Naruto is returning to anime with a new film; first look arrives at New York Comic Con 2026

Viz Media has announced a Naruto franchise panel for New York Comic Con 2026 on Saturday, October 10. The company says the panel will include "an announcement related to a new animated film and its worldwide premiere," and it will present a first look at the project.

The panel will include Studio Pierrot executive producer Tominaga Yoshihiko and two long-running Naruto voice actors: Junko Takeuchi (Naruto Uzumaki) and Noriaki Sugiyama (Sasuke Uchiha). Viz Media also says the panel will cover other franchise updates such as the Naruto Card Game.

The Naruto TV anime revival that was announced for the franchise's 20th anniversary entered an indefinite delay. The revival had originally been framed as a four-episode miniseries revisiting Team 7's earliest days. With the series on hiatus and Boruto: Naruto Next Generations also on hiatus at the same time, fans have not received substantial anime updates for several years.

What the film might mean for the franchise

The article notes a few relevant franchise developments that provide context for the film's existence:

• The previously planned TV revival was delayed indefinitely.

• A live-action Naruto movie is also in development, so the anime film will join multiple ongoing adaptations across formats.

The piece points out that Naruto's feature films have historically included both canon adaptations and original stories. Since the original manga material for Naruto is largely complete and the revival was meant to go back in time, the new film could take several creative directions. The article does not provide plot details or a release date beyond the NYCC first look and the mention of a worldwide premiere.

What fans can expect at New York Comic Con

At minimum, attendees and viewers should expect:

• Official first-look footage or imagery for the new animated film.
• A formal announcement framing the film's premiere and potential worldwide release plans.

• No official plot, title, or release date has been published in the announcement text supplied here.
• It's not confirmed whether the film is original, an adaptation, or how it connects to the delayed revival miniseries.

Naruto's anime presence is returning to the public stage with a confirmed film announcement and first look scheduled for New York Comic Con 2026. Viz Media's language about a worldwide premiere and the presence of Studio Pierrot and principal voice talent make this the most substantial franchise update in years, but key creative and release details remain unrevealed until the panel on October 10.