Anime & Manga Weekly — 2026-09-30
Naruto's return takes center stage as Studio Pierrot prepares a major TV anime limited series reveal at New York Comic Con this week, while Sumikko Gurashi launches its fifth film and voice actress Asami Yaguchi passes away at 47. The industry momentum continues with fresh manga debuts, streaming expansion, and key fall premieres reshaping the seasonal landscape.
Anime & Manga Weekly — 2026-09-30
This Week's Top Headlines
New Naruto TV Anime Limited Series Announcement Coming to NYCC 2026
- What happened: The NARUTO/BORUTO official team confirmed a major stage presentation for October 10 at New York Comic Con 2026, featuring exclusive details on a new Naruto TV anime limited series. The event will include NARUTO CARD GAME news and a simultaneous worldwide livestream on the official NARUTO/BORUTO YouTube channel.
- Why it matters: This marks a significant franchise revival following years of fan anticipation, with timing suggesting a coordinated theatrical or streaming release strategy. The NYCC platform signals international distribution priority.
- Key facts: October 10 special stage at NYCC 2026; worldwide livestream on official channels
sLos Angeles,...
animenewsnetwork.com
North American Anime, Manga Releases, September 20-26 - News [2026-09-25] - Anime News Network
animenewsnetwork.com
animenewsnetwork.com
Hirayasumi Anime Unveils Teaser, Key Visual, Cast - News - Anime News Network
Kuri Hime Ayakashi Yobanashi Manga Ends on October 28 - News - Anime News Network
animenewsnetwork.com
animenewsnetwork.com
animenewsnetwork.com
Voice Actress Asami Yaguchi Dies at 47 - News - Anime News Network
Anime News Network
News - 2026 - Anime News Network
Manchuria Opium Squad Manga Resumes Serialization With New Artist Tsurushima - News - Anime News Net
Voice Actress Asami Yaguchi Dies at 47
- What happened: Renowned voice actress Asami Yaguchi passed away suddenly on Saturday, September 28, 2026, at age 47. She was known for roles in Tamagotchi and Gintama.
- Why it matters: Yaguchi's passing represents a significant loss to the anime voice acting community, with her career spanning decades of iconic character work across multiple generations of anime.
- Key facts: Death confirmed September 28, 2026; known for Tamagotchi and Gintama roles
Sumikko Gurashi Franchise Announces Fifth Anime Film for 2027
- What happened: San-X's beloved Sumikko Gurashi franchise announced its fifth anime film, set to release in 2027 with Neko as the protagonist. This continues the franchise's successful theatrical run following four previous films.
- Why it matters: The continued theatrical investment in Sumikko Gurashi demonstrates sustained audience demand for character-driven storytelling, particularly in the family-friendly anime market.
- Key facts: Fifth film confirmed for 2027; Neko features as lead character
sLos Angeles,...
animenewsnetwork.com
North American Anime, Manga Releases, September 20-26 - News [2026-09-25] - Anime News Network
animenewsnetwork.com
animenewsnetwork.com
Hirayasumi Anime Unveils Teaser, Key Visual, Cast - News - Anime News Network
Kuri Hime Ayakashi Yobanashi Manga Ends on October 28 - News - Anime News Network
animenewsnetwork.com
animenewsnetwork.com
animenewsnetwork.com
Voice Actress Asami Yaguchi Dies at 47 - News - Anime News Network
Anime News Network
News - 2026 - Anime News Network
Manchuria Opium Squad Manga Resumes Serialization With New Artist Tsurushima - News - Anime News Net
Anime — New Announcements & Premieres
Hirayasumi Anime Unveils Cast and Key Visual Ahead of October 7 Premiere
- Details: The human drama anime Hirayasumi revealed its lead voice cast, featuring Yuma Uchida, Mayu Takahashi, and Rikako Aikawa. A teaser and key visual accompanied the cast announcement, building momentum for the October 7 premiere.
- Source material: Original anime project
- Where to watch: Details pending official streaming announcements
sLos Angeles,...
animenewsnetwork.com
North American Anime, Manga Releases, September 20-26 - News [2026-09-25] - Anime News Network
animenewsnetwork.com
animenewsnetwork.com
Hirayasumi Anime Unveils Teaser, Key Visual, Cast - News - Anime News Network
Kuri Hime Ayakashi Yobanashi Manga Ends on October 28 - News - Anime News Network
animenewsnetwork.com
animenewsnetwork.com
animenewsnetwork.com
Voice Actress Asami Yaguchi Dies at 47 - News - Anime News Network
Anime News Network
News - 2026 - Anime News Network
Manchuria Opium Squad Manga Resumes Serialization With New Artist Tsurushima - News - Anime News Net
Uma Musume: Pretty Derby Anime Targets Guinness World Record
- Details: The Uma Musume: Pretty Derby franchise announced its new anime series aims for a Guinness World Record in the category of "Most Speaking Characters in a Short-form Animation Series Based on a Video Game."
