NARUTO: What’s Next? — RadioAnime at NYCC 2026
New York Comic Con 2026 was already packed with major anime announcements, but the NARUTO: What’s Next? special stage gave fans one of the biggest surprises of the convention.
RadioAnime was invited by VIZ Media to attend the special NARUTO presentation at NYCC, held on October 10 — Naruto Uzumaki’s birthday. The event was completely packed, with approximately 3,000 fans filling the room to celebrate the beloved ninja and discover what comes next for the NARUTO franchise.
And there was plenty to celebrate.
From a brand-new four-episode NARUTO x NINKŪ crossover anime to PROJECT RASENGAN, the worldwide launch of the NARUTO CARD GAME, plans for a global mobile game release and a surprise tease of a new NARUTO manga by Masashi Kishimoto, the presentation delivered announcement after announcement.
We were there to experience it all.
A Packed NYCC Stage for Naruto’s Birthday
The energy inside the room was incredible as thousands of fans gathered for the special stage.
The presentation featured Junko Takeuchi, the Japanese voice of Naruto Uzumaki, Noriaki Sugiyama, the Japanese voice of Sasuke Uchiha, and Yoshihiro Tominaga, executive producer of PIERROT FILMS, the studio behind the NARUTO anime series.
The timing couldn't have been more appropriate: the event took place on Naruto's birthday, turning the panel into both a major franchise presentation and a massive birthday celebration.
Fans were even given Naruto-themed items as they entered. RadioAnime received a special Naruto bag containing a NARUTO CARD GAME promo card and a Naruto headband, making the experience even more memorable.
And the surprises were only beginning.
NARUTO x NINKŪ: A New Four-Episode Crossover Anime
One of the first major announcements of the presentation was NARUTO x NINKŪ, a brand-new four-episode crossover anime bringing together two influential shinobi series.
The project is being supervised by Masashi Kishimoto, creator of NARUTO, and Koji Kiriyama, creator of NINKŪ.
A new collaboration visual and teaser were revealed during the stage, giving fans their first look at the project.
The story follows Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura, who receive a mission from Kakashi. Because Kakashi cannot participate, Naruto is appointed acting leader.
Things quickly become complicated when Team 7 becomes lost in another world.
There, they encounter a strange boy named Fūsuke, who has a face resembling a frog.
What exactly is waiting for Team 7 in this mysterious world?
Fans will have to wait for the new crossover to find out.
The production team also includes Noriyuki Abe, director of the NINKŪ television anime and BORUTO: NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS, and Tetsuya Nishio, character designer and chief animation director for both NINKŪ and the NARUTO series.
During the presentation, Yoshihiro Tominaga even shared work-in-progress animation drawings by Nishio, giving fans an early look at the project's animation.
PROJECT RASENGAN Looks Toward the Future
The presentation also introduced PROJECT RASENGAN, a large-scale global initiative designed to take NARUTO and BORUTO into a new phase.
A new key visual and promotional video were shown during the special stage, featuring Naruto wielding the Rasengan alongside memorable moments from throughout the franchise.
But PROJECT RASENGAN is bigger than a single new anime or game.
The initiative is being positioned as a long-term roadmap for NARUTO and BORUTO, connecting future manga, anime, games, events and other franchise projects.
And according to the announcement, there are still additional projects that have yet to be revealed.
For fans who have followed Naruto for years, PROJECT RASENGAN could represent the beginning of an entirely new era for the franchise.
NARUTO CARD GAME Arrives Worldwide in June 2027
TCG fans also received some major news.
BANDAI CARD GAMES officially announced that the NARUTO CARD GAME will launch simultaneously worldwide in June 2027.
The game lets players choose a Leader and build a team of shinobi to battle alongside that character, incorporating strategic elements inspired by the mind games and ninjutsu battles of the NARUTO series.
The initial launch lineup will include three Starter Decks centered around:
Naruto Uzumaki
Sasuke Uchiha
Gaara
The first Booster Pack will be titled "Enter: Naruto Uzumaki!" and will feature characters from both the original NARUTO series and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN.
The presentation also revealed new card artwork and a special trailer animated by Studio Pierrot.
Getting Ready to Play Before the 2027 Launch
Fans won't have to wait until June 2027 to get their hands on the game.
According to BANDAI CARD GAMES, Premier Demo Events will begin in February 2027 at participating TCG stores.
The company also announced a huge global campaign beginning in spring 2027 that will distribute 1 million Demo Decks worldwide, giving fans the opportunity to learn the game before its official launch.
Two special products were also revealed:
Official Playmat — NARUTO VS. SASUKE
and
Premium Card Collection Vol.00 — CHAKRA Set
These will be available through participating Premier Demo Events and select BANDAI CARD GAMES FEST 26-27 events.
For RadioAnime, this announcement was particularly exciting because we were already able to see the NARUTO CARD GAME presence around NYCC, making the June 2027 worldwide launch feel much more tangible.
Naruto’s Birthday Becomes a Giant Celebration
The special stage eventually turned into a massive birthday celebration for Naruto.
Approximately 3,000 fans participated in a venue-wide celebration, with commemorative Naruto visors helping create a giant "Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu" moment.
The cast, a surprise Naruto character appearance and the audience then joined together for a massive Happy Birthday celebration and commemorative photo session.
It was one of those moments where the size of the NARUTO fanbase was impossible to miss.
After decades of Naruto, seeing thousands of fans celebrating the character together at NYCC was something special.
The Biggest Surprise: A New NARUTO Manga
Just when fans thought the presentation had already delivered its biggest announcements, the stage saved one more surprise for the end.
A special teaser appeared on the screen.
Then came the words:
"A New NARUTO Manga by Masashi Kishimoto."
The reaction inside the room was immediate.
The audience erupted with cheers and applause as the announcement revealed that Masashi Kishimoto is working on a new NARUTO manga.
The presentation also revealed special illustrations from Kishimoto and Koji Kiriyama, along with messages from both creators that were shared with the audience.
For longtime NARUTO fans, it was an incredible way to close the presentation.
The Crowd Went Wild
One thing that is difficult to capture in words was the energy inside the room.
When the new teaser appeared on the screen — including the surprise reveal of a new NARUTO manga by Masashi Kishimoto — the audience absolutely erupted.
Thousands of fans were cheering, screaming and applauding as the announcement appeared on the screen. You could immediately feel that this was a moment many fans had been waiting for, and the excitement spread throughout the entire room.
The reaction wasn't just loud — it was the kind of collective excitement that can only really be experienced when you're there with thousands of other NARUTO fans witnessing the announcement together.
We captured a short clip from inside the panel so you can get a feel for just how intense the reaction was and experience a little bit of what it was like to be in that room when the news was revealed.
Until Next time
