5 Early Contenders For 2027's Anime Of The Year Award

Kagurabachi is polarizing to say the least. When it was first released, it was hyped up as being the greatest Shonen manga of all time despite its somewhat mediocre presentation and execution, but those who love it absolutely adore it, and when its anime airs next spring, it’ll be impossible to ignore. 

Carrying on the dark edge of Chainsaw Man (2022), Kagurabachi is, at the end of the day, a simple story of revenge. A young man named Chihiro watched his father get murdered by assassins, who stole several magical swords with devastating abilities, and Chihiro is hunting them down. While that premise may be simple, the actual execution is anything but, with plenty of different organizations and characters with varying ideologies and goals all vying for the blades, as well as a sobering look at the horrors of war and the effects they leave behind. But really, what makes Kagurabachi one to watch is its gorgeous artwork, which will almost surely be animated with the same attention to detail that Cypic did when they animated The Summer Hikaru Died (2025). Be ready because in 2027, Kagurabachi will be the action show to beat.

To the uninitiated, putting One Piece (1999) is odd. While it shifted to a seasonal model in 2026, it’s been a consistent presence in the anime industry since its debut, which is why Wit Studio has opted to remake the series as The One Piece (2027) to make an excellent jumping-on point for newcomers.

While Netflix’s One Piece (2023) took some creative liberties with adapting Eiichiro Oda’s swashbuckling masterpiece, The One Piece is slated to be a much more faithful adaptation, and one that cuts out a lot of the padding that plagues the series. Consisting of seven episodes, each approximately 40 minutes, the show’s first season intends to offer up a concise retelling of the show’s first major saga, the East Blue Saga. From the images released by Wit, The One Piece looks a lot like classic One Piece, and both old and new fans can find a lot to appreciate in a version of the series that wasn’t as overburdened with concepts like Haki, the Void Century, and Omen. Sometimes, simple is the way to go, and The One Piece will definitely benefit from that restrained approach. .

It’s not every day that an anime historical fiction comes around. When they do, they usually carry a gravity, tone, and drama that help them stand apart from the glut of isekai and ecchi anime each season, and Historie is shaping up to be that palette cleanser. 

Lovers of ancient Greece will definitely want to pay attention when Historie releases next year, as it focuses on the exploits of Eumenes, an advisor to Alexander the Great. That alone gives Historie a sense of grandeur as we explore civilizations like Macedonia, Greece, and the conquests of Alexander the Great into Persia, Egypt, and many others. There’s a grand sense of ambition that defines Historie, with plenty of sobering moments, complex characters, and moving pieces that make Historie an epic in every sense of the word, much like Vinland Saga (2019). There’s a lot going on in Historie, and if you’re ready to sink your teeth into a historical anime that feels grounded and authentic, you'd better get ready for Historie.

By now, it shouldn’t be a surprise to hear that Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End (2023) is fantastic. The first season was one of the best shows of 2023, the second season was equally as good this past winter, and season three is already shaping up to be excellent by virtue of adapting the manga’s best arc. 

The third season will adapt the Golden Land arc, which will have Frieren and her party meeting the last surviving demon general from the Demon Lord’s army, Macht. The arc is by far the longest of the manga, and easily one of the most emotional arcs as we delve into the backstory of Grandpa Wizard himself, Denken, and the country he calls home. There’s a solid amount of world-building, and for those wishing that we learned more about the demons of Frieren’s world, Macht proves to be a fascinating antagonist for our heroes to face. The fantasy aesthetics and laissez-faire sense of adventure are immaculate, just like Mushoku Tensei (2021), and those pining for a bit more action from an admittedly slower-paced second season will definitely find that when Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End returns in Fall 2027.

RuriDragon is the definition of an underdog story. The manga was originally published in 2022, but went on hiatus indefinitely for two years because of the author’s health. That didn’t stop fans from pining over this dragon-themed slice-of-life, and with the manga’s production restarted and an anime coming from the legendary Kyoto Animation, it’s a wonderful time to be a fan.

When most people think of dragon slice-of-life anime, they will naturally think of Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid (2017), another KyoAni production, but the tones couldn’t be more different. While Miss Kobayashi is a gag comedy with plenty of zany hijinks, RuriDragon is a more understated coming-of-age story as its protagonist, Ruri, comes to terms with her being half-human and half-dragon. Not only is she going through the difficulties of high school, which is never easy, but she’s also slowly developing new dragon abilities, like breathing fire and growing horns. The two pair pretty nicely, leaving a nice warm, comfy feeling in your heart. There’s no word on when it will be released in 2027, but when it does, it’ll be the perfect easy-going anime to unwind to after a long day.