Anime & Manga Weekly — 2026-05-18
This week's biggest anime and manga headlines center on Kagurabachi's sudden health-related hiatus sending fans into a spiral of concern, just weeks after its TV anime adaptation was announced for April 2027. On the streaming front, Crunchyroll made a massive manga platform move, dropping 24 Kodansha titles in a single update — one of the platform's largest single-batch additions to date. Meanwhile, the industry's ongoing battle against piracy claimed another casualty, with Animekai's official shutdown marking the close of yet another unauthorized streaming chapter.
Anime & Manga Weekly — 2026-05-18
This Week's Top Headlines
Kagurabachi Takes 1-Week Break Due to Author's Health
- What happened: Weekly Shonen Jump's Issue #25 announced that Takeru Hokazono's hit manga Kagurabachi is going on a one-week health-related hiatus. The series will return on May 25. The break comes at a particularly sensitive time — the manga's TV anime adaptation for April 2027 was only announced weeks ago.
- Why it matters: Kagurabachi has been one of Jump's fastest-rising new series, and any disruption to its schedule amplifies fan anxiety, especially with anime production presumably ramping up in parallel. Fan communities reacted with concern across social platforms.
- Key facts: Return date — May 25, 2026; published in Weekly Shonen Jump (Shueisha); anime adaptation confirmed for April 2027 with Taihi Kimura starring as Chihiro Rokuhira.
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Gyōmuyōmochi Launches New Manga in July - News - Anime News Network
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Crunchyroll Drops 24 Kodansha Manga Titles in New May 2026 Update
- What happened: Crunchyroll announced the addition of 24 Kodansha manga series to its manga platform in a single May 2026 update — one of the largest single-batch additions the platform has made. The titles were described as only days away from availability at time of announcement.
- Why it matters: The move significantly expands Crunchyroll's manga library, deepening competition with platforms like K MANGA and MangaPlus, and reinforcing the streamer's push to become a one-stop shop for both anime and manga.
- Key facts: 24 Kodansha series; available on Crunchyroll's manga platform; released in mid-May 2026.
Punk Gun — One of Young Jump's Darkest Series — Ending This Month
- What happened: One of Young Jump magazine's darkest seinen series, Punk Gun, has been confirmed to be ending this month. The conclusion is imminent, according to the report published May 17.
- Why it matters: The end of a seinen series with a notably dark tone signals a shift in the Young Jump lineup and sparks conversation about serialization longevity for niche, mature-skewing titles in the current market.
- Key facts: Published in Young Jump (Shueisha); concluding in May 2026.
Anime — New Announcements & Premieres
Black Torch — New Cast Revealed Ahead of July 2026 Anime Debut
- Details: The anime adaptation of Black Torch, the formerly cancelled Shonen Jump series by Tsuyoshi Takaki, has unveiled three new cast members ahead of its July 2026 premiere. The addition of new voice cast details signals production is in its final stretch.
- Source material: Black Torch manga by Tsuyoshi Takaki, originally serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump (Shueisha).
- Where to watch: Crunchyroll (previously announced as July 2026 premiere).
Horror Collector — TV Anime Announces October 2026 Premiere
- Details: The Horror Collector TV anime adaptation has officially announced an October 2026 premiere window. The announcement was made on May 11, 2026, placing it squarely at the start of the Fall 2026 season.
- Source material: Original or manga source (details not confirmed in available data).
- Where to watch: Platform not yet confirmed; announced via Crunchyroll News.
New Shonen Jump Anime Arrives on Netflix, Kicks Off New Arc
- Details: A Shonen Jump-based anime series has arrived on Netflix this week while simultaneously beginning a major new story arc. The dual timing — platform debut and arc launch — is a notable programming alignment.
- Source material: Shonen Jump (Shueisha) source manga.
- Where to watch: Netflix.
Streaming & Licensing Updates
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Crunchyroll Manga — 24 new Kodansha manga titles added to the platform in a mid-May 2026 batch update; available in English for subscribers.
