New Shows to Watch in 2026 Malaysia: Live Action & Animation

Table of Content

1. Introduction

2. Kisah Bawah Tanah

3. Avatar: The Last Airbender - Season 3

4. Trese

5. One Cent Thief

6. Invincible - Season 4

7. Star Trek - Starfleet Academy

8. Conclusion

9. Frequent Asked Question (FAQ)

   
   

Introduction

By 2026, Malaysian viewers are choosing shows less by format and more by substance. Whether live-action or animated, local or global, what matters is whether a series feels relevant and worth the time investment. With more streaming platforms competing for attention, audiences have become naturally selective.

This list highlights new shows to watch in 2026 Malaysia, including confirmed releases and series expected to remain prominent on Malaysian platforms. From local animation inspired by folklore to global live-action franchises, these shows reflect changing viewing habits and a growing appetite for more thoughtful storytelling.

1. Kisah Bawah Tanah

Characters from Kisah Bawah Tanah, a Malaysian animated series that reimagines local urban legends through dark comedy and stylised animation.

Format: Animation

Platform: Astro (Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei), BOOM! (Thailand)

Release: Early 2026

Kisah Bawah Tanah is a Malaysian animated series that blends Southeast Asian urban legends with dark comedy. It follows two best friends, Sam and Zack, who exist as skeletons navigating the strange and unpredictable underworld known as Bawah Tanah.

Each episode draws from familiar folklore figures and whispered stories many Malaysians grew up hearing. Instead of spelling everything out, the series lets humour and discomfort do the work. The supernatural isn’t treated as a surprise. It’s treated as something that’s always been there, just below the surface.

What makes Kisah Bawah Tanah stand out is its confidence. It doesn’t soften folklore to make it more accessible, and it doesn’t rely on shock either. It trusts viewers to recognise the references and sit with the unease, even when it’s wrapped in comedy.

2. Avatar: The Last Airbender – Season 3

A key visual from Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender, as the series builds toward its later seasons.

Format: Live Action

Platform: Netflix

Release: Expected 2026

Season 3 continues Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender, bringing the story closer to its final confrontation with the Fire Nation. By this point, the series shifts away from training and discovery and focuses more on consequence, leadership, and the cost of war.

The fantasy elements remain central, but the emotional weight increases. Characters are forced to make decisions that aren’t clearly right or wrong, just necessary. Power becomes less about destiny and more about responsibility.

For Malaysian viewers, part of the appeal lies in its Asian-inspired worldbuilding and its serious approach to political conflict. It’s fantasy, but it doesn’t feel distant.

3. Trese

Characters from Trese, the animated series that blends urban crime with Southeast Asian supernatural mythology.

Format: Animation

Platform: Netflix

Release: Active on platform (no confirmed 2026 season date)

Set in a modern city where spirits and mythological creatures exist alongside everyday life, Trese follows Alexandra Trese, a detective who investigates crimes tied to folklore and the supernatural.

The series treats mythology as a system with rules rather than a source of spectacle. Spirits demand respect. Humans make bargains. When those rules are broken, consequences follow.

Even without a confirmed 2026 release date for a new season, Trese remains relevant in Malaysia. Its approach to folklore feels familiar, not exotic, and its tone reflects a Southeast Asian understanding of the unseen that doesn’t need much explanation.

4. One Cent Thief

A promotional image from One Cent Thief, Astro Originals’ crime drama exploring greed, pressure, and moral compromise.

Format: Live Action

Platform: Astro GO, Astro Ria, Astro Citra, sooka

Release: Latest season premiered 2025, available through 2026

Inspired by real events, One Cent Thief explores cybercrime, financial pressure, and moral compromise in a Malaysian context. The story follows characters who start with small, calculated actions that slowly spiral into something far more dangerous.

The tension doesn’t come from violence or spectacle. It comes from exposure, loss of control, and the realisation that some lines, once crossed, can’t be uncrossed.

While it isn’t supernatural, the fear it taps into feels very real. It reflects modern anxieties about money, systems, and how easily good intentions can slide into something else.

5. Invincible – Season 4

A glimpse of Invincible Season 4, as the animated series pushes further into moral conflict and brutal consequences.

Format: Animation

Platform: Amazon Prime Video

Release: Expected March 2026

Invincible follows Mark Grayson, a teenager who inherits superpowers from his father and slowly learns that heroism comes with lasting consequences. By Season 4, the series is deep into its larger conflict, with higher stakes and heavier emotional fallout.

The show is often known for its violence, but what keeps audiences invested is what happens after. Characters change. Relationships fracture. Decisions leave permanent marks.

By 2026, Invincible remains one of the clearest examples of how animation can handle adult themes without pulling its punches, something Malaysian audiences have increasingly embraced.

6. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy

The cadets of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, a new live-action series exploring life, identity, and duty in the Star Trek universe.

Format: Live Action

Platform: Paramount+

Release: January 15, 2026

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy shifts the focus of the franchise to a younger generation, following cadets training in the 32nd century as they prepare for life in Starfleet.

Rather than centering on experienced officers, the series leans into coming-of-age themes. Identity, responsibility, rivalry, and ethical dilemmas are explored through students who are still figuring out who they are and what they stand for.

For new viewers, it works as an entry point into the Star Trek universe. For long-time fans, it expands the world in a way that feels forward-looking rather than nostalgic.

Conclusion

Taken together, these series show how viewing preferences in Malaysia are evolving. Animation and live-action now sit on equal footing, and local productions are increasingly discussed alongside international titles without hesitation. Themes like identity, pressure, and consequence appear across genres, whether through folklore, crime drama, or science fiction.

As 2026 approaches, the shows gaining attention are those that trust their audience and avoid oversimplifying their stories. This shift suggests a more confident and discerning Malaysian viewership, one that values relevance and depth over format or hype.

Frequent Asked Question (FAQ)

1. What are the best new shows to watch in 2026 in Malaysia?

Some of the most anticipated shows for Malaysian audiences in 2026 include Kisah Bawah Tanah, Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 3, Invincible Season 4, and Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. These series span animation and live-action, local and global, and are available on platforms commonly used in Malaysia.

2. When will Kisah Bawah Tanah be released and where can Malaysians watch it?

Kisah Bawah Tanah is scheduled to premiere in early 2026. It will stream on Astro platforms in Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei, with additional distribution through BOOM! Animation in Thailand.

3. Is Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 3 coming out in 2026?

While Netflix has not announced an exact release date, Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 3 is widely expected to arrive in 2026 based on the series’ production timeline and multi-season structure. It will be available on Netflix in Malaysia.

4. Are there animated series for adults releasing in 2026?

Yes. Invincible Season 4, expected to release around March 2026 on Amazon Prime Video, continues to be one of the most prominent adult animated series. Kisah Bawah Tanah also targets older teens and adults through its folklore-based themes and darker humour.

5. Where can Malaysians watch Star Trek: Starfleet Academy?

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is set to premiere on January 15, 2026, exclusively on Paramount+. Availability in Malaysia will depend on regional access to the platform or licensed distribution partners.