Anime Expo: Exciting News Round Up

TV & Film

Jul 8

Anime Expo in Los Angeles, California, just closed its doors for the year, and with it came a massive slate of reveals, announcements, and more for anime fans to be excited about. Here are some of the biggest reveals and announcements from this year’s festivities.

'Chainsaw Man: The Reze Arc Movie' New Trailer Released

With the highly anticipated Chainsaw Man movie only months away, Sony Pictures Entertainment and MAPPA took the opportunity to reveal the official trailer for the film.

Chainsaw Man: The Reze Arc Movie will adapt the manga arc of the same name, with the trailer showcasing more of the pulse-pounding action and romantic elements this arc has to offer. The trailer also reveals that artist Kenshi Yonezu returns to perform the main theme of the film, ‘Iris Out’.

The official synopsis for the movie reads:

‘For the first time, Chainsaw Man slashes his way onto the big screen in an epic, action-fueled adventure that continues the hugely popular anime series. Denji worked as a Devil Hunter for the yakuza, trying to pay off the debt he inherited from his parents, until the yakuza betrayed him and had him killed. As he was losing consciousness, Denji’s beloved chainsaw-powered devil-dog, Pochita, made a deal with Denji and saved his life. This fused the two together, creating the unstoppable Chainsaw Man. Now, in a brutal war between devils, hunters, and secret enemies, a mysterious girl named Reze has stepped into his world, and Denji faces his deadliest battle yet, fueled by love in a world where survival knows no rules.’

Chainsaw Man: The Reze Arc Movie hits US Theaters on October 29th, just in time for Halloween.

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'Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2' Announced By CD Projekt & Netflix

With Cyberpunk 2077 seeing a massive resurgence in popularity following the success of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners and Phantom Liberty, a new series was all but inevitable. After a year of teases, CD Projekt and Netflix officially announced their next entry in the Cyberpunk world.

Next year, Cyberpunk Fans will be making a return to Night City with Cyberpunk: Edgerunners II. However, CD Projekt has reaffirmed the fate of the original Edgerunners cast, promising a brand new story and cast for this new ten-episode season. Showrunner Bartosz Sztybor promised to bring the pain once again, with a season that’s “...of course, sadder, but it will also be darker, more bloody, and more raw.

Studio TRIGGER will once again animate the series, with Kai Ikarashi stepping up to direct. Ikarashi previously directed the Edgerunners episode Girl on Fire, along with working on TRIGGER productions such as Delicious in Dungeon and SSSS GRIDMAN.

While we did not receive further details on this series, fans did receive a new Key Visual and teaser for this new season, giving us a glimpse at some new characters, with the tagline:

‘David is dead. But Night City lives on.’

Science Saru’s ‘The Ghost In The Shell’ Teaser Released

Image Source: Ghost in the Shell Official Channel (YouTube)

Hot off the heels of the success of action-romance anime Scott Pilgrim Takes Off and DanDaDan, Science Saru is taking the deep dive into sci-fi, as it was announced last year that they would be producing a new TV adaptation of Ghost in the Shell. To commemorate Anime Expo, Bandai Namco would drop a new teaser for the series, officially titled The Ghost in the Shell.

While this teaser does not show any completed animation, it gives audiences a good look at character designs and setpieces that will be present in he anime, as well as revealing the production team bringing new life to Shiro Masamune’s classic sci-fi manga. The teaser confirms that this series will shift away from the more realistic artstyle utilized in prior adaptations, beginning with Mamoru Oshii’s original film, instead opting for an artstyle closer to the original manga.

The teaser also reveals that the series will be the directorial debut of Mokochan, who previously served as an episode director for both Scott Pilgrim and DanDaDan. The script will be written by speculative fiction author Toh Enjoe, who previously wrote Godzilla: Singular Point.

The Ghost in the Shell will hit TV Screens in 2026.

‘BLEACH: Thousand Year Blood War’ Releases Visual For Final Season "The Calamity"

With the next cour of the Bleach sequel still in the early stages of its production, there wasn’t much that Pierrot Films could showcase for this year’s event. However, fans would receive a new key visual for BLEACH: Thousand Year Blood War - The Calamity, with confirmation that the season will air in 2026, versus 2025 like fans initially hoped.

