Saga of Tanya the Evil Takes Top Spot in Anime News Network's Summer 2026 Rankings
Saga of Tanya the Evil rose to number one in both the weekly and overall (cumulative) rankings in Anime News Network's (ANN) "Best of Summer 2026" user poll for August 12-18, 2026. Last week's leader, Jaadugar, lost the top spot to Tanya as a result. In ANN's statement, it was emphasized that Ghost in the Shell is right on Tanya's heels.
Based on Carlo Zen's light novel of the same name, the production gained a large fan base with the anime adaptation by studio NUT in 2017. The film released in 2019 expanded the story's universe on a cinematic scale, and the second season announced in 2021 aired this summer, delighting long-waiting viewers. The series, which follows a businessman who does not believe in God in an alternate world being sent to the front lines by Being X in the body of a little girl, Tanya Degurechaff, stands out with its anti-hero figure and tactical battle scenes.
In second place, Ghost in the Shell is based on Masamune Shirow's manga of the same name and became one of the most influential works in anime history with Mamoru Oshii's 1995 film. It's no surprise that the series, which has attracted both classic fans and new viewers with its current production airing this summer, is Tanya's strongest rival. This picture shows that the Summer 2026 season is a rich one in which highly nostalgic universes and big productions compete at the same time.
ANN's weekly polls are considered an important indicator for keeping a finger on the pulse of the anime community. Tanya's rise to first place on both the weekly and cumulative lists shows that the series' popularity is not limited to new episodes; a strong fan base built over the years is still active. In the coming weeks, the main question is whether Ghost in the Shell can close the gap and whether Jaadugar can return to the top.
