Netflix's 2026 anime lineup now has a mix of complete releases, weekly shows, and major returns still waiting on the calendar. Dandelion, BAKI-DOU: The Invincible Samurai Part 2, and Sparks of Tomorrow are available now. STEEL BALL RUN JoJo's Bizarre Adventure 2nd STAGE begins in September, followed by Blue Box Season 2 in October.
These shows do not chase the same audience. The lineup moves from a gentle afterlife story to a smoky Kyoto adventure, extreme martial-arts battles, a cross-country JoJo race, and a school romance built around basketball and badminton.
Here are the confirmed dates and the simplest way to decide what belongs in your queue.
Netflix's 2026 anime dates at a glance
- Dandelion: April 16, 2026 — streaming now
- BAKI-DOU: The Invincible Samurai Part 2: June 18, 2026 — all 12 new episodes streaming now
- Sparks of Tomorrow: July 5, 2026 — streaming now
- STEEL BALL RUN JoJo's Bizarre Adventure 2nd STAGE: September 25, 2026 — one new episode every Friday
- Blue Box Season 2: October 2026 — exact date not announced
Netflix can change regional availability, audio options, and scheduling. The dates above are the platform's current official schedule as of July 31, 2026.
Dandelion is the quietest series in the lineup
Dandelion began streaming on April 16. The seven-episode anime follows Tetsuo Tanba and Misaki Kurogane, angels working for the Send-Off Department of the Japanese Angel Federation.
Their job is to find Earthbound spirits and help them move on. Instead of treating each case like a target to clear as quickly as possible, Tetsuo and Misaki listen to the regrets keeping a person tied to the living world. The result is closer to a gentle supernatural workplace drama than a battle series.
Daisuke Mataga directs the adaptation at NAZ. The original manga was the debut work of Hideaki Sorachi, who later created Gintama. That connection may bring people to the show, but Dandelion has a softer identity of its own.
Visit the Dandelion anime page for the main series details.
BAKI-DOU Part 2 is already available
BAKI-DOU: The Invincible Samurai Part 2 arrived on June 18 with all 12 new episodes, covering Episodes 14 through 25 of the current series.
The story brings Baki Hanma and the underground fighters into conflict with a resurrected clone of legendary swordsman Musashi Miyamoto. The weapon changes the feel of the fights. Baki's world is already exaggerated, but Musashi adds the threat of a real blade to matchups normally decided by fists, strength, and impossible martial-arts technique.
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TMS Entertainment produces the anime, with Toshiki Hirano returning as director. The English dub includes Troy Baker as Baki and SungWon Cho as Musashi.
The BAKI-DOU anime page connects the release to the wider Baki franchise.
Sparks of Tomorrow brings Kyoto Animation to Netflix
Sparks of Tomorrow began streaming on July 5. It is set in an alternate early 20th-century Kyoto where steam power dominates and smoke covers the city.
Kihachi lost his brother and the future they imagined together. Inako carries grief of her own while hiding the life she wants. Their meeting draws them toward the 20th Century Electrical Catalog, a vision of technology that suggests their world could still change.
The anime comes from Kyoto Animation and adapts Hiro Yuki's novel 20 Seiki Denki Mokuroku. Minoru Ota directs. Its appeal is not only the mechanical design; it is the contrast between a city trapped in smoke and two young people trying to picture something better.
The image on this article is official Sparks of Tomorrow artwork. Its earlier description incorrectly identified it as Dandelion, so this refresh corrects the alt text and caption without replacing the image.
See the Sparks of Tomorrow anime page for more background.
When does Steel Ball Run 2nd STAGE begin?
STEEL BALL RUN JoJo's Bizarre Adventure 2nd STAGE begins on September 25, 2026. Netflix will release one new episode every Friday, with 11 episodes planned for this stage.
The 47-minute 1st STAGE is available now. It introduces Johnny Joestar, a former jockey who lost the use of his legs, and Gyro Zeppeli, the mysterious outlaw who joins him in a cross-country horse race with a $50 million prize.
The next stage sends them across roughly 750 miles of desert and into the dangerous area called the Devil's Palm. The race is still important, but hidden motives and strange powers make it clear that the competition is becoming something much larger.
Yasuhiro Kimura and Hideya Takahashi direct the adaptation of Hirohiko Araki's manga. The Steel Ball Run anime page has the central cast and series information.
Blue Box Season 2 arrives in October
Blue Box Season 2 is scheduled for October 2026. Netflix has not announced the exact day, so posts giving a specific date are currently guessing.
The romance follows badminton player Taiki Inomata and basketball player Chinatsu Kano. Their relationship became more complicated when Chinatsu moved into Taiki's family home, placing them close together while both continued chasing demanding sports goals.
Season 2 continues that slow movement between friendship and romance. Daisuke Sako directs the anime, based on Kouji Miura's manga. Unlike several titles in this lineup, it is built around everyday tension rather than supernatural danger or combat.
The Blue Box Season 2 anime page will need an update when Netflix confirms the precise October date.
Which Netflix anime should you watch first?
Start with Dandelion if you want a short, emotional series that can be completed in a few sittings. Choose Sparks of Tomorrow for detailed worldbuilding, Kyoto Animation visuals, and a story about grief and invention.
BAKI-DOU Part 2 is the easy choice for extreme fights, but newcomers may want earlier Baki seasons for context. Steel Ball Run offers the biggest ongoing adventure and shifts to a weekly schedule in September. Blue Box is the option for viewers who prefer a patient school romance with serious sports goals.
Netflix also has larger anime projects beyond these five. Our guide to The One Piece remake covers what is officially confirmed about that separate production.
This hub will need another update when Blue Box gets an exact date or Netflix changes any regional release plans.
