Jujutsu Kaisen and Frieren Might Not Dominate Winter 2026 Anime Scene

Following the debut of *Sentenced to Be a Hero* on Crunchyroll, Kadokawa, the company behind the original light novel series, has filed a trademark for the title in Japan. This move highlights the significant impact the new anime has made right out of the gate.

While it might seem like a straightforward decision for a publisher, Kadokawa has a history of being slow to leverage the popularity of its intellectual properties. Take *Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World*, for instance. Although it premiered in 2014, Kadokawa didn’t file a trademark for the abbreviation “Re:Zero” until 2024. That application faced initial rejection due to its similarity to two existing trademarks in Japan that were unrelated to the anime.

The process of trademarking the anime’s full name in the U.S. also took a while; it didn’t kick off until 2020 and wasn’t approved until 2023, according to the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Kadokawa’s swift action to trademark *Sentenced to Be a Hero* suggests two key points. First, the publisher seems to have learned from past delays in registering its IPs. Second, they are recognizing the rapid success of *Sentenced to Be a Hero* as a potential indicator that the series could become a major hit. Additionally, with Kadokawa now partially owned by Sony, which is gearing up for a big year in anime for 2025, the stakes are even higher. Sony is set to distribute titles like *Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle*, *Chainsaw Man Movie: Reze Arc*, and *Scarlet*.

This partnership hints that both Sony, which owns the anime streaming service Crunchyroll, and Kadokawa are optimistic about the future of *Sentenced to Be a Hero* amidst a crowded anime lineup. January 2026 will also see the return of popular series like *Jujutsu Kaisen* and *Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End*, all airing on Crunchyroll. These established series already boast large fanbases and have proven their worth. Regardless, *Sentenced to Be a Hero* is already being viewed as an IP with significant potential.

Episode 2 of *Sentenced to Be a Hero* is set to release on January 16, complete with a Crunchyroll simul-dub.