Naruto fans have waited years for concrete news about the franchise’s animated future. That wait is now down to two weeks. Viz Media has confirmed a special Naruto panel at New York Comic Con 2026 on October 10, where the company promises new announcements, first-look footage, and a worldwide premiere related to a new animated film. The event will also feature Japanese voice actors Junko Takeuchi (Naruto Uzumaki) and Noriaki Sugiyama (Sasuke Uchiha), alongside Yoshihiko Tominaga, executive producer at Studio Pierrot.
What the NYCC Panel Will Cover
The panel, titled “NARUTO: What’s Next,” runs from 5 PM to 6 PM EDT on the Empire Stage at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. Viz Media’s official press release lists three key highlights for the event:
- An announcement related to a new animated film and its worldwide premiere
- New information and the first promotional video for the NARUTO CARD GAME
- Surprise announcements regarding other media developments
Variety first reported on September 9, 2026, that the panel would include an announcement about a new animated film along with its worldwide premiere. That report confirmed what many fans had suspected: the Naruto anime is preparing a major return after years of limited new content.
The New Animated Film
Studio Pierrot is set to reveal a new Naruto animated movie at the panel. This project is separate from the live-action Naruto film that Lionsgate has in development. The animated film will carry the story of the original series by Masashi Kishimoto.
Details about the film’s plot, cast, and release date have not been announced. The panel will provide the first look at what this project will be. The film marks the first new animated Naruto movie since The Last: Naruto the Movie released in 2014.
The Four Anniversary Episodes
Four special Naruto episodes were first announced in March 2023 as part of the anime’s 20th anniversary celebrations. The project was described as a remake of key early scenes with modern animation technology. A 10-minute trailer titled “Road of Naruto” showed what the updated visuals would look like.
The episodes were originally scheduled for September 2023. Studio Pierrot delayed them indefinitely in August 2023, stating that more time was needed to improve quality. Reports in 2026 confirmed that production on these four episodes had been completed, with a release planned for late 2026. The NYCC panel is expected to provide an official update on when these episodes will air.
Boruto Part 2 and the Franchise’s Future
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations went on hiatus in 2023. Studio Pierrot later confirmed on its website that Boruto Part 2 is in production, though no release date has been announced. The sequel manga, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, continues in V Jump magazine, giving the anime plenty of source material to adapt.
Studio Pierrot has shifted to a seasonal production model for Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, a change from the weekly episode format that defined the original Naruto and Boruto runs. The studio’s recent work on Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War has shown a higher level of animation quality, which fans hope will carry over to future Naruto projects.
TV Tokyo confirmed in May 2026 that it has “several projects planned” for the franchise’s 25th anniversary in 2027, describing it as “the beginning of a new stage”. The broadcaster originally aired Naruto in Japan, so a major return to the channel is possible.
Why This Panel Matters
Naruto remains one of the most successful manga and anime franchises in the world. The manga has sold more than 250 million copies across over 60 countries. The anime airs in more than 145 countries and regions. Despite that reach, the franchise has not released new animated content for the original series since the anime ended in March 2017.
The Naruto panel at NYCC 2026 is the first time in years that Viz Media, Studio Pierrot, and the Japanese voice cast will appear together to discuss the franchise’s animated future. The event falls on Naruto Uzumaki’s birthday, adding symbolic weight to the date.
Fans can follow updates from the panel through Viz Media’s official social media accounts and entertainment news outlets covering NYCC 2026. The panel will not be livestreamed, but announcements are expected to circulate online shortly after the event ends.
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Global Release Information
Naruto and Naruto Shippuden are available to stream on Crunchyroll, Hulu, and Netflix in select regions including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and India. Boruto: Naruto Next Generations is available on Crunchyroll and Hulu. The new animated film’s release platform and date will be announced at the NYCC panel.
Also Read: Naruto Shippuden Hindi Dub Arrives on Crunchyroll in July 2026
Keep reading VvipTimes for more updates on Naruto, Boruto, and the biggest anime announcements from New York Comic Con 2026.
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