Anime & Manga Weekly — 2026-07-13

This Week's Top Headlines

Anime Expo 2026 Delivers Massive Wave of Sequels and New Projects

• What happened: Over 25 major anime announcements debuted at Anime Expo 2026 (July 5-7), including confirmations for Delicious in Dungeon Season 2 (October 2027), Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Season 2, Ghost in the Shell anime adaptation, and Star Wars: Visions continuation, plus teasers for new projects from acclaimed creators Hiroyuki Imaishi and Kazuki Nakashima.
• Why it matters: The sheer volume of green-lit sequels and high-profile adaptations signals sustained investment from major studios and streaming platforms in premium anime content through 2027 and beyond, setting the industry's roadmap for the next 18 months.
• Key facts: Event ran July 5-7, 2026; announcements included Witch Hat Atelier Season 2, MASHLE return for January 2027, and ALIEN STAGE full series greenlight.

Blue Box Manga Concludes After 5 Years; Anime Continues This October

• What happened: The acclaimed sports-romance manga Blue Box officially ended in Weekly Shonen Jump after 5 years and 250 chapters, concluding a fan-favorite series that blended athletic drama with compelling character development.
• Why it matters: Despite the manga's conclusion, the anime adaptation will continue airing on Netflix in October 2026, demonstrating the disconnect between manga and anime timelines and giving fans a chance to experience the story's final arc in animated form.
• Key facts: 250-chapter run; anime premiere set for October 2026 on Netflix.

Murciélago Manga Gets Anime Adaptation in 2027 via HIDIVE

• What happened: The acclaimed manga series Murciélago by Kana Yoshimura is receiving a television anime adaptation set to premiere in 2027, with HIDIVE securing exclusive streaming rights for the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.
• Why it matters: Marks a major licensing win for HIDIVE as it continues building its slate of action-driven series, while introducing Yoshimura's cult-favorite manga to anime audiences after years of fan anticipation.
• Key facts: Original creator Kana Yoshimura commemorated the announcement with an official illustration; HIDIVE holds exclusive simulcast rights for five major English-speaking territories.

Anime — New Announcements & Premieres

The Elusive Samurai Anime Locks July 17 Premiere

• Details: The manga adaptation The Elusive Samurai confirmed its TV anime premiere for July 17, 2026, during Anime Expo 2026's opening day announcements.
• Source material: Based on Yusei Matsui's manga serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump.
• Where to watch: Streaming details announced separately; major platforms expected.

Black Torch Anime Launches on Crunchyroll with Weekly Schedule

• Details: Black Torch episode 1 is now live on Crunchyroll in both subtitled and dubbed formats, with new episodes releasing every Saturday at 6:00 a.m. Pacific Time.
• Source material: Manga adaptation from serialized source.
• Where to watch: Crunchyroll (sub and dub available).

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Infinity Castle Arc I Streams on Crunchyroll

• Details: The highly anticipated Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Infinity Castle I movie premiered on Crunchyroll following its theatrical run, providing fans immediate access to this major story arc installment.
• Source material: Continuation of Koyoharu Gotouge's manga adaptation.
• Where to watch: Crunchyroll.

Streaming & Licensing Updates

• Delicious in Dungeon Season 2 — Premiering October 2027 across major streaming platforms following Anime Expo announcement; availability by region to be confirmed.

• Murciélago — HIDIVE secures exclusive English-language streaming rights (US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand) for 2027 anime adaptation.

Manga — Chapter Highlights & Serialization News

Blue Box Concludes in Weekly Shonen Jump After 250 Chapters

• What's happening: Sports-romance series Blue Box by Kouji Miura officially ended its serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump after a 5-year run, marking the conclusion of one of the magazine's beloved recent series.
• Publisher / magazine: Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump.
• Fan reaction: Community expressed bittersweet sentiments, with fans celebrating the manga's complete story arc while preparing for the anime's October continuation on Netflix.

One Piece Enters Scheduled Manga Break

• What's happening: One Piece author Eiichiro Oda announced an official manga break beginning July 12, with a confirmed return date to follow, as the series continues its climactic arc.
• Publisher / magazine: Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump.
• Fan reaction: While routine hiatuses are common for One Piece, this break comes during a critical story moment, prompting fan speculation about upcoming plot developments.

Hunter x Hunter Manga Resumes Serialization; Volume 39 Releases July 3

• What's happening: Hunter x Hunter resumed regular serialization on June 29 after an extended hiatus, with the manga's 39th compiled volume releasing on July 3 — the first volume in 22 months, marking a major milestone for fans awaiting the series' continuation.
• Publisher / magazine: Shueisha; serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump.
• Fan reaction: Manga community celebrated the return with strong anticipation for new chapter developments after the lengthy gap.

Industry Moves

• Anime Expo 2026 Licensing Expansion: Major North American publishers including Kodansha announced new manga license acquisitions at the convention, signaling continued growth in English-language print availability for recent serializations and doujinshi-adjacent works.

• HIDIVE Secures Murciélago Exclusive Rights: HIDIVE's licensing of Murciélago represents a significant strategic win against competitors, locking five major English-speaking territories for a highly anticipated 2027 premiere and positioning the platform as a premier destination for action and psychological thriller anime.

Trends to Watch

• Sequel Saturation at Anime Expo: Over 25 announcements in three days, heavily skewed toward Season 2+ renewals (Delicious in Dungeon, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, Witch Hat Atelier, MASHLE), suggests studios are banking on established IP over new adaptations — a shift toward risk-averse greenlighting in 2026-2027.

• Manga-to-Anime Timeline Divergence: Blue Box's manga conclusion followed by anime continuation through October signals growing creative independence between source material and adaptation schedules, allowing studios to innovate beyond printed canon.

• Streaming Platform Consolidation: Crunchyroll, Netflix, and HIDIVE divvying up Anime Expo announcements demonstrates oligopolistic control; smaller platforms and regional services largely absent from major licensing announcements.

What to Watch & Read Next

• Anime pick: Black Torch (Crunchyroll) — New simulcast with dual sub/dub releases and a clear weekly schedule makes this accessible for viewers building a summer backlog.
• Anime pick: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Infinity Castle I (Crunchyroll) — The franchise's most anticipated arc finally streams, essential viewing for shonen fans.
• Manga pick: Blue Box final chapters (Weekly Shonen Jump) — Catch the manga's conclusion before the anime expands the story in October on Netflix.
• Manga pick: Hunter x Hunter new serialization (Weekly Shonen Jump) — After 22 months away, Togashi's return demands immediate reading for long-time fans.

Quick Takes

• Onimusha: Way of the Sword game shifted release to September 4, staying aligned with anime release cadence despite platform changes.
• Happy Kanako's Killer Life live-action series greenlit for Season 2 on DMM TV (September premiere), proving manga's broader media appeal beyond anime.
• Rusuban short manga by Akiko Okuda receiving short anime film premiere August 1, expanding the anime release calendar beyond traditional TV windows.

Data cutoff: July 13, 2026. All sources published after July 6, 2026.