Mebius Dust

On a leap day that shouldn't even exist — February 29, 2000 — a massive meteor shower blankets Japan in an alien substance called Mebius Dust. Some people gain incredible superhuman abilities. Others twist into something unrecognizable and violent. That's the world our rookie protagonist walks into when they join a specialized government task force charged with containing dust-induced anomalies and protecting what's left of normal society. The hook here is the power system. The same dust that lets you do extraordinary things is actively trying to turn you into a monster. Every time these agents push their abilities, they're gambling with their own humanity. It gives the action real weight — not just "can they win the fight" but "will they still be themselves afterward." The early episodes do a solid job building out the squad dynamics, and there's a police-procedural rhythm to the missions that keeps things grounded even when the sci-fi elements go big. This one's a Project ANIMA grand prize winner, meaning the concept was specifically developed as an original property, and Doga Kobo is handling production. If you know them mostly from their comedy and slice-of-life work, seeing them tackle darker sci-fi action is genuinely interesting. If you liked the contractor system in Darker than Black or the tension between power and cost in Guilty Crown, this is hitting similar notes. Fans of World Trigger's methodical team-based combat will probably find something to latch onto as well. Worth keeping on your radar for 2026.