Anime NYC wrapped its four-day run Aug. 23 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, drawing roughly 150,000 attendees to one of the largest anime conventions in the United States.
Held Aug. 20-23, the convention featured panels, screenings, concerts, industry announcements and a sold-out exhibit hall. Event director MK Goodwin called it the largest Anime NYC to date.
Publishing news took center stage throughout the weekend as companies unveiled dozens of manga and light novel licenses. Anime studios and distributors also brought new series, returning titles and guests to New York.
KAZÉ US to Launch in Fall 2027
HarperCollins used its Saturday panel to outline plans for KAZÉ US, a new manga imprint scheduled to launch in fall 2027 with three to five titles.
The company projects five to eight releases in 2027, followed by 20 to 25 in 2028 and 25 to 30 in 2029. HarperCollins also plans to expand the KAZÉ brand into Brazil and Spain in 2027.
The U.S. team includes Vice President and Publisher Andrew Arnold, editors Emilia Sowersby and Josh Sippie, art director Christina Quintero and assistant designer Mikhail Fernandes. The imprint will also draw on staff from sister imprint HarperAlley.
HarperCollins acquired Crunchyroll’s French and German manga operations in July 2025 and restored the KAZÉ name, with releases carrying the branding since April.
Yen Press Announces New Manga and Light Novels
Yen Press announced nine acquisitions Saturday, including seven manga and two light novels.
Its manga lineup includes “Seal My Lips With a Kiss,” “Übel Blatt II: Knights of the Fallen King,” “The Gray Exorcist,” “Interdimensional Memoir,” “Make It an Eternity,” “Can I Call You Unnie?” and “Hot Nights at the Hot Springs, Secret Trip No. 241.”
The light novels “’Cause I’m Freedom!” and “The Witch’s Conviction, The Beast’s Redemption” will join the Yen On imprint. Yen Press had previously announced “The Goblin Samurai” and “My Crush’s Crush” on Friday.
Seven Seas Adds 18 Licenses
Seven Seas Entertainment announced 18 licenses, including Karin Anzai’s “My Lips Are Being Targeted” and Neneko Narazaki’s “Synchronicity Obsession,” both scheduled for June 2027. Tako Nonoshima’s “Scarlet Thirst” will follow in July 2027.
The publisher also licensed a deluxe hardcover edition of priest’s “Faraway Wanderers” and Teng Luo Wei Zhi’s “Till the End of the Moon.” Audiobook editions of “Dinghai Fusheng Records” and “There’s Something Wrong With the Chief” were also announced.
Kodansha Brings “Hajime no Ippo” to Print
Kodansha USA announced the first English print release of Joji Morikawa’s long-running boxing manga “Hajime no Ippo.” The series will be published in an omnibus format.
Kodansha also announced TNSK’s horror series “Trapped on Tape!” for fall 2027. “How to Grill Our Love,” “Abe-kun’s Got Me Now,” “I Want to Hold Aono-kun So Badly I Could Die,” “Matcha Made in Heaven” and “Changes of Heart” will join the publisher’s print-on-demand Kodansha Print Club.
Tokyopop, Dark Horse and More Expand Their Lineups
Tokyopop announced nine titles, including “Magic Soup” and “First Love Begins With the Second Kiss.” Several of the newly licensed works will join its LoveLove imprint.
Dark Horse Comics expanded its “Vampire Hunter D” lineup with the four-issue miniseries “Vampire Hunter D: Fortress of Blood.” The series debuts Dec. 16 with a Yoshitaka Amano variant cover. Saiko Takaki’s “Vampire Hunter D: Rose Princess” manga is scheduled for June 2027.
Manga Mavericks Books, Mahjong Pros Publishing, Kana, J-Novel Club, Ize Press, Publang, Omoi and Crossed Hearts also announced new releases. Crossed Hearts introduced its new Studio Hearts imprint.
Fate/strange Fake Returns for Season 2
Aniplex confirmed a second season of “Fate/strange Fake” during its Friday panel and released a teaser visual and trailer. A release date was not announced. A-1 Pictures produced the first season, which premiered in January.
