San Diego Comic-Con 2025, held from July 24-27, was a big event for pop culture fans. While there were fewer major Hollywood reveals, anime and manga had plenty of exciting news that energized fans worldwide. From Demon Slayer making a splash in Hall H to publishers announcing new licenses and exclusive editions, SDCC had a lot to offer anime and manga enthusiasts.
Here’s every key anime and manga announcement from SDCC 2025:
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle Takes Over Hall H
One of the biggest anime events of SDCC 2025 was the special Hall H panel for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle. Sources confirmed that the panel featured:
- Attendees saw exclusive footage and a sneak peek, including the first 13 to 15 minutes of the film.
- Guests from the film included director Haruo Sotozaki, director of photography Yuichi Terao, voice actors Natsuki Hanae (Tanjiro) and Aleks Le (Zenitsu), and singer LiSA, who performed the theme song.
- A new Infinity Castle visual was revealed, and ticket sales for North American theaters were announced. Tickets go on sale August 15, with the premiere set for September 12.
This was a rare major anime feature at SDCC’s largest hall and helped build excitement for the next part of the Demon Slayer movie finale arc.
Viz Media’s Manga & Anime Highlights
Viz Media returned to SDCC with several noteworthy reveals:
Rooster Fighter Anime Adaptation
- Viz continued to highlight the Rooster Fighter manga’s anime adaptation at SDCC, confirming it is expected to air in Spring 2026.
Early Manga Releases & Exclusive Booth Merch
- Viz booth featured early releases of upcoming manga volumes, including DanDaDan Volume 14 and Astro Royale.
- Exclusive merchandise from major franchises like Kaiju No. 8 and other Viz Manga series was available at the convention.
Panel Events & Community
- Viz also hosted panels like Devil’s Candy: The Draw of Manga, which featured creators and community discussions about making manga.
Kodansha’s Manga Licensing & Sneak Peeks
Kodansha made several big manga announcements for both veteran fans and newcomers:
New Print Manga Licenses for Spring 2026
- Kodansha officially revealed a slate of new manga licenses arriving in Spring 2026, featuring:
- Premium editions of fan favorites like Witch Hat Atelier and Attack on Titan
- New series including Dragon Circus, Whoever You Are, I Love You, and Chi’s Sweet France (the new spinoff kitty series).
These new licenses show fans what manga will be coming soon to bookstores and digital platforms.
Exclusive Booth Pre-Sales & Gallery Exhibits
- Attendees could pre-order manga before the official release date and receive exclusive gifts. featured works and messages from iconic creators such as Masamune Shirow (Ghost in the Shell) and Tetsuya Chiba (Ashita no Joe).
TOKYOPOP Booth Exclusives & Panels
TOKYOPOP offered a range of SDCC exclusives for manga collectors and crossover fans:
- Limited-edition art prints and variant manga editions tied to popular IPs like Disney’s Amphibia, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Disney’s Stitch!.
- Panels including Manga for Everyone and a spotlight on Amphibia: Strange Voyage with creator Matt Braly.
Crunchyroll Anime FanFest (Offsite Highlight)
Crunchyroll’s free two-day Anime FanFest, held alongside SDCC, was a major anime celebration even though it was not an official SDCC event:
- Concerts and performances inspired by anime series soundtracks energized fans.
- The event expanded SDCC’s anime presence and featured the cultural effect of anime music.
Final Thoughts: A Big Year for Anime & Manga at SDCC
SDCC 2025 may have seemed quieter than past years with big Hall H events, but it still brought major moments for anime and manga.
For anime and manga fans, SDCC 2025 recognized both big-budget stories and the energy of the fan community. It showed again that Japanese pop culture is a key part of global fandom.
