Naruto Reveals Shadow Rising Manga and Naruto x Ninku Anime

Two new projects expanding the Naruto franchise were announced at New York Comic Con 2026 on October 11, with a new manga titled Shadow Rising and an anime crossover called Naruto x Ninku. The announcements also included an update on the franchise's live-action movie, offering new information about its development while leaving release dates for the new projects unconfirmed.

Details about Shadow Rising remain limited. The announcement confirmed that Masashi Kishimoto is involved in the manga, but further information about its story and release plans has not been disclosed. According to the teaser's YouTube description, additional details are scheduled to be shared at the Naruto Super Stage during Jump Festa 2027.

The anime Naruto x Ninku will bring together the Naruto universe and Ninku, a manga and anime franchise popular during the 1990s. The production is being supervised by Kishimoto and Ninku author Koji Kiriyama, according to the show's YouTube announcement.

The official description outlines a mission involving Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura, the three members of Team 7. Kakashi assigns the team a mission but cannot accompany them, prompting Naruto to take on the role of acting leader.

The mission takes an unexpected turn when the team becomes lost in another world. There, they encounter Fūsuke, a boy whose face resembles a frog's, according to the official synopsis.

The production announcement also identifies Noriyuki Abe as the anime's director and Tetsuya Nishio as its character designer and chief animation director. No release date has been announced for Naruto x Ninku.

The Naruto panel also provided an update on the live-action film, as reported by Variety. Director Destin Daniel Cretton shared a message about adapting Kishimoto's work, expressing enthusiasm for the project and describing the qualities that make Naruto central to the story.

Cretton emphasized Naruto's determination and compassion as defining elements of the character. He also highlighted the responsibility of adapting a franchise with a large and devoted audience.

In his message, Cretton described his approach to bringing the original characters and their relationships to the screen, emphasizing the production team's care in adapting the source material.

Cretton said, "The further we get into making this film, the more excited I am about what we're creating. What I've always loved about Naruto is that he's the character who might normally get sidelined as a sidekick. He's excitable, he tries too hard, and people underestimate him.

But he has an incredible heart. No matter how many times he fails or gets knocked down, he never stops believing in himself or fighting for the people he loves. That spirit is at the heart of the story we're telling.

These characters mean so much to so many people, myself included, and I carry that with me as we make this film. We're approaching the world, relationships, and journeys Kishimoto-sensei created with a lot of care, and we want to capture what makes NARUTO so special. We're hard at work and will have more to share soon.

Until then, thank you for your passion, your patience, and for being along for the ride. I can't wait for you to see what's ahead!".

The live-action movie remains in development, with Cretton directing. Although rumors about possible plot details and casting decisions have circulated, the panel's update focused on the director's perspective and the team's ongoing work rather than confirming additional casting or release information.