A new Naruto animated film has been officially confirmed, with its first look slated for New York Comic Con 2026.
Viz Media has officially confirmed the development of a new Naruto animated feature film. This highly anticipated project, marking the franchise's return after a period of hiatus, is set to unveil its first details and a potential worldwide premiere announcement at New York Comic Con 2026. This news arrives after years of fan anticipation following previous delays.
The pivotal announcement will occur during Viz Media's dedicated Naruto franchise panel, scheduled for Saturday, October 10th, at New York Comic Con 2026. Attendees can expect updates on the Naruto Card Game and broader franchise developments, alongside the crucial first look at the new animated film. The panel will also feature key figures, including Studio Pierrot executive producer Tominaga Yoshihiko and the esteemed voice actors Junko Takeuchi (Naruto Uzumaki) and Noriaki Sugiyama (Sasuke Uchiha).
This cinematic venture marks the first substantial update on the Naruto anime's future after several years of hiatus, raising immediate questions about its narrative direction. Historically, Naruto feature films often explored original stories outside the manga's main canon. However, contemporary anime blockbusters, such as Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle, have shifted audience expectations towards canon-integrated cinematic experiences, suggesting a potential evolution in the franchise's approach to feature-length storytelling.
Given the absence of unadapted manga material, the new film could potentially present an original narrative, possibly even diverging from the Boruto sequel events. There is also speculation that this feature film might be an expanded version of the previously planned four-episode 20th-anniversary TV revival, which aimed to revisit Team 7's early days. With a live-action Naruto film also in development, the trajectory of the anime franchise remains a compelling point of interest.
