With an eclectic mix of genres, ranging from magical maid chaos and found-family warmth to overpowered villagers and morally messy demons, this week’s Wednesday line-up keeps proving how much range a single day of releases can hold. The Summer 2026 season is officially underway, and several of these shows are already settling into their identities. Some are surprising me in ways their premieres didn’t hint at, while a couple are still figuring out exactly what kind of story they want to be. Whether you’re here for wholesome sibling energy or a slow-burn BL that’s over before it starts, there’s something worth catching up on every week.

The eight Wednesday anime I’m watching this season:

Here’s a look at the eight Wednesdays’ anime I’m currently watching and reviewing each Thursday. The lineup is a mix of emotional character journeys, surreal slice-of-life stories, and high-concept fantasy, and it may still change as more shows are released this season.

I review them based on each new episode’s writing, pacing, animation, and emotional impact. If you’re looking for episode-specific thoughts or wondering whether to catch up on one of these titles, you’ll find those impressions just below! Each title below is linked to its respective section, so feel free to jump straight to the one you’re following or most curious about:

The scores you see reflect my overall impressions of the latest episode I watched for each anime. In the sections that follow, I’ll break down what stood out (for better or worse), from story progression and animation quality to character development and emotional impact. Let’s dive into the episode impressions!

Candy Caries

• Episodes 1 to 13
• Estimated Episodes: 24
• YouTube
• Episode Scores: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
  • Weird, witty, and just unsettling enough for an addictive watch.

I am relieved episodes are 3 minutes long, which is why I binged my way through all 13 available episodes. I was expecting something cute and sweet and was mildly horrified by the horror-esque vibe and visuals. It is delightfully unsettling and has reminded me to brush my teeth every night. The character design is brilliant. I related way too much to the episode where sugar was dealt as a contraband white substance. It’s hard to quit the sugary goodness, okay. The sound is captivating, and I am glad this got an English sub.

Verdict: A wonderful yet bizarre setup that keeps you hooked through quirky humour and horror vibes without this being a horror. It does have me wondering if this is for children, adults or both.

Heroine Saint No, I’m an All-Works Maid (And Proud of It)!

• Estimated episodes: 12
• Release date: 24 June + 1 July + 8 July 2026
• Crunchyroll
• Episode 1 Score: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)
  • Charming lead, weak resolution of the father backstory, dragged a bit in the middle.
• Episode 2 Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
  • The unexpected otome game twists and expanding cast made the story far more engaging, giving the series a clearer identity and injecting plenty of comedy.
• Episode 3 Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
  • An entertaining character-driven episode that balanced comedy, romance and mistaken identities while continuing to build on the strongest parts of the series.

Episode 1: The Girl Who Wanted to Be a Maid

I finished the premiere with fairly mixed feelings. Melody’s unwavering determination to become a maid is certainly unique, and I enjoyed watching her enthusiastically throw herself into every possible chore, especially after the wonderfully over-the-top magical girl transformation sequence to create her maid uniform. At the same time, the heavy family drama surrounding her mother and biological father felt disappointingly predictable. I found myself wishing the series had taken a less conventional route instead of relying on the familiar “he never knew she existed” explanation. The revelation that this was actually an isekai also caught me completely off guard, and I can’t say I was immediately sold on that direction. Even so, Luciana made an excellent first impression; the graceful maid aesthetic was enjoyable, and I absolutely loved the illustrated artwork shown during the ending credits. Despite being a little bored at points, the episode delivered exactly what it promised and introduced enough mysteries for me to want to see where Melody’s unusual journey leads.

Verdict: A decent opening that establishes its world and characters well enough, even if the pacing feels a little slow. I’m not completely convinced by every story decision yet, but there are enough charming moments to keep me watching.

Episode 2: At This Moment, a Maid’s Superiority Is About to Unfold

Episode two immediately improved my impression of the series by giving the isekai premise a purpose. Learning that Melody had been reincarnated into an otome game, while other passengers from the same accident were also reborn into major roles, suddenly made everything click into place. The prince and his sister being reincarnated players added an extra layer of comedy that I wasn’t expecting, while Melody remains blissfully focused on perfecting her maid duties instead of paying attention to the actual plot happening around her. I couldn’t help laughing at the Pokémon-style “A x-type Melody has appeared!” gags, and I have to admit that creating magical copies of herself to finish the housework feels like the dream. Lectias continues to look like the obvious romantic candidate, although I still suspect the eventual love triangle will be much smaller than the game itself suggests. The pacing remains fairly relaxed, but the growing cast and increasingly ridiculous premise make the series much more entertaining than the premiere suggested.

