January 2026 Anime Season Finale Report (Part 1) | Reviews of 4 Titles Including Medalist, Gnosia, and More
I followed a few January anime this season, and now that they've concluded, I'd like to share my thoughts.
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1. Medalist Season 2 ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5/5)
Overall, it maintained a high standard, though the pacing was a bit flat. I only found out later that it was limited to 9 episodes because there's a theatrical film coming next year, covering a very exciting arc from the original work.
While there were fewer heart-pounding moments, the portrayal of Inori and Tsukasa remained delicate. Inori's growth arc is very clear; it's not a mindless power-up, but rather learning from failure and improving gradually. The ensemble cast depiction during the regional qualifiers was also spot on.
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2. Gnosia (October 2025 Split-cour) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
One of my favorite split-cour anime in recent years.
An adaptation of the game, it starts as a seemingly simple time-loop + Werewolf-style plot, gradually revealing the truth of the world. The ensemble cast writing is top-tier; every character is distinct. The protagonist is one of the few leads I really like—he's compassionate, empathetic, and proactive. It's no wonder so many female characters like him (his corrupted version and gender-bent version are even more charming).
The suspenseful atmosphere is excellent, and the ending lands smoothly while intentionally leaving room for the audience to reflect. Highly recommended for those who enjoy ensemble casts and suspense.
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3. Tanzaburo Toshima Wants to be a Kamen Rider (October 2025 Split-cour) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
On the surface, it's a classic shonen-style story, but I think it has a bit of an unconventional edge—because every character feels a bit unhinged (in a good way).
The protagonist is 40 and still chasing his Kamen Rider dream. Even more absurdly, he trains so hard for it that he can actually beat up Shocker combatants. As more characters who are obsessed with Kamen Rider to the point of madness appear, the black humor hits its peak when they actually start fighting monsters as Kamen Riders while getting emotional about it.
After finishing the anime, I wanted to read the manga, but the art style left me speechless... I think I'll just wait for the second season of the anime.
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4. Blue Orchestra Season 2 (October 2025 Split-cour) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
I didn't rate the first season very highly due to the melodramatic backstories of the lead and second lead + their inexplicable reconciliation, and the performance animation was also a bit cheap.
The overall quality of the second season has improved significantly. The melodrama has decreased (though there's still a faint hint of a painful love triangle), focusing more on character growth, and the audio-visual presentation of the performance scenes is much smoother than in the first season.
Those who like music anime should give it a look.
───
Which ones did you follow this season? Feel free to share your thoughts on the finales!
───
1. Medalist Season 2 ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5/5)
Overall, it maintained a high standard, though the pacing was a bit flat. I only found out later that it was limited to 9 episodes because there's a theatrical film coming next year, covering a very exciting arc from the original work.
While there were fewer heart-pounding moments, the portrayal of Inori and Tsukasa remained delicate. Inori's growth arc is very clear; it's not a mindless power-up, but rather learning from failure and improving gradually. The ensemble cast depiction during the regional qualifiers was also spot on.
───
2. Gnosia (October 2025 Split-cour) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
One of my favorite split-cour anime in recent years.
An adaptation of the game, it starts as a seemingly simple time-loop + Werewolf-style plot, gradually revealing the truth of the world. The ensemble cast writing is top-tier; every character is distinct. The protagonist is one of the few leads I really like—he's compassionate, empathetic, and proactive. It's no wonder so many female characters like him (his corrupted version and gender-bent version are even more charming).
The suspenseful atmosphere is excellent, and the ending lands smoothly while intentionally leaving room for the audience to reflect. Highly recommended for those who enjoy ensemble casts and suspense.
───
3. Tanzaburo Toshima Wants to be a Kamen Rider (October 2025 Split-cour) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
On the surface, it's a classic shonen-style story, but I think it has a bit of an unconventional edge—because every character feels a bit unhinged (in a good way).
The protagonist is 40 and still chasing his Kamen Rider dream. Even more absurdly, he trains so hard for it that he can actually beat up Shocker combatants. As more characters who are obsessed with Kamen Rider to the point of madness appear, the black humor hits its peak when they actually start fighting monsters as Kamen Riders while getting emotional about it.
After finishing the anime, I wanted to read the manga, but the art style left me speechless... I think I'll just wait for the second season of the anime.
───
4. Blue Orchestra Season 2 (October 2025 Split-cour) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
I didn't rate the first season very highly due to the melodramatic backstories of the lead and second lead + their inexplicable reconciliation, and the performance animation was also a bit cheap.
The overall quality of the second season has improved significantly. The melodrama has decreased (though there's still a faint hint of a painful love triangle), focusing more on character growth, and the audio-visual presentation of the performance scenes is much smoother than in the first season.
Those who like music anime should give it a look.
───
Which ones did you follow this season? Feel free to share your thoughts on the finales!
