Revelations From Crunchyroll’s Anime Expo Panel

Over the weekend Crunchyroll took to the podium at Anime Expo to dump a load of info regarding its upcoming shows and films. Most are slated for 2027, but we’re getting a few within the year.

The presentation highlighted four upcoming projects. We already told you about Solo Leveling: Beyond The System. The second was a new look at the Ghost Of Tsushima Legends anime, based on the Sony video game of the same name. Not much was shown besides an image of character designs, but it was confirmed that director Takanobu Mizuno will lead production on the series and KAMIKAZE DOUGA will be the animation house.

A brand-new series called The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn’t a Guy At All was revealed for the first time. Aya, a rock-and-rolling high-schooler, feels ostracized until she connects with the clerk at her local CD store. The connection leads to an infatuation. That clerk is dressed so gothily that Aya assumed she was a man, but when she finds out under all that black is her female classmate Mitsuki…what does it mean? Yuri is not typically promoted this heavily by Crunchyroll; they must really feel they have a winner on their hands.

• Solo Leveling: Beyond the System – In a moment that drew one of the panel’s biggest reactions, Aleks Le, the English voice of Sung Jinwoo, took the stage to make a special announcement to reveal that the story is far from over. Fans at Anime Expo were the first in the world to learn that Solo Leveling: Beyond the System is now in production. The all-new anime theatrical feature film will be a direct continuation of the series, picking up following the events of Season 2. Fans were also treated to a teaser key visual and a new promotional concept video. Solo Leveling: Beyond the System is animated by acclaimed A-1 Pictures (Sword Art Online). The film is produced by Aniplex, Netmarble, D&C MEDIA, Kakao Piccoma, and Crunchyroll. More details to be announced at a later date.

• Ghost of Tsushima Legends – Crunchyroll debuted a first-look at the characters for the upcoming Ghost of Tsushima Legends anime, offering fans another early glimpse at the highly anticipated series. Last year, Crunchyroll, in partnership with Aniplex, Sony Music, and PlayStation Productions, announced the anime adaptation of the beloved action-adventure game. The series follows one of the last remaining samurai as he defends his homeland of Tsushima against the Mongol Empire. Director Takanobu Mizuno will lead the adaptation, with HAYATE Inc. overseeing production, Satoshi Maejima (NITRO PLUS) and Gen Urobuchi (NITRO PLUS) writing the script, with Gen Urobuchi also handling story composition, Takashi Okazaki providing character designs, and KAMIKAZE DOUGA producing the animation. The series aims to translate the game’s signature samurai aesthetic into a visually compelling, cinematic experience. Additional production details and a premiere date will be announced at a later time.

• The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn’t a Guy At All – In one of the showcase’s biggest surprises, Crunchyroll aired a special video message to audiences at Anime Expo from Dave Grohl, who revealed that Nirvana’s “Breed” will serve as the opening theme for the upcoming anime adaptation of The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn’t a Guy At All set to launch in early 2027. The series follows fashionable and upbeat high schooler, Aya, who loves listening to rock, but no one else seems to share her interest…until she meets a cool, stylish employee at a CD shop. Dressed in black from head to toe, he has this air of mystery about him, and his taste in music is impeccable. Aya falls hard for him, not knowing her crush is actually her female classmate Mitsuki! Additional details on the series will be announced at a later time.

• Kagurabachi – Following the recent announcement that the highly- anticipated anime adaptation, Kagurabachi, is coming to Crunchyroll next year, fans attending the Showcase were treated to an exclusive Q&A with Chihiro Rokuhira’s Japanese voice actor, Taihi Kimura, and Kyle Cardine, Editor-in-Chief of Crunchyroll News. Unveiled exclusively for the panel audience, attendees received a special first look at Chihiro’s provisional character design sheet.

Nine other series were announced for the Crunchyroll schedule at Anime Expo: the manhwa adaption Here U Are, the sci-fi thriller Fate Rewinder, the fifth season of The Rising of the Shield Hero, the romantic comedy Dengeki Daisy, the second season of Aoashi, the wacky isekai Gacha Girls Corps, the fantasy series Magical Buffs, the gritty drama The Vermilion Mask, and Overgeared, yet another story about a guy who manages to over-level himself in a video game world. Trailers for most of them were released alongside their announcements.

• Here U Are – The anime adaptation of the beloved manhwa will make its way to Crunchyroll. The series follows Yang Yu, a university upperclassman who’s loved by everyone, and Huan Li, a quiet, antisocial new student. The two of them get off on the wrong foot, but despite clashing and repelling one another at times, they are still drawn to each other. Watch the new trailer here.

• Fate Rewinder – Launching on Crunchyroll April 2027 this new sci-fi mystery thriller follows heroes equipped with the “Retry Eye,” an ocular implanted device granting the power to rewind time. The series centers around new Rewinder, Chrono, who must master his ability to save those who have died tragically. Check out the new trailer here.

• The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 5 – Naofumi’s journey continues into perilous new waves of danger where he and his companions face threats that may implicate the other Cardinal Heroes. The series will make its way to Crunchyroll next year. Get a sneak peek at the upcoming season here and catch up on the previous seasons, now streaming on Crunchyroll.

• Dengeki Daisy – Crunchyroll revealed the world-wide premiere trailer of Dengeki Daisy. This new romantic comedy tells the journey of an orphan whose encounter with a mysterious hacker embroils her in espionage! (No trailer provided, oddly)

• Aoashi Season 2 – Ashito’s journey continues October 2026 on Crunchyroll. Following his devastating junior high tournament loss and recruitment of J-League’s top managers, Ashito returns to pursue his dream of becoming one of the greatest soccer players of all time. Get ready for Season 2 by catching up on Season 1, streaming on Crunchyroll.

• Gacha Girls Corps – Coming to Crunchyroll January 2027, Gacha Girls Corps follows mobile game addict, Heihachi, who gets dragged into another world after making an unusual in-game pull. Attacked by monsters, he does what he knows best, roll gacha, summoning a powerful knight named Norl who may be his only hope. Watch the new trailer here.

• Magical Buffs – The Support Caster is Stronger Than He Realized! – After being expelled from his guild for overshadowing its leader, skilled support mage, Wim Strauss, gets a second chance when his childhood friend invites him to join her A-rank guild, Nachtibelle. The new fantasy series comes to Crunchyroll January 2027. Watch the new trailer here.

• The Vermilion Mask – Crunchyroll gives fans another look into The Vermilion Mask, coming to the platform October 2026. The series follows Peru, a pupil of the legendary mask maker Gaston Roux, becomes controlled by the “Mask of the Warrior God,” and unintentionally kills his friends, and even his own master. In order to prevent this type of tragedy from reoccurring, Peru swears to destroy all of Gaston’s masks that are spread around the world. Confronting the sins that he has committed, he embarks on his voyage.

• Overgeared – Coming this year to Crunchyroll, Overgeared follows Grid, an unlucky low-level player in the popular VR game, “Satisfy,” who can’t seem to catch a break, that is, until he gets an opportunity for the S-Rank Quest that changes his life. finds a powerful item that earns him a rare legendary class title: “Pagma’s Successor” and becomes a skilled blacksmith capable of forging unique weapons and equipping the game’s most powerful gear. He sets his sights on fame and fortune, but as his newfound abilities begin stirring up trouble in Satisfy, Grid learns that life as a legend may be more than he bargained for. Take a sneak peek into the series here.

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