2026 has just started, and it's already quite clearly a spectacular year for all anime fans. Fans always knew that this year would be huge for anime, but not as many expected the Winter season to be as stacked as it is. In just January, fans have seen the release of the likes of Fire Force, Jujutsu Kaisen, and, of course, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End. With exciting series coming out one after another, a new series has risen to the top on MyAnimeList.
The previous No. 1 anime series on the platform up until recently was Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 1. This series reigned supreme for almost three years, but now, its era is over. Shockingly, it has become clear that the only series that can surpass Frieren is Frieren itself. Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 2 has dethroned the first season and become MAL’s new number one series, cementing itself as one of the biggest hit anime of the last few years.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 1 Dethroned Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood As the Number 1 Anime In 2023
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End premiered its first episode three years ago, in 2023. Before its anime adaptation hit, Frieren was not the most famous series out there. After all, its manga was relatively unnoticed back then, and while it still had fans, its popularity was nothing compared to what it is now. All that changed when the anime came out.
“I’ll tell you the secret to fighting strong enemies. It’s easy, keep getting up and attack them with your moves continuously.” –Eisen
Despite being a new series, Frieren managed to achieve the impossible. It became MAL’s highest-rated anime series of all time, which is very impressive. After all, the previous holder of that title was an iconic anime known to many worldwide, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood held the title of the highest-rated anime on MyAnimeList for over a decade, and Frieren was the only one able to dethrone it. Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 1, at the moment, holds a score of 9.28 out of 10, which was the highest ever on that platform, until today.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 1 Has Just Been Dethroned By Season 2
- Frieren Season 2 rises to the top
- Frieren Season 1 could reclaim its Throne if later episodes are rated lower
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 1 was absolutely phenomenal, and with 28 episodes, the series delivered incredible content. Fans immediately recognized Frieren Season 1 as amazing in terms of animation, production, direction, and story. But, of course, every series’ reign comes to an end eventually, and now is the time for Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 1 to be replaced as well. As is quite clear, the series is no longer MyAnimeList’s highest-rated anime of all time.
Frieren season 1 was not surpassed by another franchise. Instead, the first season of the show was beaten by its own sequel, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 2, and that is definitely impressive. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 2 has already debuted with a mind-blowing score of 9.34 out of 10 on the platform. This is now the highest score of all time on MyAnimeList.
Of course, it must be noted that it is still too early to say for sure if Frieren Season 2 will cement itself as the highest-rated anime season on the platform. After all, there are still 9 episodes to go, and while the anime is expected to stay consistent and deliver an amazing story, there could be a dip somewhere that affects the overall score.
If that does, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 1 could go on to reclaim its number one spot on MyAnimeList. The final score of Frieren Season 2 should be revealed in the next few months, once the anime concludes its rather short run.
Fans Believe Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 And Chainsaw Man Can Surpass Frieren
It has been three years since Frieren rose through the ranks, and now, the series dominates both number one and number two on My Anime List. It seems as if no anime series could ever surpass it. That said, there certainly are quite a few contenders, and one 2026 anime has a chance as well, and that is Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3.
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 has been an incredible ride so far. At the moment, it has only three episodes, but fans are definitely impressed with what they've seen. Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 offers an exciting story and flashy action with the Culling Game.
Madhouse's Next Big Project After Frieren Has Been Revealed
After Frieren, Madhouse will release another amazing anime.
The story of the Culling Game has just started and it's only getting more intense with each passing episode. Fans have yet to see the most hyped parts, and many believe that this anime could trump Frieren. Of course, that remains to be seen, but the franchise definitely has a chance.
Besides Jujutsu Kaisen, there is another series that came close to surpassing Frieren in 2025, and that is Chainsaw Man. Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc turned out to be a generational movie, and it was very close to beating Frieren's first season. With a score of 9.11/10 on My Anime List, it rose to the second spot but never quite managed to surpass it. If Chainsaw Man gets another big project, it's not impossible to see it take the throne someday. Perhaps, Chainsaw Man Season 2, whenever it releases, could be what beats out Frieren on MyAnimeList.
Frieren Could Hit New Heights With Season 2
- It features only 10 episodes, but fans have a lot to look forward to
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 1 was a fan favorite, and if the first season is anything to go by, so will be its second season. It seems that this season is going to adapt The Northern Travels and Divine Revolte Arcs, and fans are very excited to see what Studio Mad House has in store for them.
Sadly, Frieren Season 2 is only 10 episodes long, which is quite short, especially when compared to the first season, which featured 28 episodes. This means the series won't explore much content, but many fans already expected this. On the flip side, a shorter adaptation means less pressure on the staff, which could result in a high-quality product.
“Someday, you’ll make a terrible mistake and wish you’d gotten to know people better. When that happens, return to this place. Then I, Flamme the legendary mage, will help you.” –Flamme
It must also be kept in mind that the creators of Frieren are dealing with health issues. Given that the manga is on a long hiatus, the studio has to conserve content if fans ever want to see a third season. It's unknown when Frieren’s manga will resume serialization, but fans hope it's sometime soon.