The spring 2026 anime season has come to a close, with many series airing their final episodes in late June. Among the lineup, three titles stand out as particularly memorable: Mahou no Shimai Rurutto Lily, Star Wars: Maul / Shadow Road, and Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu 4th season. All three have sequels already announced: Rurutto Lily returns in October, Maul / Shadow Road is in development with a release date TBA, and Re:Zero 4th season will continue with the Dakkan-hen (Recovery Arc) starting August 12, airing 8 episodes. This article looks back at what made each series a must-watch, so if you haven’t caught up yet, now is the time.
Mahou no Shimai Rurutto Lily — Finally Found Out?! The Finale That Hints at Big Changes in the Second Cour
The main visual for the TV anime Mahou no Shimai Rurutto Lily. This series is the sixth entry in the Pierrot Magical Girl Series, following the 1983 classic Mahou no Tenshi Creamy Mami. It arrives 28 years after the fifth series, Mahou no Stage Fancy Lala, and marks a return to the studio’s original magical girl formula. The concept is “a magical girl who doesn’t fight and doesn’t hurt anyone.” Eschewing the dark, battle-heavy trends of recent years, it goes back to the Showa-era tradition of “granting girls’ wishes.”
The protagonists are sisters Nonoyama Fuu (the younger sister) and Nonoyama Rui (the older sister). This is the first double-heroine setup in the Pierrot Magical Girl Series, and the story follows the sisters as they transform into adults and aim to become idols. A key rule is that they must never reveal their magic to anyone. As a result, neither sister knows the other’s secret identity. The younger sister debuts first as “Lily,” and the older sister, admiring her, later takes the stage as the junior idol “Lulu,” creating a reversal in their relationship.
A scene from Episode 08, “Autumn Wind and Straw Hat.” In that episode, Fuu, who doesn’t want to study, uses magic to change the world into one without studying. Rui, suspecting a prank by residents of the magical kingdom, overwrites it with a world where studying is normal, leading to an unexpected magical battle and chaos. The first cour finale saw Rui finally realizing Lily’s true identity, raising expectations for the second cour.
Another point of interest is the “mob girl” named Araki Asahi, who has been depicted as a hardcore fan of Lily and Lulu. She decides to try out for an idol audition, hinting at future developments. Fans who noticed her recurring appearances will be excited to see her finally take the stage. The second cour begins this autumn, in October! How will Rui react now that she knows Lily’s identity? What will Lily, still unaware, do? And with the newcomer Asahi, the senior duo Kamitachi Touko and Aozono Sena are rekindling their competitive spirit. The stage is set for major upheaval.
Star Wars: Maul / Shadow Road — Darth Maul and Darth Vader Finally Face Off in a Dream Match!
Star Wars: Maul / Shadow Road. Darth Maul, who made a striking debut in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, became an instant fan favorite thanks to his silent demeanor and Ray Park’s impressive action. Though seemingly killed off in the film, his popularity rivaling Darth Vader led to his resurrection in the CG animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. With prosthetic legs replacing his severed lower half, Maul set out to climb the criminal underworld. Maul / Shadow Road is a CG anime series that depicts Maul during this period, after being abandoned by the Empire and stripped of the title “Darth,” operating simply as “Maul.”
The story unfolds over 10 episodes, each about 30 minutes. Maul is pursued by local police and engages in skirmishes with a Jedi and their Padawan. But when the Empire arrives at the local police’s request, the situation escalates rapidly. Maul must evade the Empire’s relentless pursuit, sometimes even teaming up with the Jedi, leading to intense action. The tension and action ramp up from the midpoint onward, but what fans were most anticipating was the direct confrontation with Darth Vader. These two iconic villains had never crossed paths before, making it a dream match. Vader, known as the most powerful Sith Lord, is far beyond Maul’s ability to handle alone. Even with a Jedi ally, Maul finds all his attacks deflected, quickly falling into a desperate situation. Any Star Wars fan will want to see this battle between two of the franchise’s most popular villains.
Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu 4th Season — The Finale Rivals Season 1’s “Zero kara” as an Emotional Masterpiece!
TV anime Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu 10th event – Starlight Party. The 4th season follows Subaru and his friends as they seek to save the people who were sacrificed by the Archbishops in the 3rd season. To restore those disfigured or robbed of their memories and existence, they head for the Pleiades Watchtower, where a sage is said to live. Re:Zero is known for Subaru’s “Return by Death” ability, allowing him to try again and again to grasp hope after despair. But the 4th season piles on additional trials beyond “Return by Death,” leading fans who have read the original novel to brace themselves for what they call “the series’ greatest hell.”
The harsh journey continues even after reaching the watchtower, with Subaru suffering mysterious memory loss and a shadowy killer on the loose. Not only Subaru but also his companions endure gruesome deaths repeatedly. Yet the season also delivers tear-jerking emotional stories. Episode 1 (total episode 67) depicted a mother and child that left viewers in tears, and Episode 6 (total episode 72) warmed hearts with a story of friendship with Julius. The series alternates between gut-wrenching hardship and moving moments, making for a dense, compelling narrative.
A scene from Re:Zero 4th season episode 69. The finale, in which the heroine Emilia encourages Subaru as he struggles with memory loss and a cruel fate, became a powerful emotional masterpiece reminiscent of Season 1’s Episode 18, “Zero kara.” It also traces the 10-year history of the Re:Zero anime, enveloping longtime fans in a wave of emotion. The 4th season is split into two cours: the Soushitsu-hen (Loss Arc) with 11 episodes, and the Dakkan-hen (Recovery Arc) with 8 episodes. The Dakkan-hen begins airing on August 12. What is the mystery behind Subaru’s memory loss? Who is the shadowy enemy? Can Subaru and his friends achieve their goal? Anticipation is high!
TV anime Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu 4th season, episode 72 “Julius Euclius.”
《気賀沢 昌志》
