The Apothecary Diaries Tops Japan’s Fall 2026 Anime Rankings
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ASTON OTONITY – Japanese anime fans have voted on the series they’re most looking forward to in the fall of 2026, and the results show that *The Apothecary Diaries* holds a significant lead over several well-known franchises returning to the airwaves. The upcoming third season took first place in a recent survey conducted by Japanese media company CM Site, surpassing the highly anticipated remake of *Dragon Ball Super: Beerus*.
The rankings were published by Rankingoo on September 9 after collecting responses from 3,864 people across various age groups. Although several established franchises showed strong performance, *The Apothecary Diaries* Season 3, Part 1, emerged as the clear winner with 515 votes, far surpassing *Dragon Ball Super: Beerus*, which received 303 votes.
Rounding out the top five in this survey were *Ranma 1/2 Season 3* with 214 votes, *Tokyo Revengers: Three Deities Arc* with 205 votes, and *Blue Box Season 2* with 168 votes. “Uncle’s Obsession With Cute Things” followed with 147 votes, while “Firefly Wedding” and “As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I’ll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World Season 3” each received 140 votes.
The first-place finish achieved by *The Apothecary Diaries* is particularly notable because the series was competing against the return of one of the biggest anime franchises. Its success was driven by the appeal of the character Maomao, who—thanks to her knowledge of medicines and poisons—repeatedly finds herself at the center of mysteries within the imperial palace.
The anime follows Maomao’s story after she is rescued from a red-light district and brought to the Back Palace, where she becomes entangled in various incidents affecting the imperial family. Her ability to identify poisons and investigate unusual illnesses eventually catches the attention of Jinshi, drawing her deeper into the political and personal intrigues of the palace.
According to comments from survey participants, viewers particularly praised the series for its visual quality and intricate plot. The unresolved developments from Season 2 have also heightened anticipation for the next season, with the story expected to continue exploring some of the main characters’ mysteries.
The third season will be divided into two parts, with the first part scheduled to begin airing in Japan on October 2, 2026. A new animated film titled *The Apothecary Diaries* is also set to premiere in Japan in December, offering fans even more exciting stories about Maomao to look forward to.
Although *Dragon Ball Super: Beerus* came in second place, its 303 votes demonstrate tremendous interest in the return of the *Dragon Ball Super* anime. This new series is expected to revisit and recap the opening storyline of the original anime, “God of Destruction,” while presenting the material with updated animation and production technology.
This upcoming series is particularly significant because the original *Dragon Ball Super* TV anime concluded in 2018. As a result, fans have been waiting years for a new animated installment in the franchise, making *Beerus* one of the biggest releases on the Fall 2026 schedule.
The Rankingoo survey also highlighted the production team’s goal of enhancing the presentation of the fight scenes. One participant described the opportunity to experience the storyline with modern technology as “like a dream,” reflecting the enthusiasm surrounding the updated visuals.
Dragon Ball Super: Beerus is scheduled to premiere in Japan on October 11, 2026. With The Apothecary Diaries airing slightly earlier on October 2, the two series will compete for viewers’ attention during one of this year’s busiest anime seasons.
The results of the Rankingoo survey ultimately show that Japanese viewers aren’t just prioritizing established, large-scale shonen fighting franchises. The combination of mystery, court intrigue, drama, and character relationships in *The Apothecary Diaries* has given it enough momentum to become the most anticipated fall 2026 anime in Japan—at least according to this survey.
