The new fantasy anime, Sentenced to Be a Hero, is quickly gaining popularity for its cinematic-like pilot episode, which premiered on January 3. It debuted on IMDb and MAL with an 8+ rating, signaling a great start for anime in the new year.

The 1-hour-long premiere pulls viewers right into high-stakes battles, intense fight scenes, gripping animation, and fresh world-building that unfolds as the story progresses. It adds a twist to the “heroes” we know of, and ends in suspense that makes the next episodes more exciting.

A world where ‘heroes’ are scorned

The heroes in Sentenced to Be a Hero are portrayed as criminals serving their sentence in a corrupt and unjust world. We are thrown right into the middle of a battle and, through Xylo Forbartz, we are compelled to make sense of the severity and ugliness of the “hero” punishment for criminals like him.

The monsters take the form of animals infected by the Demon Blight, but sometimes, they take the face of those in great power, too. And we follow Xylo Forbartz, along with his allies, as he conquers what corrupts their world, including their humanity.

In a world filled with generic fantasy plots and formulas, Sentenced to Be a Hero holds a lot of promise. The script is weighty, the characters are interesting enough, and both the animation and sound design boast high-quality production. It started great, and with that, you can’t help but expect the consistency and quality in the next episodes.

This is the year of anime

Last year, we saw many announcements about the upcoming and returning anime films and series in 2026. Now, we’re in the middle of winter 2026, and it’s already packed with new and great shows.

It’s a great time to be alive, as there’s plenty of good anime coming ahead. And while we’re discovering new anime shows, let’s also watch the existing ones that sweep us right away in the first episode, like Sentenced to Be a Hero. There are plenty of that kind of anime out there, and they’re only waiting to be discovered. 

Watch the trailer

Synopsis:

In a world where heroism is a punishment, Xylo Forbartz, a condemned goddess killer, battles endless hordes of monstrous abominations as part of Penal Hero Unit 9004. Death is no escape, only a cycle of resurrection and relentless combat. But when Xylo encounters a mysterious new goddess, their unlikely alliance sparks a rebellion that could shatter the chains of eternal punishment. (Crunchyroll)