Announcement Trailer:
Teaser Visual:
Murciélago Anime Premieres in January 2027
NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan and HIDIVE announced that Kana Yoshimura’s “Murciélago” will premiere in January 2027.
Satelight and Staple Entertainment are producing the series. HIDIVE will stream it in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.
Key Visual:
The Moon on a Rainy Night Anime Set for 2027
REMOW confirmed a 2027 premiere for “The Moon on a Rainy Night.” Tomoe Makino is directing the series at CompTown.
Teaser Visual:
Netflix Reveals New Premieres and Trailers
Netflix opened the convention Thursday on the main stage, setting an Oct. 20 premiere for “Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2” and a Nov. 26 premiere for “Fool Night.”
The company also debuted a “Lego One Piece” trailer and revealed key art for the upcoming “One Piece” remake.
Executive producer and star Brian Tyree Henry introduced the first teaser for “Bass X Machina.” A character trailer was also shown for the second season of “Sakamoto Days,” which is scheduled for January 2027.
GKIDS Acquires Two Major Films
GKIDS acquired North American rights to “Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust” and the live-action adaptation of “5 Centimeters per Second.”
Select screenings of the Japanese-language version of Yoshiaki Kawajiri’s 2000 film, presented with English subtitles, will begin this fall. A wider theatrical and home entertainment release is planned for 2027.
American Manga Awards Honor Industry Creators
The third American Manga Awards were held Thursday night at Japan Society, with Zack Davisson serving as host.
Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki’s “Billy Bat” Vol. 1, published by Abrams’ Kana imprint, won best new manga.
Other winners included “The Summer Hikaru Died” Vol. 6 from Yen Press, Machiko Kyō’s “Cocoon” from Viz Media and Kodansha’s “Mushishi” Collector’s Edition. Wendy Chan was honored for designing the complete “Fruits Basket” box set.
Jan Mitsuko Cash Calls for Higher Translator Pay
Translator Jan Mitsuko Cash won for her work on “Magica” and used her acceptance speech to call for better translator compensation.
Cash challenged the three largest manga publishers to double their translation rates. She said translators often work 80-hour weeks without insurance or benefits and can wait two months for payment. Her remarks received a standing ovation.
“Princess Jellyfish” creator Akiko Higashimura received the Award of Distinction. Chigusa Ogino of the Tuttle-Mori Agency and the late Ioannis Mentzas, a Vertical co-founder and former Kodansha USA editorial director, were inducted into the Manga Publishing Hall of Fame.
MANGA Plus editorial director Shuhei Hosono received the Shueisha Centennial Award.
Crunchyroll Celebrates Major Anniversaries
Beyond the announcements, Anime NYC brought Japanese creators, actors and musicians together with fans throughout the Javits Center.
Crunchyroll celebrated the 10th anniversaries of “Bungo Stray Dogs” and “Re -Starting Life in Another World-.”
“Bungo Stray Dogs” voice actor Yuto Uemura and producer Chiaki Kurakane attended the convention. “Re” voice actor Yusuke Kobayashi and singer Konomi Suzuki appeared for a live concert and Q&A.
The company also marked 15 years of Crunchyroll News.
“MAO” English Dub Arrives on Hulu
Viz Media announced that the English dub of Rumiko Takahashi’s “MAO” would premiere on Hulu on Aug. 24, with the first 13 episodes available at launch.
Anime NYC Welcomes International Guests
Guests throughout the weekend included “One Piece” live-action stars Mackenyu and Taz Skylar, “Naruto” voice actor Junko Takeuchi, “Attack on Titan” and “Haikyu!!” voice actor Yuki Kaji, “Kaiju No. 8” lead Masaya Fukunishi and “Chainsaw Man” voice actor Tomori Kusunoki.
Between industry panels, anniversary celebrations, concerts and a sold-out exhibit hall, Anime NYC’s four-day run gave fans a look at where the anime and manga industries are heading over the next year.
Anime NYC will return Aug. 26-29, 2027, for the convention’s 10th anniversary.
Which Anime NYC 2026 announcement are you most excited about? Let us know on X at @animetv_jp.
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