The newest visual showcases Ichigo in his final form, one that took center stage in Tite Kubo’s original manga. Like with previous cours, the anime will once again include additional material to improve the pacing, with Kubo himself supervising to ensure that the story being told fits his initial vision for the arc, something he did not quite have the opportunity to achieve with his manga due to health problems and tight deadlines.

To coincide with the release, Kubo would also release a statement on his website:

’I think many fans were expecting it to air this year, and I’m sorry to say it will be next year instead. Please wait just a little bit longer until then. I believe we can make it something truly great.’

YouTubers Gigguk & Dillon Goo Announce Original Anime Productions

Gigguk Anime — Image Source: Sauanime (YouTube)

Outside of major studio announcements, there were a handful of big surprises from lesser-known avenues of anime as well. One of the biggest being the announcement that the Japanese influencer management agency, GeeXPlus is taking their first steps into animation, announcing the launch of GeeXPlus Productions, which will give content creators the platform to produce their own anime.

The first GeeXPlus production is a collab with British YouTuber Gigguk, with him taking the leap from making videos about anime to producing his own. His short film, titled ‘Baan: The Boundaries of Adulthood is an isekai rooted in Thai and Southeast Asian mythology.

GeeXPlus and Gigguk describe the anime as “centering on two protagonists named Arai Daichi and Rinrada Ratchamanee, searching for a place where they belong. The story is set in two worlds: the Japan in the real world, and the fictional world of Euthania, which are connected by each other throuigh a warp gate. Arai Daichi, a 21-year-old man who has conflicts with his family, seeks to run away as far as he can to Euthania. Meanwhile, Rinrada Ratchamanee, a 19-year-old Euthanian, sets out from her village to connect with Japan.”

Code Geass: Roze of Recapture director Yoshimitsu Ohashi directed the production under Studio Daisy, with Apothecary Diaries composer Kevin Penkin providing the score. Haruna Mikawa and Shoya Ishige (Godzilla: Singular Point) will star as Rin and Daichi.

Baan will premiere in Japan on August 24th, and will become available on Gigguk’s YouTube channel shortly after.

Goo Blender — Image Source: DillonGoo Studios

In addition to Gigguk’s production, GeeXPlus announced that they are also partnering with YouTuber and Animator DillonGoo Studios to produce the 12-episode series Soul Mart. Before becoming a renown YouTuber and creator of extensive tools for the open-source animation software ‘Blender’, Goo was an animator on the Roosterteeth series RWBY, and occasionally provides animation for Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail shorts.

The official synopsis for Soul Mart reads:

“Soul Mart”, created by DillonGoo Studios, begins at a convenience store in the not-so-distant future. Strange products have been appearing on the shelves, and notorious graffiti artist Kieru Kamiya finds himself hooked on an energy drink that will kill him if he falls asleep. He's forced to enlist the help of Sarina, the convenience store's timid yet demon-obsessed cashier, and an unemployed demon named Reyk to uncover the truth behind these mysterious and deadly products... before his next sleep becomes permanent.

‘Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End’ Season 2 Trailer Released

While fans have known for some time that Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End would be receiving a second season, Crunchyroll just gave fans a first look at the fantasy-drama’s second season, along with a release window.

The official synopsis for the series reads:

‘After the party of heroes defeated the Demon King, they restored peace to the land and returned to lives of solitude. Generations pass, and the elven mage Frieren comes face to face with humanity’s mortality. She takes on a new apprentice and promises to fulfill old friends’ dying wishes. Can an elven mind make peace with the nature of life and death? Frieren embarks on her quest to find out.’

Season Two of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End hits streaming worldwide in January, 2026. Season One is available to stream on Crunchyroll and Netflix.

Jaden Smith Joins Cast Of Afro-Anime ‘MFINDA’

Multimedia Studio N LITE would also hold an event at Anime Expo, showcasing new details about their first-ever anime film, MFINDA. During this panel, fans got their first casting announcement, with actor and musician Jaden Smith being cast as the character Kozo. Smith will also serve as an executive producer and contribute music to the movie.

