October 25, 2026 · Waifu Bean

The Brew Report: Kaiju No. 8's Final Mission, a New Naruto Manga, and More Anime News (Late October 2026)

The Brew Report: Kaiju No. 8's Final Mission, a New Naruto Manga, and More Anime News (Late October 2026)

Grab a mug, because late October has been stacked. In one week we got a final-arc movie, a ninja comeback, more cyberpunk, and a pile of big dates for early 2027. Here's the stuff we keep talking about at the roaster, with a link to the source for every item so you can read the full story.

1. Kaiju No. 8 will end on the big screen

Super teaser visual for the Kaiju No. 8 final-arc film: a giant kaiju silhouette looming over a smoky, ruined city street, with the Japanese title logo and the tagline 'The era of humans is over.'

Image: ©2027「劇場版 怪獣8号」製作委員会 ©松本直也／集英社. Official key visual via Kaiju No. 8 official anime website. Used for editorial commentary.

The Kaiju No. 8 anime is getting its last arc as a movie. Kaiju No. 8: The Final Mission is set to open in Japan in 2027, with Shigeyuki Miya directing at Production I.G. The teaser tagline is "The era of humans is over," which sounds about right for Kafka. Season 1 aired in April 2024 and Season 2 in July 2025, so the series is going out at full size. (Anime News Network)

2. Masashi Kishimoto is writing more Naruto

Classic Naruto anime still: a young Naruto Uzumaki in his orange jacket and Leaf headband grins and punches his fist toward the viewer.

Image: ©岸本斉史 スコット／集英社・テレビ東京・ぴえろ. Classic Naruto anime still (franchise art; no art for Naruto Shadow Rising has been released yet), via the official NARUTO website. Used for editorial commentary.

Kishimoto announced a new manga, Naruto Shadow Rising, at NYCC's "NARUTO: What's Next?" panel. More details are promised for Jump Festa '27 on December 19-20. Meanwhile Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is still running, so it's a very good time to be orange-jumpsuit-pilled. (Anime News Network)

3. Ghost in the Shell is coming back again

Announcement visual for Science SARU's new The Ghost in the Shell anime project: a pale, translucent cyborg figure beneath the Japanese title and the words 'New animation project underway.'

Image: ©2026 Shirow Masamune/KODANSHA/THE GHOST IN THE SHELL COMMITTEE. Official key visual courtesy of Bandai Namco Filmworks, via Anime News Network. Used for editorial commentary.

Science SARU's The Ghost in the Shell only debuted on July 7 this year (ten episodes, worldwide on Prime Video, King Gnu's "Go Ghost" as the opening). Now Bandai Namco Filmworks has announced a new anime project with Science SARU animating again. No format yet, so we don't know whether it's a sequel series or a film. (Anime News Network)

4. Made in Abyss goes back down, in theaters

Key visual for Made in Abyss: Awakening of the Mystery: Riko, Reg, Nanachi and Faputa walking through a green, overgrown slope deep in the Abyss.

Image: ©つくしあきひと・竹書房／劇場シリーズ「メイドインアビス」製作委員会. Official key visual via Made in Abyss: Awakening of the Mystery official website. Used for editorial commentary.

Made in Abyss: Awakening of the Mystery opened in Japan on October 23, and on the same day a second film in this theatrical series was announced. Nana Mizuki voices Slajo. Delvers, prepare your emotional support blanket. (MANTANWEB)

5. The Apothecary Diaries keeps winning the season

Key visual for the Apothecary Diaries theatrical film: Maomao holding up a light in a glowing cave full of treasure, with other characters behind her and the December 11 release date.

Image: ©日向夏・イマジカインフォス／「薬屋のひとりごと」製作委員会. Official key visual via The Apothecary Diaries official portal site. Used for editorial commentary.

