming right at the start of January 2026, signals a new dominant phase for the fantasy series. The crown of absolute phenomenon held by Solo Leveling 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 the swap happened. While Frieren’s manga led sales in the critical week of December 22 to 28, Solo Leveling volume 23 ranked only fourth. This result matters even more because it comes ahead of Frieren’s second season premiere, set for January 16, 2026. The franchise therefore heads into 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 is no firm date for a third. Experts point to a hiatus that could last two to three years, which naturally cools hype around the series. That vacuum created the perfect window of opportunity for Frieren, which already sits at No. 1 on the MyAnimeList ranking, ahead of 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 progression. That depth, which explores themes such as 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, an advantage that has kept it on top for over a year.

The battle for the best anime of 2026 title already has a strong frontrunner. With its new season imminent and sustained manga success, Frieren has every ingredient to steal the spotlight. Still, Solo Leveling’s global legacy remains intact, but engagement data from Japan, its home market, paints a clear picture of change. Fans can thus expect a year in which reflection and emotion compete with pure adrenaline for viewers’ favor.