Yen Press Announces Nine New Manga and Light Novel Acquisitions at Anime NYC 2026

Yen Press has announced nine new manga and light novel acquisitions during its Industry Panel at Anime NYC 2026, expanding its growing catalog with stories spanning fantasy, romance, supernatural action, science fiction, and adult relationships. The latest announcement follows another group of titles revealed by the publisher on social media ahead of the panel.

The new acquisitions include two light novels joining the Yen On imprint and seven manga series. Among the biggest additions are the dark fantasy novel The Witch’s Conviction, The Beast’s Redemption, the fantasy adventure ’Cause I’m Freedom!, and the sequel manga Übel Blatt II: Knights of the Fallen King.

Yen Press also added several romance-focused manga to its lineup, including Seal My Lips with a Kiss, Can I Call You Unnie?, and Hot Nights at the Hot Springs, Secret Trip No. 241. The latest slate continues the publisher’s strategy of bringing a wide range of Japanese manga and light novels to English-speaking readers.

New Fantasy and Romance Titles Join the Yen Press Lineup

One of the newly announced light novels is The Witch’s Conviction, The Beast’s Redemption by Yuki Sakai, with illustrations by Ao Nekonabe. The story follows Leonardo Nix, a prisoner burdened by guilt after admitting to cannibalizing his comrades. His situation becomes even more terrifying when he transforms into a monstrous creature with a growing hunger for human flesh.

His escape eventually leads him to Elena, a witch who offers to help break his curse. However, her assistance comes with a dangerous condition that could push Leonardo even further away from the redemption he desperately seeks.

Meanwhile, ’Cause I’m Freedom! by Taro Hitsuji and illustrator Akitake Azumi takes a much more energetic approach to fantasy adventure. The story centers on Faye Leonheart, a seventeen-year-old sword-fighting prodigy who returns from a three-year training journey carrying an unexpected weapon: a magical machine gun.

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After being disowned by her family, Faye decides to explore ancient ruins and study the mysterious technology known as overgear. The series leans into its unusual premise with the tagline, “The gun is mightier than the sword!”

Seven Manga Series Expand Yen Press’ Upcoming Releases

The manga announcements include Seal My Lips with a Kiss by Fudou Fudono, a workplace romance about Kaede and her coworker Shiotani. After missing the last train, Kaede unexpectedly spends the night with Shiotani, whose confession creates an increasingly tense and intimate situation.

The panel also revealed Übel Blatt II: Knights of the Fallen King by Etorouji Shiono. Set one year after the battle with Glenn, the sequel follows Köinzell as rebellions continue to threaten the Empire while a new resistance movement works in the shadows.

Other newly acquired manga include The Gray Exorcist by Hachioki Nekono, which follows an exorcist secretly protecting his remaining family member, a creature belonging to the same supernatural race he is supposed to hunt. Interdimensional Memoir by Runta brings a parallel-world adventure centered on a young man whose ordinary childhood changes after he encounters a mysterious creature from another reality.

Make It an Eternity by Sato Kanae takes readers into the life of a shut-in whose quiet existence is disrupted when a group of handsome hosts claiming to be her brother’s friends suddenly enters her home.

The romance lineup continues with Can I Call You Unnie? by Alt Hanakage, following a devoted K-pop fan who joins a dating app after losing hope that her favorite idol will ever return. Her first match, however, appears strikingly similar to the singer she cannot forget.

Finally, Hot Nights at the Hot Springs, Secret Trip No. 241 by Sonoo Michiru tells the story of two middle-aged salarymen who have spent two decades taking monthly trips to hot springs together while quietly maintaining their long-running relationship.

The nine acquisitions demonstrate the variety of stories Yen Press is bringing to its future lineup, from dark fantasy and supernatural action to unconventional romance and character-driven comedy. Yen Press previously announced that its Anime NYC 2026 Industry Panel would take place on August 22, making the convention another major event for the publisher’s expanding catalog.