Verdict: This is where the series found its footing for me. The expanding isekai mystery and character dynamics finally give Melody’s maid obsession something amusing to play against.

Episode 3: Two Girls Proceed to the Royal Castle

The third episode continued building on the strongest parts of the series by leaning into its comedy of misunderstandings and secret identities. Watching everyone search for Melody while she stands right in front of them never stops being entertaining, and Luciana immediately recognising her at the ball was easily the funniest moment of the episode. I also found myself becoming increasingly invested in Anne Marie, whose fiery personality is quickly making her one of my favourite characters. The royal ball allowed several characters to shine, with Melody looking genuinely stunning in her formal gown, while Lectias’ growing interest in her feels increasingly obvious, even if Melody remains completely focused on her work. I still find the situation involving reincarnated siblings being engaged rather awkward, but the relationships between the various reincarnated characters continue adding interesting layers to the story. The anime is gradually moving away from simply being “the maid anime” and developing into a surprisingly entertaining mix of romance, comedy and otome game chaos.

Verdict: Another enjoyable episode that strengthens the cast while keeping the humour front and centre. The story is becoming more confident with each episode, and I’m genuinely interested to see how long Melody can keep all of her identities hidden.

My Stepmother and Stepsisters Aren’t Wicked

• Episode 1: My Stepmother and Stepsisters Aren’t Wicked
• Estimated episodes: ?
• Release date: 8 July 2026
• YouTube: It’s Anime powered by REMOW
• Episode Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
  • A wholesome subversion of the “wicked stepfamily” trope, carried by an instant-classic performance from Kujira and a sisterly dynamic that clicks from scene one.

Miya Nakamura arrives at the Konokura household bracing for a Cinderella story: she’s just lost her mother, she’s the illegitimate daughter, and every instinct tells her that her father’s other family, stepmother Teru and stepsisters Marika and Arisa, are going to make her life miserable. The episode plays that expectation for everything it’s worth, flipping between sinister, shadow-drenched “imagined worst case” scenes and warm, colour-saturated reality every time Miya’s fears get proven wrong, and the shift in scoring underneath each cut sells the joke as much as the lighting does. What actually greets her instead is a family that goes out of its way, repeatedly and over-the-top, to prove her wrong: Teru mothers her instantly and completely, Marika’s energy and Arisa’s sharp-tongued affection already have real chemistry between them, and the found-family warmth lands so hard it’s genuinely funny on top of being sweet. Add in a hint of mystery with the mansion’s secret passageways and one comment that Grandma might not be as kind as the rest of the household, and the episode leaves just enough of a hook to keep me curious about where the story goes once the “surprise, we’re actually lovely” premise has made its point.

Verdict: A strong, wholesome premiere that earns its laughs and its warmth in equal measure, though it’ll need more than “expect the worst, get the best” to avoid running out of road.

Perfect Addiction

• Episode 1
• Estimated episodes: ?
• Release date: 8 July 2026
• OceanVeil
• Episode Score: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)
  • Expressive character art wrapped around a five-minute runtime that ends just as it’s finding its footing.

Perfect Addiction wastes absolutely no time introducing its two leads and the dynamic that will almost certainly drive the rest of the series. Kuji Akihito immediately comes across as a walking red flag, casually drifting from one hook-up to the next whenever a partner starts wanting something more serious, making him equal parts frustrating and fascinating to watch. In contrast, Sae feels far more reserved, setting up what looks like a classic playboy-versus-tsundere pairing. Even though the episode barely has time to establish its premise before the credits roll, I found myself surprisingly invested. The chemistry is already there, the dialogue is brought to life by expressive voice acting, and the ending theme left a stronger impression than I expected. My biggest complaint is simply the runtime. At only a few minutes long, it ends just as it starts getting interesting, and by the end, I was already searching for the manga because honestly, bite-sized episodes simply aren’t enough. I also couldn’t help smiling whenever Akihito flashed those sharp little teeth, a small character detail that gives him an extra bit of personality. The animation itself is fairly limited, relying on still shots and small movements, but the polished artwork and strong voice performances help disguise those limitations surprisingly well.

