The Big Reveal: AnimeJapan 2026 Rankings for Manga to be Made into Anime
The wait is finally over for manga fans! Today, March 4th, the results for the top 10 rankings of manga that fans most want to see made into anime for 2026 have been officially announced. This annual project, which is a major highlight of the AnimeJapan event, has once again captured the pulse of the community. This year, taking the glorious first place is none other than mmk's hit series, The Guy in the Seat Next Door Looks at Me That Way. It’s a huge achievement for the creator and the fans who have been supporting this unique story.
The "Ranking of manga to be made into anime 2026" logo represents a dream for many mangakas. To see their characters coming to life on screen is the ultimate goal. For those who haven't started it yet, the story is a very pure love comedy focusing on Ikezawa-kun and Eguchi-san. The whole plot revolves around how they both look at each other "that way," leading to plenty of sweet and funny moments. Upon hearing the news, mmk shared a heartfelt comment, saying they will continue doing their best with all the support received from the readers. Even the editor in charge, Takuto Miyagawa, expressed his commitment to delivering a love story that will make everyone laugh and cry, truly living up to the massive expectations of an anime adaptation.
Breaking Down the Top 10 List
While The Guy sitting next to me looks at me that way took the lead, the competition was quite tough this year. Here is how the rest of the top 10 positions were filled by some incredible works:
- 2nd Place: Kyu Sumiyoshi’s Thank You Pitch
- 3rd Place: Naotaka Takade’s Ketsu Butler
- 4th Place: Konoshi Maruka’s Sharanaiin desu
- 5th Place: Inoue’s \#Gal to Gal no Yuri
- 6th Place: Shinnosuke Kanazawa’s Company and Private Life -On and Off-
- 7th Place: Makoto Yoshimoto’s Usotsuki\! Gokuo-kun
- 8th Place: Itaru Kinoshita’s Dino Sun
- 9th Place: Yuto Sano’s Gokurakugai
- 10th Place: Toru Anmori’s Centuria
A Project Driven by Fan Love
The Ranking of Manga I Want to Be Made into Anime is not just any random list; it is a special project where the public gets to vote for the stories they are most passionate about. Whether it is a book already on the shelves or a series currently being serialized, the goal is to highlight works that deserve more eyes. This time, 48 works were nominated, and the response was absolutely massive, with a total of 222,758 votes being cast!
The award ceremony itself was a star-studded affair. Members of Sakurazaka46—Hikaru Morita, Rina Matsuda, Mio Matono, Aiki Taniguchi, and Yuzuki Nakajima—who are the official ambassadors of AnimeJapan 2026, graced the stage as presenters. Matsuda-san mentioned how she could feel the immense effort and love put into these works even during the limited time she spent with them. She expressed her sincere respect for all the creators involved in these projects.
If you missed the live event, don't worry. The award ceremony will be available on AnimeJapan’s official YouTube channel for a limited time until the end of March. It’s definitely worth watching to see the excitement of the winners. Many industry experts are already speculating why the guy in the seat next door looks at me that way is your next favorite anime because of its relatable characters and charming art style. We are all waiting to see which of these titles will get an official studio announcement next!
