Now that One Piece is embracing the seasonal format in 2026, our relationship with Eiichiro Oda’s magnum opus will inevitably change. This is not to say that the slower-paced 26 anime episodes a year approach isn’t welcome or justified, but a sudden break in pattern is bound to create a nostalgic void.
On a brighter note, a more sustainable pace will yield consistent quality, highlighting the vast nuances of Oda’s masterful work. But if you want to supplement this experience with something that will air over the course of 15 months (with breaks), then the fourth season of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime has you covered.
A recent livestream revealed that the anime’s fourth season will be split across five cours (basically a block of episodes), with the first two set to air back-to-back from April 2026 onward. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime in question is based on Fuse’s fantasy light novel of the same name, which was serialized before getting the manga treatment in 2015, courtesy of Kodansha. Apart from the upcoming fourth season of the That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime anime, a second film spin-off titled That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea is slated for a Feb. 2026 Japan release.
Despite its seemingly juvenile title, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slim is an intricate exploration of identity loss that often accompanies the isekai sub-genre, and how those experiencing such fundamental change need to embrace fluidity. Satoru Mikami spends a quarter of his life in relative normalcy, but a freak accident transforms the trajectory of his existence, and Mikami reincarnates as a Slime.
Such a DNA-level change warrants a fresh start, which is why our light blue-haired protagonist adopts the moniker of Rimuru Tempest, which is in keeping with the exciting adventures that await them throughout their journey.
The possibilities are endless within this quest format, as Rimuru can flit from one challenge to the next while developing deep empathy for a world far removed from the one he was originally born into. The upcoming fourth season will continue these shenanigans, although a release date hasn’t been announced yet.
There’s also That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea to look forward to, which will sport a standalone adventure. Perhaps 2026 could be the Year of the Slime, if one chooses to embrace whimsy and suspend disbelief.