Verdict: Episode 1 was over far too quickly, but it did exactly what a premiere should do: make me want more. If future episodes can build on the chemistry between the leads while giving the story room to breathe, this could become an unexpectedly charming BL series despite its miniature runtime.

The Villager of Level 999

• Estimated episodes: 12
• Release date: 1 July + 8 July 2026
• Crunchyroll
• Episode 1 Score: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)
  • A generic fantasy setup with an intriguing mystery and a likeable lead, but held back by generic presentation and underwhelming animation.
• Episode 2 Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
  • The world-building takes a welcome step forward, balancing action with mysteries that leave plenty of questions unanswered.
• Episode 3 Score: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)
  • Character development and expanding world-building outweigh the uneven comedy and average production values.

Episode 1: How the World Works

I enjoyed the idea of drawing motivation from wherever one can find it, even if it came as commentary on the Hero surrounding himself with a harem. Kagami himself made a stronger first impression than I expected because he doesn’t hide his ridiculous strength or pretend to be weaker than everyone else, which was a refreshing change from many overpowered protagonists. Alice also immediately stood out as someone with a surprisingly grounded personality despite her rather obvious origins, and I’m interested to see how her relationship with Kagami develops. Unfortunately, the animation never really impressed me, and the character designs feel very safe and forgettable. The world itself also relies on plenty of familiar fantasy and RPG tropes, but the final scene completely changed my expectations. Kagami’s warning that Rex doesn’t understand how the world really works, combined with his unsettling expression, suggested there’s a darker story hiding beneath what initially appears to be a straightforward power fantasy. That’s easily the element I’m most curious to see explored.

Verdict: A generic fantasy setup redeemed by a refreshingly unpretentious lead and a final line that hints at something far more interesting waiting underneath.

Episode 2: The Ultimate Idiot

I found myself far more invested in the world than in the action. Alice’s motivations add depth, although she still feels more like Kagami’s travelling companion than an equal partner at this stage, so I’m hoping she becomes more proactive as the story progresses. One thing I really don’t want the series to do is turn Kagami and Alice’s relationship into a romance. I’d much rather see them develop a wholesome sibling-like bond, especially given Alice’s age and circumstances, as that would feel far more natural than leaning into uncomfortable tropes or an obvious power imbalance. More than anything, though, the episode kept reinforcing that Kagami knows far more about the world than anyone else. The hints about monsters, demons and coexistence suggest there’s a much bigger story beneath the familiar fantasy setting, and those mysteries are becoming the series’ biggest strength. The ideas behind the story are interesting enough that I’m keen to see where they lead.

Verdict: The action takes a back seat this week to genuine intrigue about the world Kagami knows so much more about than he lets on, and his growing dynamic with Alice is far more compelling than the fantasy trappings surrounding it.

Episode 3: Demon and Human Coexistence

I appreciated that the Hero’s Party didn’t immediately abandon everything to follow Kagami and Alice, and even something as small as them paying for their meal before rushing off helped make them feel more grounded. Kagami continues to surprise me as a protagonist because he has far more courage than I initially expected, while the protective, almost fatherly way he looks after Alice reinforces that I’d much rather see their relationship remain wholesome than become romantic. I also liked that the series doesn’t paint every demon as automatically evil simply because monsters are created through them. That moral grey area gives the story more depth than a standard fantasy adventure. The comedy was definitely unusual, especially the masochistic centaurs, although those scenes felt more bizarre than genuinely funny. They are a gag I hoped wouldn’t happen in the lead-up to it, and they followed through multiple times. I doubt it will end with just this episode. What interested me most was learning more about why characters like Parna are so reluctant to trust demons, as it makes the conflict feel driven by genuine experiences instead of blind prejudice. The monster invasion teased at the end has me expecting the next episode to bring both sides together, and I’m curious to see whether that hope for coexistence can survive what’s coming.

Verdict: A stronger episode that trades easy black-and-white morality for real, experience-driven tension between the two sides, and while the centaur comedy misses more than it lands, the coexistence themes and Kagami’s growing depth make this the show’s most interesting outing yet.

