A Giant Spring Campaign from ABEMA: Over 40 Anime to be Streamed for Free!
ABEMA, one of Japan's leading streaming platforms, has announced a massive event that will excite anime fans. Coinciding with Japan's traditional Golden Week holiday, over 40 anime series will be available for free through marathon broadcasts from April 25 to May 9, 2026. This campaign offers an unmissable opportunity for those who haven't yet watched the most talked-about titles of the 2026 Spring season or for fans who want to re-experience their favorite episodes.
One of the most notable names on the list is Witch Hat Atelier (Tongari Boushi no Atorie), based on Kamome Shirahama's award-winning manga, which premiered on April 6. Produced by Bug Films and directed by Ayumu Watanabe, the series is considered one of the strongest contenders for "Anime of the Year" due to its visual quality. The story, which follows Coco—a girl who has no magical ability but stumbles into the world of magic by chance—was originally planned for 2025 but was delayed to 2026 to ensure the highest quality.
Another heavy hitter in the campaign is Akane-banashi, which centers on the traditional Japanese art of storytelling, rakugo. As one of the most unique series in Weekly Shonen Jump, it follows the struggle of Akane Osaki as she attempts to climb to the top of the rakugo world to restore her father's honor. Interestingly, Ayumu Watanabe sits in the director's chair for both Witch Hat Atelier and Akane-banashi, showcasing the master director's dominance this season. Brought to life by the ZEXCS studio, Akane-banashi is receiving great acclaim, particularly for the performances of its voice actors.
This move by ABEMA holds strategic importance in increasing the visibility of new series during a very busy spring season, where major sequels like Re:Zero Season 4 and That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4 are competing. According to the platform's data, the anime audience in the first quarter of 2026 saw a 5% increase, particularly among male viewers in their 20s and 30s. Such free marathon events help both fantasy masterpieces like Witch Hat Atelier and culturally rich works like Akane-banashi reach wider audiences on a global scale.
