Predict Toonami in 2026

[MasqueradeOverture]

DBS: Beerus incoming.

[Mr. Idea Box]

6 hours ago, MasqueradeOverture said:

DBS: Beerus incoming.

While I 100% agree with you, that would mean the block lasts into 2028 at least. Part of me wants to believe that, the other part doesn't think that's realistic.

[Toonamiguy321]

3 hours ago, Mr. Idea Box said:

While I 100% agree with you, that would mean the block lasts into 2028 at least. Part of me wants to believe that, the other part doesn't think that's realistic.

If there is just gonna be an endless stream of Dragonball slop every year now that they don’t have to pretend to care about Toriyama’s opinion on the matter, I’m pulling for cancellation. 

[OwlChemist81]

It just occurred to me this is the end of an era: for the first time in over 2 years, in February there will be no Aniplex shows on the block. Since January 2024, the venerable distributor/licensor has granted Toonami the following:

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Mugen Train, Entertainment District, and Swordsmith Village Arcs (1/13/24-10/19/24)

Lycoris Recoil (1/20/24-4/13/24)

Blue Exorcist - Season 1, New Kyoto, Shimane Illuminati, and Beyond The Snow Arcs (11/2/24-1/31/26)

Mashle: Magic & Muscles Seasons 1 & 2 (11/9/24-1/31/26)

It really has been quite a run, but now Viz and Crunchyroll pretty much take over the block, outside of [as] originals Primal and RATAM.

[Mr. Idea Box]

9 hours ago, OwlChemist81 said:

It just occurred to me this is the end of an era: for the first time in over 2 years, in February there will be no Aniplex shows on the block. Since January 2024, the venerable distributor/licensor has granted Toonami the following:

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Mugen Train, Entertainment District, and Swordsmith Village Arcs (1/13/24-10/19/24)

Lycoris Recoil (1/20/24-4/13/24)

Blue Exorcist - Season 1, New Kyoto, Shimane Illuminati, and Beyond The Snow Arcs (11/2/24-1/31/26)

Mashle: Magic & Muscles Seasons 1 & 2 (11/9/24-1/31/26)

It really has been quite a run, but now Viz and Crunchyroll pretty much take over the block, outside of [as] originals Primal and RATAM.

If nothing else, Aniplex has been a noteworthy force in recent memory.

[PokeNirvash]

Setting right what once went wrong after the broadcast of Promised Neverland 2.

Yes, Mother's Basement. It does exist.

[Toonamiguy321]

17 hours ago, OwlChemist81 said:

It just occurred to me this is the end of an era: for the first time in over 2 years, in February there will be no Aniplex shows on the block. Since January 2024, the venerable distributor/licensor has granted Toonami the following:

 

I’d say it’s only gonna be a short lapse. Haven’t seen any reason they would turn on the block now. The main issue Aniplex has is lacking the types of shows Toonami would usually go for. We have pretty well exhausted their catalog. 
 

In slightly related Toonami news, DBZ Kai leaves the weekday 4am hour on Feb 23rd, exactly 2 years from the point the show started its Saturday rerun. It’s getting replaced by Daima. Which will still be airing on regular Toonami. 
 

Anyway, that validates the long assumed 2 year theory on the Rewind shows, and confirms they did NOT relicense Kai for 4am as some were guessing. So we should expect to see AS completely lose the rights to Naruto and Sailor Moon on May 31st. Will they do time at 4am before then? 
 

Daima does not work well for this format as slot filler. At 2 episodes a day, 5 days a week, the entire series will complete a run in just 2 weeks time. In theory, Daima could complete THREE full runs at 4am prior to the Toonami rerun concluding. 

[Mr. Idea Box]

7 hours ago, Toonamiguy321 said:

I’d say it’s only gonna be a short lapse. Haven’t seen any reason they would turn on the block now. The main issue Aniplex has is lacking the types of shows Toonami would usually go for. We have pretty well exhausted their catalog. 

Yeah, that tracks. However, it does give me hope that Aniplex can get something that Toonami wants down the road.