Tomb Raider King

• Episode 1: Once Again from the End
• Estimated episodes: 12
• Release date: 8 July 2026
• Crunchyroll, BiliBili
• Episode Score: ⭐⭐⭐½☆ (3.5/5)
  • An entertaining introduction with an intriguing premise, though inconsistent production quality prevents it from making a stronger first impression.

My first thought was that this series is inevitably going to be compared to Solo Leveling, and I can already see why. The visual similarities, particularly the protagonist’s design, make the comparison difficult to avoid, but I also think there’s enough here to give it its own identity if the story leans into its regression premise rather than simply chasing familiar power fantasy beats. I liked that the episode wastes little time establishing its mix of regression, supernatural relics and revenge as Seo Joo-heon, a seasoned relic hunter, is given a second chance after dying at the height of his struggles. Awakening years in the past with knowledge of the future, he immediately sets out to rewrite history, settle old scores and claim powerful relics before anyone else can. I watched part of the episode in Korean out of curiosity, and it was interesting hearing the original language, even if it’ll take me a little while to get used to it. The world of relics and time travel grabbed my attention, and Joo-heon already comes across as more of an anti-hero than a traditional protagonist, which could make for a fun change of pace. That said, the production left me with mixed feelings. Some scenes looked perfectly fine, while others felt surprisingly static, and the sound design lacked the impact I expected during fights, making some action moments feel flatter than they should have. Even so, I enjoyed the premise enough to want to see where Joo-heon’s second chance leads, and I’m hoping the adaptation finds its footing as it progresses rather than being remembered only for the comparisons surrounding it.

Verdict: A shaky but promising start that leans hard into regression and revenge, and while the inevitable Solo Leveling comparisons and uneven production hold it back, Joo-heon’s anti-hero edge gives this enough of an identity to keep watching.

Sequel Seasons

Saga of Tanya the Evil  II

• Episode 1: Pursuit
• Estimated episodes: 12
• Release date: 8 July 2026
• Crunchyroll, Prime Video
• Episode Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
  • A confident return that immediately recaptures everything that made the series so memorable, with outstanding action, humour and military storytelling.

I genuinely missed Tanya, and it didn’t take long for the series to remind me why she’s such a fascinating protagonist. Her terrifying expressions, razor-sharp thinking and ability to switch from an innocent smile to something utterly unsettling remain just as entertaining as ever. I actually appreciated that the episode didn’t stop for a lengthy recap and instead trusted viewers to jump straight back into the action. It made the return feel confident, even if I had to piece together a few details from memory. The aerial battles immediately brought back everything I loved about the first season, while seeing Visha again was an added bonus. I also enjoyed watching Tanya take command of an inexperienced unit, knowing full well they’re about to be pushed far beyond their limits. Visually, the episode looks every bit like the comeback I hoped for after such a long wait, with strong action sequences and solid production values throughout. The propaganda poster at the end was both hilarious and unsettling, perfectly capturing the series’ ability to balance absurd humour with the grim realities of war. Most of all, though, I found myself smiling simply because it felt like Saga of Tanya the Evil hadn’t lost its identity despite the years between seasons.

Verdict: A confident, well-produced return that trusts its audience and wastes no time reminding you why Tanya is such a compelling protagonist, picking up right where the first season’s charm and chaos left off.

Trapped in a Dating Sim

• Episode 1: It’s Always Love That Saves the World
• Estimated episodes: 12
• Release date: 8 July 2026
• Crunchyroll, BiliBili
• Episode Score: ⭐⭐⭐½☆ (3.5/5)
  • An okay return to the series with plenty of familiar humour, but it spends more time setting the stage than delivering a memorable premiere.

It’s been so long since I watched the first season that I realised fairly quickly how little I remembered, and the brief recap at the beginning wasn’t enough to fill in the gaps. I think I’ll need to rewatch Season 1 to fully appreciate everything that’s happening. Even so, it was nice to be back with Leon and the otome game setting, and I was especially happy to see Angelica return. Leon still feels like someone who’s constantly suffering from his own success, with every attempt to stay out of trouble somehow leading him into even bigger problems. The comedy landed well for me, particularly Leon’s interactions with Marie, and I enjoyed seeing the familiar cast together again. What didn’t impress me as much was the visual presentation. The character designs look noticeably different from the first season, and while they appear cleaner in some respects, they also feel blander and less expressive than I remembered. This episode was largely about setting up the season rather than delivering major developments, but the hints of future conflicts and character moments were enough to leave me optimistic about where the story is heading.