- Source material: Video game adaptation (Cygames)
- Why it matters: The ambitious record attempt reflects the franchise's scale and the growing production complexity of video game adaptations in anime.
sLos Angeles,...
animenewsnetwork.com
North American Anime, Manga Releases, September 20-26 - News [2026-09-25] - Anime News Network
animenewsnetwork.com
animenewsnetwork.com
Hirayasumi Anime Unveils Teaser, Key Visual, Cast - News - Anime News Network
Kuri Hime Ayakashi Yobanashi Manga Ends on October 28 - News - Anime News Network
animenewsnetwork.com
animenewsnetwork.com
animenewsnetwork.com
Voice Actress Asami Yaguchi Dies at 47 - News - Anime News Network
Anime News Network
News - 2026 - Anime News Network
Manchuria Opium Squad Manga Resumes Serialization With New Artist Tsurushima - News - Anime News Net
Streaming & Licensing Updates
- Manga Mavericks Books Fall Q4 Releases — North American manga publisher Manga Mavericks Books announced 12 new print and digital manga series launching in Q4 2026, including new series debuts and continuations. The slate reflects continued growth in North American manga localization investment.
Manga — Chapter Highlights & Serialization News
Manchuria Opium Squad Manga Resumes with New Artist Tsurushima
- What's happening: The serialization of Manchuria Opium Squad resumed with new artist Tsurushima taking over from previous artist Shikako, who passed away in November 2025. The transition marks a significant shift in the manga's artistic direction while maintaining narrative continuity.
- Publisher / magazine: Serialized in a major Japanese manga magazine
- Fan reaction: Community expressed appreciation for the seamless artistic transition and commitment to continuing the series legacy.
sLos Angeles,...
animenewsnetwork.com
North American Anime, Manga Releases, September 20-26 - News [2026-09-25] - Anime News Network
animenewsnetwork.com
animenewsnetwork.com
Hirayasumi Anime Unveils Teaser, Key Visual, Cast - News - Anime News Network
Kuri Hime Ayakashi Yobanashi Manga Ends on October 28 - News - Anime News Network
animenewsnetwork.com
animenewsnetwork.com
animenewsnetwork.com
Voice Actress Asami Yaguchi Dies at 47 - News - Anime News Network
Anime News Network
News - 2026 - Anime News Network
Manchuria Opium Squad Manga Resumes Serialization With New Artist Tsurushima - News - Anime News Net
Kuri Hime Ayakashi Yobanashi Manga Concludes October 28
- What's happening: Kuri Hime Ayakashi Yobanashi, a manga adaptation of a novel by Hyuganatsu (creator of The Apothecary Diaries), will conclude its serialization on October 28, 2026, bringing closure to its supernatural narrative arc.
- Publisher / magazine: Serialized manga concluding this month
- Fan reaction: Readers preparing for the final installment while anticipating Hyuganatsu's future projects.
sLos Angeles,...
animenewsnetwork.com
North American Anime, Manga Releases, September 20-26 - News [2026-09-25] - Anime News Network
animenewsnetwork.com
animenewsnetwork.com
Hirayasumi Anime Unveils Teaser, Key Visual, Cast - News - Anime News Network
Kuri Hime Ayakashi Yobanashi Manga Ends on October 28 - News - Anime News Network
animenewsnetwork.com
animenewsnetwork.com
animenewsnetwork.com
Voice Actress Asami Yaguchi Dies at 47 - News - Anime News Network
Anime News Network
News - 2026 - Anime News Network
Manchuria Opium Squad Manga Resumes Serialization With New Artist Tsurushima - News - Anime News Net
Industry Moves
-
One Piece Manga Enters Weeklong Hiatus, Returns October 11 — Eiichiro Oda's One Piece manga concluded Chapter 1194 and entered a scheduled hiatus, with Chapter 1195 returning October 11. The anime simultaneously concludes its 2026 run, while two new theatrical films were announced for 2027 and 2029, maintaining franchise momentum during the break.
-
Jump Festa 2027 Confirms Major Reveals for Black Clover, Naruto, Jujutsu Kaisen — Shueisha's December 2026 Jump Festa event locked in stage panel lineups confirming major announcements for three of Weekly Shonen Jump's biggest franchises, signaling coordinated year-end promotional strategy for major properties.
Trends to Watch
-
Streaming Expansion & North American Localization Surge: Manga Mavericks Books' Q4 slate and continued platform growth signal sustained North American investment in anime/manga distribution, with publishers prioritizing simultaneous digital releases alongside print.
-
Franchise Revivals & Limited Series Format: Naruto's new limited series announcement, Sumikko Gurashi's theatrical commitment, and One Piece's coordinated multimedia strategy reflect industry preference for bounded narrative experiences that sustain long-term engagement.
-
Creator Transitions & Legacy Preservation: The Manchuria Opium Squad artist succession demonstrates how the industry manages production continuity following creator loss, ensuring narrative momentum despite personnel changes.
What to Watch & Read Next
- Anime pick: Hirayasumi (October 7 premiere) — A human drama with strong voice cast (Yuma Uchida, Mayu Takahashi) that signals fall season's shift toward character-driven storytelling.
- Manga pick: Kuri Hime Ayakashi Yobanashi final arc (concludes October 28) — Final chapters of Hyuganatsu's supernatural adaptation offer closure before the creator's next project.
Quick Takes
- Yoshitoshi ABe's Despera anime project confirmed to receive manga adaptation in 2027, expanding multimedia presence for the creator's visionary work.
- Umaru-chan 100 launches October 1 on Young Jump+, marking new serialization for the beloved comedy franchise with fresh story direction.
- Boruto: Next Generations now streaming on BBC iPlayer, signaling UK regional expansion for Shonen Jump properties.
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.
Powered by
