After first launch in the fall of 2023, Freeren: Beyond the end of the journey It created a sensation and established itself at the forefront of all animation. It is rated as the best work of all time on popular forums such as MyAnimeList. freeren remains the highest rated animation of all time with 907,195 votes and a whopping score of 9.26. In the Japanese comics sector, Freyren continues to grow, and despite the manga series being discontinued, it ranked first in Japanese sales charts in the first half of 2026, surpassing even One Piece. clearly, freeren is the dominant force in the anime and manga sector this year, and that doesn't seem likely to change. The series continues to build on this.
But Re:Zero, Japan's biggest Isekai anime series, is inching closer to officially usurping Frieren's throne. Re:Zero released Season 4 on April 18, 2026, and has since achieved remarkable feats of its own, ranking as the #2 anime on MyAnimeList, right behind Frieren. What's even more surprising is that with each passing day, we're getting closer to knocking Frieren out of first place.
Re:Zero Season 4 has officially received a 9.20 rating on MAL as it aims to take down Frieren.
Lee: Zero Season 4 was an absolute sensation and proved to be worth the wait. The anime officially began airing on Crunchyroll on April 8, 2026, and ended its first course in June, but the more anticipated second course is scheduled to begin on August 12, 2026. Re:Zero Season 4 is already reigning among fans as the best isekai of all time. What's even more special is that it is so highly regarded that it competes directly with Freeren for the top spot. Frieren received a score of 9.26 on MyAnimeList, while Re:Zero currently has a score of 9.20, 0.06 points lower than the brooding masterpiece..
The execution that Re:Zero had was truly mind-blowing, with its untold story and incredible combat woven within it. This season is especially loved by fans due to the impeccable character writing of the series' protagonist Natsuki Subaru and heroine Emilia. What's even more impressive is that Re:Zero season 4 has several top-rated episodes available on platforms like IMDb.
Season 4 Episode 3 received a rating of 9.8 out of 10 on IMDb, a rating it still holds to this day. Season 4 Episode 4, which was released a week later, also received a score of 9.8 out of 10. Season 4 Episode 8, considered by many to be the highest peak of Re:Zero Season 4, initially received a score of 9.9 out of 10 and was later downvoted by many people. Re:Zero Season 4 Episode 9 also recorded an incredible score of 9.8 out of 10, and unlike other previous anime seasons, this season is definitely making history. With such a strong performance in its first course, Re:Zero is already on track to surpass Frieren for good. The much-hyped Kur 2 is set to release on August 12, 2026, and we're expecting the anime to finally surpass Frieren and become the highest-rated anime of all time.
Japan's biggest new generation manga has officially surpassed One Piece in sales.
Eiichiro Oda's One Piece manga surpassed popular new generation manga in sales in the first half of 2026.
Re:Zero could officially dethrone Frieren with better content in the future.
As is often the case, larger anime seasons are broadcast in installments. That means they usually take a short break to produce or polish some episodes to ease the production burden on the studio. At the same time, Split Course excites fans in a rather flashy way by retaining the best episodes of the second course. Re:Zero Season 4 will be no different in that regard. The first part of Re:Zero season 4 was truly shocking, but it cannot compare to part 2 in terms of complex plot, intensity, character moments, and overall development.
All things considered, Re:Zero Season 4 is only going to get better. As the first part has already shown such amazing achievements, we expect Season 4 Part 2 to improve even further to replace Frieren and increase the overall score of the season even further. Frieren has enjoyed three years at the top and is already a generational animated series that will be talked about for decades to come, but now it's Re:Zero's time to shine with an incredible Season 4 that continues to make history with each episode.
Why Re:Zero Could Be the Biggest Modern Animation Hit of 2026
For years, Re:Zero was an underrated anime that was popular among isekai fans but never really blossomed among general anime fans. Thanks to the incredible response to Re:Zero season 4, things seem to be different in 2026. Re:Zero Season 1 had 25 episodes and began airing in September 2016, but at the time it was still a niche anime. That's why fans had to wait nearly four years for the second season to officially air. Even after its second season aired in 2020, Re:Zero wasn't as mainstream as it is today. Fans had to wait another four years until season 3 came out in 2024, and this 16-episode season officially established it as a mainstream isekai.
That's why Re:Zero returned with Season 4 just two years later in April 2026, and now remains firmly at the top as one of the most highly rated anime series in Japan and around the world. With strong arcs released one after another, Re:Zero's popularity will only grow in the future, and in time, it is likely to surpass Frieren and other anime of the genre and establish itself as one of the best anime series of all time.
In the end, Re:Zero beating Frieren only matters to a select few because anime evaluations are subjective. What matters is what the ratings actually show: Re:Zero has established itself as one of the best series of all time. In doing so, it became more mainstream and gained a huge following for the isekai animation genre as a whole. Let's hope Re:Zero can continue its dominance and make a name for itself in the coming months.
Re:Zero Season 4 returns to Crunchyroll on August 12, 2026.
