Several long-running and widely followed anime came to an end in 2026, including Bleach, My Hero Academia and Beastars. Their finales brought different kinds of closure, from high-stakes action and mystery to emotional sendoffs and science-driven adventure.
Fire Force concluded in April after three seasons. Set in a post-apocalyptic Tokyo, the dark fantasy follows Shinra, a pyrokinetic tasked with putting infernals to rest. The series was praised for its fight choreography, animation and lively story. Its final episodes raised the stakes to a cosmic scale, with Shinra taking on the task of reshaping humanity’s despair and hope. The finale was condensed, but still delivered significant emotional moments.
Beastars ended its 48-episode run in March. Set in a society of anthropomorphic animals, the series begins with a murder mystery and explores systemic prejudice within a fragile peace. It maintained a suspenseful tone while developing its characters’ psychology and relationships with nuance.
My Hero Academia wrapped up in May, closing a decade-long run. The story began with Deku, a boy born without a quirk who inherited one from the world’s top hero, and followed his rise into a central figure for humanity. The final season’s fluid action and emotional sequences helped deliver an epic conclusion and a farewell to its heroes.
Dr. Stone brought its science-focused adventure to a close in 2026. After humanity is petrified in a mysterious event, scientific prodigy Senku wakes thousands of years later and sets out to rebuild civilization. Rather than relying on physical strength, the series emphasizes teamwork and scientific thinking. Its final objective is reaching the moon with a rocket built using technology from the Stone Age. The ending has proved controversial, but the series remains among the year’s notable anime finales.
Bleach’s story reached its conclusion in October with Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, ending a franchise that began airing in 2004. The adaptation was praised for its modern animation and its treatment of Tite Kubo’s manga finale. While the original anime was known for filler arcs, Thousand-Year Blood War expanded on the source material and delivered a dramatic ending to the decades-spanning saga.
Sources: Comic Book Resources.