This won’t be Smith’s first time delving into anime either, as he previously starred in the Netflix anime Neo Yokio as Kaz Kaan.

It was also revealed that the first volume of the MFINDA manga will hit bookshelves later this year, written by N LITE founder Christiano Malik Terry and illustrated by Tom Lintern, with black-owned anime studio D’Art Shtajio also assisting in the production.

The synopsis for MFINDA reads:

‘MFINDA tells the story of a young girl, Odi, who is transported into the past where she joins another young girl, Nasambi. They must venture into the MFINDA and confront evil spirits to reclaim the Nkisi if she has any hope of returning home.’

‘Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 7: Steel Ball Run’ Production Staff Revealed

With the next season of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure being underway at David Productions, Anime Expo took the opportunity to unveil a new illustration by artist Daisuke Tsumagari, as well as revealing the production team behind Steel Ball Run.

Stone Ocean director Toshiyuki Kato will now serve as the series director, with Yasuhiro Kimura and Hideya Takahashi now serving as directors. Kimura and Takahashi previously served as the directors of Golden Wind. Stone Ocean writer Yakuso Kobayashi will once again supervise the scripts, with Tsumagari designing characters once again. Yugo Kanno also returns to compose the score.

Based on the manga of the same name by Hirohiko Aragi, David Productions began their adaptation of the series in 2011. The previous season, Stone Ocean, aired on Netflix from 2021 to 2022.

David Productions is set to reveal further information about Steel Ball Run in a global livestream scheduled for September 23rd.

Parts 1-6 of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure are available to stream on Netflix.

Hiromu Arakawa’s ‘Daemons Of The Shadow Realm’ To Receive Anime Adaptation

Fans of the critically acclaimed mangaka Hiromu Arakawa were in for a shock, when not only was a new anime based on her work announced, but fans would receive a brand new trailer from Crunchyroll.

It was announced that the Fullmetal Alchemist creator’s manga series Daemons of the Shadow Realm will be receiving an anime adaptation from Bones Films.

The official synopsis for the series reads:

‘In a world where certain humans command mighty supernatural duos called Daemons, it is the birthright of "the children who sunder day and night"—twins Yuru and Asa—to rule over these powerful entities. Separated from a young age and unaware of the truth of their birth, brother and sister must fight to make their way back to each other, claim their birthright, and save the world…’

Daemons of the Shadow Realm began its manga run in 2021, with a total of nine volumes being produced as of now. Fullmetal Alchemist (2003, not Brotherhood) director Masahiro Ando returns to direct this new series from Arakawa. Golden Kamui writer Noboru Takagi will write the scripts, with Nobuhiro Arai (Bungo Stray Dogs) serving as character designer and Kenichiro Suehiro (Suicide Squad Isekai) composing the score.

’Rooster Fighter’ Anime Receives First Trailer

It was announced late last year that the action-comedy manga Rooster Fighter will be receiving an anime adaptation. For Anime Expo, Viz Media and Adult Swim would debut an official teaser for the anime, along with a release window.

Created by Shu Sakuratani, Rooster Fighter made its debut in 2020, and has produced a total of seven volumes since. The synopsis for the series reads:

‘Keiji is more than just an ordinary rooster—he's humanity's greatest defender! His opponents may be ten stories tall, but nothing is bigger than his stout heart and his fearsome battle cry—Kokekokko!’

The anime adaptation is being produced by Sola Entertainment, with Daisuke Suzuki making his directorial debut, having previously worked on Altered Carbon: Resleeved and 009 Re: Cyborg.

New Season Of ‘Black Clover’ Announced

Last, but certainly not least, Crunchyroll and Studio Pierrot announced the highly anticipated return of Black Clover, with a new season scheduled for release next year. Alongside a new visual, fans would also receive a teaser for the upcoming season.

Based on the 2015 manga by Yuki Tabata, the series first made its debut in 2017, airing 170 episodes before going on hiatus in 2021. Most recently, the series spawned a movie, Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King, which premiered in 2023.

The synopsis for Black Clover reads:

‘Asta and Yuno were abandoned together at the same church and have been inseparable since. As children, they promised that they would compete against each other to see who would become the next Emperor Magus.’