Summer 2026 Anime Rankings: Though I Am an Inept Villainess at the Top
Anime News Network has published its Your Anime Rankings list covering the week of August 5-11 for the Summer 2026 season. In the list, Though I Am an Inept Villainess took the top spot, with Goodbye, Lara close behind in second place. In ANN's statement, the phrase "Though I Am an Inept Villainess takes the top spot this week, with Goodbye, Lara a close second." was used.
Though I Am an Inept Villainess is based on a light novel series written by Satsuki Nakamura. Nakamura is a writer previously known for The Case Files of Jeweler Richard. The series, which carries the subtitle "Tale of the Butterfly-Rat Body Swap in the Maiden Court," revolves around the theme of body swapping set in a palace. This season's anime adaptation has once again highlighted the popularity of the "villainess" genre among international audiences.
Goodbye, Lara, on the other hand, drew attention with its second place. The fact that the top two spots are so close shows that the Summer 2026 season is marked by strong competition. Anime News Network's weekly user rankings are shaped by readers' votes and map out the season's popularity. This week's results reveal that both productions are followed by a wide audience.
In recent years, stories of villainous characters from the otome game world have attracted great interest in the anime industry; Though I Am an Inept Villainess stands out as one of the newest successful examples of this trend. It remains to be seen how the list will change in the coming weeks and whether the two productions will continue their battle for the top.