Maomao's third season leads Anime News Network's reader rankings both weekly and overall for October 15-21, ahead of Steel Ball Run, Firefly Wedding, Ranma ½ and Hello, I Am a Witch... (ANN rankings). It's also heading to theaters: the film opens in Japan on December 11, with an NTV TV special that night (MANTANWEB). Season 3 streams on Crunchyroll on Fridays (NextCour).

6. Quick hits from the same roundup

Theatrical poster for Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dear Friend: Mai Sakurajima in a pink top singing into a microphone in a crowd, a girl in a sparkling blue dress seen from behind, the Japanese title and the October 16 release date.

Image: ©2025 鴨志田 一/KADOKAWA/青ブタ Project. Official theatrical poster courtesy of Aniplex, via Anime News Network. Used for editorial commentary.

From the same MANTANWEB roundup: Rascal Does Not Dream of Dear Friend, the final film in the series, made over 184 million yen in its first three days, the best opening the franchise has had. Ascendance of a Bookworm light novels have passed 15 million copies. Nurumeta is getting a TV anime in 2027, directed by Kai Igarashi. (MANTANWEB)

7. Two legends get big honors

Scene still from Spirited Away: Chihiro sits on the red bench of the sea train beside No-Face, with shadowy passengers around them and a bright blue sky through the windows.

Image: © 2001 Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, NDDTM. Official scene still from Spirited Away (2001), scored by Joe Hisaishi, via Studio Ghibli. Used for editorial commentary.

Shigeru Miyamoto is the first game creator to receive Japan's Order of Culture, which the Emperor presents on November 3 (Anime News Network). On our side of the Pacific, the LA Phil named Joe Hisaishi Composer-in-Residence for the Hollywood Bowl and The Ford. The five-year partnership runs from the 2027/28 through the 2031/32 seasons and includes new commissions (LA Phil). Road trip, anyone?

8. Put these 2027 dates in your calendar

English key visual for Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Walpurgisnacht: Rising, with Homura in black in the foreground and the magical girls swirling through a fiery golden sky.

Image: ©Magica Quartet/Aniplex,Madoka Project. Official key visual courtesy of Aniplex USA, via Anime News Network. Used for editorial commentary.

  • Look Back (live-action): Hirokazu Kore-eda's film comes from GKIDS to select North American theaters on December 30, then goes wider on January 15. (ANN)
  • BanG Dream! It's MyGo!!!!! // Ave Mujica: the sequel premieres January 8, 2027 in NTV's "Friday Anime Night" block. (ANN)
  • One-Punch Man Season 3, Part 2: arrives January 2027, with JAM Project performing the opening. (ANN)
  • Madoka Magica: Walpurgisnacht: Rising: in North American theaters January 16-19, subbed and dubbed, with tickets on sale December 11. (ANN)

9. Washington con calendar

Vendor hall at a past Anime Washington: a table of hand-carved wooden boxes under convention-center lights, with shoppers blurred in the background.

Image: © Anime Washington. Official event photo (vendor hall) via the Anime Washington website; photographer not stated. Used for editorial commentary.

  • Anime Wonder Washington: December 5-6, 2026, Clark County Event Center, Ridgefield (southwest WA). (AnimeCons.com listing)
  • Anime Washington: February 19-21, 2027, Washington State Fair and Events Center, Puyallup, sharing one ticket with the Washington State Gaming Expo. We'll be there as a vendor, so come say hi. (Anime Washington)
  • Sakura-Con 2027: March 26-28, 2027, Seattle. (Sakura-Con)

Sip of the week

Waifu Bean Sakura Blossom Pods: a pink 10-count pod box with the Waifu Bean logo and our pink-haired mascot on the front.

Image: Waifu Bean Sakura Blossom Pods (10ct).

We're catching up on Apothecary Diaries with a mug of Sakura. It's a medium-dark roast with chocolate notes, and it holds up well over a long week of news. Which headline got you most hyped? Tell us on our socials and we'll see you next week.

Brew a bag of Sakura 🌸

Sources

Featured image: ©防衛隊第3部隊 ©松本直也／集英社. Used for editorial commentary.

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