Earlier this month, readers at the website Charapedia ranked the fall 2018 anime season and chose Sword Art Online: Alicization as the most anticipated show. The fan-favorite anime's third season marks the debut of Eugeo, Alice, and of course the return of Kirito. Fans came together last weekend in Los Angeles to get an early viewing of the sci-fi action series and it's supposed to run for a full year this time around. There's bound to be no shortage of Sword Art Online excitement.

So color me surprised when the series was not Anime News Network readers' top choice for most anticipated series. That went to a different returning anime, one that's been at the top of viewers' wishlists for a long time. According to ANN readers A Certain Magical Index III is the top choice, hedging ahead of Sword Art Online: Alicization by 2.5 percent. The action-heavy fall season has heavy-hitters in its top five, all promising knuckle-gripping battles. Sword Art Online season three takes the 2nd place spot followed by JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind in 3rd, Goblin Slayer in 4th, and Golden Kamuy in 5th.

Anime News Network Readers's Most Anticipated Fall 2018 Anime Series

A Certain Magical Index III Sword Art Online: Alicization JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind Goblin Slayer Golden Kamuy Fairy Tail (TV 3/2018) Tokyo Ghoul:re (TV 2) That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime FLCL Alternative Bloom Into You SSSS.Gridman Tsurune: Kazemai Kōkō Kyūdō-bu Boarding School Juliet Double Decker! Doug & Kirill Ace Attorney Season 2 Karakuri Circus Ulysses: Jeanne d'Arc and the Alchemist Knight Run with the Wind Radiant Ms. vampire who lives in my neighborhood

The fall season has a huge number of shows premiering and no shortage of variety, although the poll results show plenty are looking forward to the action-heavy fantasy shows. Do these poll results reflect your own tentative watch list? Let us know in the forums.