7 hours ago, Toonamiguy321 said:

In slightly related Toonami news, DBZ Kai leaves the weekday 4am hour on Feb 23rd, exactly 2 years from the point the show started its Saturday rerun. It’s getting replaced by Daima. Which will still be airing on regular Toonami. 

Yeesh. That sounds like a downgrade, even if Daima fits in the early morning slot tonally.

7 hours ago, Toonamiguy321 said:

Anyway, that validates the long assumed 2 year theory on the Rewind shows, and confirms they did NOT relicense Kai for 4am as some were guessing. So we should expect to see AS completely lose the rights to Naruto and Sailor Moon on May 31st. Will they do time at 4am before then? 
 

Daima does not work well for this format as slot filler. At 2 episodes a day, 5 days a week, the entire series will complete a run in just 2 weeks time. In theory, Daima could complete THREE full runs at 4am prior to the Toonami rerun concluding. 

If I was in charge of anime scheduling, I'd put Naruto and Sailor Moon at 4 AM and then pull out Daima in June. Wouldn't hurt that the show would be off the Saturday block by then.

But three full runs before the Toonami rerun even finishes? I get that cable programmers used to consider 20 episodes as good enough for a strip, but not twice a day at that.

[Greener223224]

If I was in charge of scheduling, Toonami Rewind would still be around as a weekday block showing all of Sailor Moon and redubbed Gundam Seed and Seed Destiny. And I guess the block would lead with Daima.

Edited February 5 by Greener223224

[OwlChemist81]

Just announced: Rooster Fighter premieres March 14th at Midnight, which ostensibly knocks Primal down to 12:30 for its last 2 episodes, replacing Bleach TYBW. So now an early block slot doesn't open until 3/28.

[Jman]

And now Prime Video has made it official: They want to be an anime destination, including taking the new Ghost in the Shell.

https://deadline.com/2026/02/prime-video-anime-global-2026-1236717084/

[3ngag3]

A little weird scheduling thing taking place on 2/23

Initially, it was announced that Daima would be taking Kai's spot at 5:00 AM

Now it's being announced that Sailor Moon will be taking that spot

 

Edited 8 hours ago by 3ngag3

[Toonamiguy321]

2 hours ago, 3ngag3 said:

A little weird scheduling thing taking place on 2/23

Initially, it was announced that Daima would be taking Kai's spot at 5:00 AM

Now it's being announced that Sailor Moon will be taking that spot

 

It makes more sense to use either Sailor Moon or Naruto right now, because they will lose those on May 31st. Daima can be a filler show after they can’t use those two any more.

Also helps that now Daima isn’t being double stripped, where if it would have ran 2x on weekdays, it would pass the Toonami rerun in just 1.5 weeks. Now it can take a couple months of rest before getting added back in June. 

[Mr. Idea Box]

7 hours ago, Jman said:

And now Prime Video has made it official: They want to be an anime destination, including taking the new Ghost in the Shell.

https://deadline.com/2026/02/prime-video-anime-global-2026-1236717084/

That's a pretty darn big get, if I ever seen one.

4 hours ago, 3ngag3 said:

A little weird scheduling thing taking place on 2/23

Initially, it was announced that Daima would be taking Kai's spot at 5:00 AM

Now it's being announced that Sailor Moon will be taking that spot

 

 

2 hours ago, Toonamiguy321 said:

It makes more sense to use either Sailor Moon or Naruto right now, because they will lose those on May 31st. Daima can be a filler show after they can’t use those two any more.

Also helps that now Daima isn’t being double stripped, where if it would have ran 2x on weekdays, it would pass the Toonami rerun in just 1.5 weeks. Now it can take a couple months of rest before getting added back in June. 

What did I say? I said that Sailor Moon or Naruto would be better fits. And would you look at that.

Bonus points for picking Sailor Moon first, by the way.

[Sketch]

Nice to see them doing something with Sailor Moon before those rights lapse. Wonder why they don't try... running Sailor Moon AND Naruto rather than hour of Sailor Moon but eh.