Verdict: A mixed but engaging episode that balances strong character work and mystery with baffling logic and spotty execution. Still worth the ride, for now.

Final Thoughts on this week’s Wednesday releases

This week’s lineup covered a genuinely wide range, from Candy Caries’ unsettling bite-sized horror-comedy to the wholesome found-family warmth of My Stepmother and Stepsisters Aren’t Wicked, with a good stretch of fantasy in between via the Maid anime’s escalating otome chaos, Villager of Level 999’s growing coexistence themes, and Tomb Raider King’s regression-and-revenge premise.

The standout of the week was easily Tanya’s return, a confident comeback that picked up exactly where the first season left off without missing a beat. Perfect Addiction and Trapped in a Dating Sim landed more unevenly: the former is charming but frustratingly brief, and the latter leaned so heavily on nostalgia that it left me wanting a full Season 1 rewatch just to keep up.

Production is where a few cracks are starting to show. Villager of Level 999’s animation still isn’t doing its ideas any favours, Tomb Raider King’s inconsistent scenes and flat sound design held back an otherwise promising premiere, and Trapped in a Dating Sim’s redesigned character art feels blander than I remember. None of these shows feel stagnant yet, though, and there’s enough movement across the board to keep every one of them worth tuning in for next week.

Anime I Am Most Looking Forward to Next Week, Wednesday

The fujoshi in me is screaming Perfect Addiction as my most anticipated series for next week, short runtime and all. However, I shall list a new, normal-length series instead, Tomb Raider King. The premiere left me with plenty of questions about its relic system, regression storyline and Seo Joo-heon’s plans now that he knows the future. I can already see why people compare it to Solo Leveling, but I’m hoping it spends the next few episodes proving why it deserves to stand on its own rather than living in another series’ shadow.

And from the returning series, I am most looking forward to the next episode of Tanya. It feels like Tanya never left, and I’m excited to see how her new command, the Empire’s worsening military situation and Mary’s inevitable return begin to collide.

Any I’m considering binging instead of watching weekly or dropping outright?

At the moment, there are only two series I’m reconsidering. Candy Caries is on the chopping block for me. I’ve already burned through all 13 available episodes in one sitting thanks to that three-minute runtime, so going back to a weekly pace after a binge like that feels like a step backwards, even though I enjoyed it. Trapped in a Dating Sim is moving to the binge pile instead of a drop: between the thin recap and how much I’d forgotten from Season 1, I think it’ll land far better watched in a chunk once I’ve had a chance to refresh myself on the earlier story, rather than piecing it together week to week.

Everything else is still solid for weekly viewing. I also still need to add a few more sequel titles to the roundup, but that means some “homework” rewatching and actual first-time watching before I can do them justice, so expect those to join the lineup in a future post rather than this one.

Blooming into Family: Spotlight on This Week’s Header Image

This week’s header comes from episode 1 of My Stepmother and Stepsisters Aren’t Wicked, featuring a beautiful arrangement of daffodils and crocuses bathed in the same warm, golden light that defines the episode’s welcoming atmosphere. The soft colours and elegant composition immediately caught my attention, perfectly reflecting a series built on kindness, found family and the quiet beauty of everyday moments rather than conflict or melodrama. After a week filled with battles, monsters and overpowered protagonists, this peaceful floral scene felt like the ideal visual centrepiece for Wednesday’s varied lineup. I also enjoy making a scenery or environmental shot from one of the week’s episodes as the header image for these seasonal catch-up posts, as it helps capture the mood of the week’s anime while celebrating the artistry of the worlds they create.

What have been your thoughts on Wednesday’s releases? Are you following along with the season?

All images, GIFs, and visual media used in this post are the property of their respective copyright owners, including the anime’s production committee, licensors, and distributors. They are used here solely for commentary, review, criticism, and promotional purposes under fair use/fair dealing principles. No copyright infringement is intended. Please support the official release by streaming the series through an official platform.