Crunchyroll brought one of Anime Expo 2026’s biggest presentations to the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, unveiling a packed lineup of anime announcements that ranged from theatrical films and new adaptations to returning fan favorites. Hosted by Tim Lyu and Lauren Moore, the annual Crunchyroll Showcase gave attendees exclusive trailers, surprise guest appearances, and first-look reveals while confirming several projects arriving over the next two years.
The headline announcement was Solo Leveling: Beyond the System, a brand-new theatrical anime film that will continue Sung Jinwoo’s story after Season 2. Fans also received their first official look at the characters from Ghost of Tsushima Legends, while several highly anticipated titles, including The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn’t a Guy At All, Kagurabachi, The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 5, and Aoashi Season 2, received new updates.
With a mix of original series, manga adaptations, and returning franchises, Crunchyroll showcased one of its strongest upcoming anime lineups, reinforcing its commitment to expanding its streaming catalog in 2026 and beyond.
Solo Leveling movie headlines Crunchyroll’s Anime Expo showcase
The biggest moment of the showcase came when Aleks Le, the English voice of Sung Jinwoo, took the stage to announce that Solo Leveling: Beyond the System is officially in production.
Crunchyroll confirmed that the theatrical anime film will serve as a direct continuation of the television series, picking up immediately after the events of Season 2. Fans attending Anime Expo were also shown a teaser key visual and a promotional concept video, becoming the first audience in the world to see material from the upcoming project.
The movie will once again be animated by A-1 Pictures, with production handled by Aniplex, Netmarble, D&C MEDIA, Kakao Piccoma, and Crunchyroll. While no release date has been announced, additional details will be revealed in the future.
Ghost of Tsushima Legends gets its first character reveal
Another major highlight was the first official character reveal for Ghost of Tsushima Legends, the upcoming anime adaptation of the acclaimed action-adventure franchise.
Crunchyroll previously announced the project in partnership with Aniplex, Sony Music, and PlayStation Productions. The anime follows one of the last remaining samurai defending Tsushima against the Mongol Empire while aiming to capture the cinematic style and atmosphere that defined the original game.
The adaptation is directed by Takanobu Mizuno, with HAYATE Inc. overseeing production. Satoshi Maejima and Gen Urobuchi are writing the script, with Urobuchi also serving as story composer. Takashi Okazaki is responsible for the character designs, while KAMIKAZE DOUGA is producing the animation. A premiere date has not yet been announced.
Surprise reveals include Dave Grohl collaboration and Kagurabachi update
Crunchyroll also surprised fans with a special video message from Dave Grohl, who revealed that Nirvana’s iconic song “Breed” will serve as the opening theme for The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn’t a Guy At All, which is scheduled to premiere in early 2027.
Meanwhile, Kagurabachi fans attending the showcase were treated to an exclusive Q&A featuring Japanese voice actor Taihi Kimura and Crunchyroll News Editor-in-Chief Kyle Cardine. The audience also received the first look at Chihiro Rokuhira’s provisional character design sheet following the recent announcement that the anime adaptation will arrive on Crunchyroll next year.
New anime and returning favorites coming to Crunchyroll
Beyond the headline, Crunchyroll confirmed a wide range of upcoming series for its streaming platform.
The manhwa adaptation Here U Are is officially coming to Crunchyroll, while the sci-fi thriller Fate Rewinder is scheduled to premiere in April 2027. Fantasy fans also received updates on The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 5, which is set to arrive next year.
Additional announcements included the worldwide premiere trailer for Dengeki Daisy, the confirmation that Aoashi Season 2 will debut in October 2026, and January 2027 release windows for both Gacha Girls Corps and Magical Buffs – The Support Caster is Stronger Than He Realized!.
Crunchyroll also shared another preview of The Vermilion Mask, ahead of its October 2026 release, and revealed a new look at Overgeared, the upcoming adaptation of the popular web novel and manhwa that will arrive later this year.
The Anime Expo 2026 showcase demonstrated the breadth of Crunchyroll’s upcoming catalog, covering action, fantasy, romance, sports, science fiction, and game adaptations. While Solo Leveling: Beyond the System and Ghost of Tsushima Legends generated the biggest reactions, the event also highlighted several fresh adaptations and long-awaited sequels that will continue to expand the platform’s global anime offering.
With multiple premieres planned through 2026 and 2027, Crunchyroll has positioned itself for another busy release schedule, and more details on many of these projects are expected to be announced in the coming months.