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New Shonen Jump series (unspecified title) — Began streaming on Netflix this week alongside the launch of its next major story arc; sub format, platform: Netflix.
Manga — Chapter Highlights & Serialization News
Kagurabachi
- What's happening: Takeru Hokazono's Kagurabachi is taking a 1-week health break, with the manga set to return in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #26 on May 25. With the anime adaptation now confirmed for April 2027, the health hiatus has amplified fan concern about the creative workload on Hokazono.
- Publisher / magazine: Shueisha / Weekly Shonen Jump
- Fan reaction: Fans expressed significant worry across social media, with the story trending on manga fan communities under the framing of "fans are worried" — a sign of how beloved the series has become.
Punk Gun
- What's happening: One of Young Jump's darkest seinen series is reaching its conclusion this month, with the final chapter(s) arriving in May 2026.
- Publisher / magazine: Shueisha / Young Jump
- Fan reaction: The ending was noted by fans as a significant loss for readers of mature, tonally dark manga within the Jump ecosystem.
Tokyo Alien Bros., Hirayasumi & Land — 2026 Eisner Award Nominations
- What's happening: Multiple manga series — Tokyo Alien Bros., Hirayasumi, and Land — have received nominations for the 2026 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, announced by Comic-Con International. Several artists are represented in multiple categories.
- Publisher / magazine: Various (English-licensed editions recognized by Eisner committee).
- Fan reaction: The nominations were broadly celebrated as a milestone for manga's continued mainstream critical recognition in Western comics industry circles.
Industry Moves
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Yen Press licenses 11 manga and 7 novel series for release in November 2026, in one of the publisher's larger single-announcement licensing rounds of the year — reinforcing Yen Press's position as a top English-language manga licensor.
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UNIQLO x Shueisha UT Collection Wave 2 launches: Global apparel retailer UNIQLO has launched the second wave of its ongoing collaboration with Shueisha, releasing a new batch of manga-themed UT (Uniqlo T-shirt) graphic tees. The partnership represents a major merchandise crossover between fashion retail and manga IP, reaching mainstream consumers well beyond the core fandom.
Trends to Watch
- Manga on mainstream streaming: Crunchyroll's 24-title Kodansha batch drop and K MANGA's ongoing expansion signal that manga digital reading is increasingly bundled with anime subscriptions — blurring the line between streaming and publishing platforms.
- Cancelled manga gets second life via anime: Black Torch — once cancelled from Shonen Jump — is weeks away from a full anime premiere. This trend of studios revisiting under-appreciated or prematurely ended manga suggests an expanding IP excavation pipeline beyond obvious blockbusters.
- Manga earns Eisner prestige: With Tokyo Alien Bros., Hirayasumi, and Land all earning 2026 Eisner nominations, manga's critical legitimacy in Western comics circles continues to grow — a trend that accelerates licensing interest from U.S. publishers.
What to Watch & Read Next
- Anime pick: Black Torch — with new cast details just announced and a July 2026 premiere imminent, now is the perfect moment to read the source manga before the anime drops; will stream on Crunchyroll.
- Anime pick: The new Shonen Jump series now on Netflix — timing its arrival with a fresh arc makes this an ideal entry point; available on Netflix now.
- Manga pick: Kagurabachi — with the anime confirmed for April 2027 and a brief health hiatus resetting momentum, catching up before the May 25 return is ideal; available on MangaPlus (Shueisha) and Shonen Jump app.
- Manga pick: Hirayasumi — its 2026 Eisner nomination makes this slice-of-life gem one to discover or revisit this week; available via licensed English editions.
Quick Takes
- Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #26 preview is already circulating, with the Kagurabachi hiatus confirmed within its pages.
- The Bateren Tales by Yū Miki resumes May 22 after a months-long hiatus, entering its final arc upon return — a bittersweet milestone for fans of the series.
- Horror Collector anime joins a growing slate of horror-genre adaptations heading to Fall 2026, suggesting the genre is having a strong programming moment.
- Gyōmuyōmochi (Dungeon Meshi artist) is set to launch a new Japanese fantasy manga titled Mushagakuen in July 2026.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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