SDCC 2023 (July 20-23) brought huge news for anime and manga fans. World premieres, new anime seasons, and updates on manga licenses. SDCC put Japanese pop culture in the spotlight for fans everywhere. Here are all the major anime and manga announcements at SDCC 2023.
Anime Announcements
FLCL: Grunge
Premiere: September 9, 2023 (Toonami)
- The FLCL series returns with CGI animation, new characters, and updated visuals.
- Music by The Pillows still shapes the show’s unique sound.
- At SDCC, panels gave fans a preview of the story and the surreal animation style that made the 2000 series popular.
- This news was one of the highlights of the convention.
Lazarus
Expected Release: 2024
- Shinichirō Watanabe, known for Cowboy Bebop, directs this project with John Wick director Chad Stahelski and Studio MAPPA.
- The story is set in 2052 and follows a neuroscientist whose risky ‘miracle cure’ drives the plot.
- The trailer features Watanabe’s jazz-inspired style and exciting action scenes, blending Hollywood and anime storytelling.
- This project is one of the most notable anime and Hollywood collaborations in recent years.
Sand Land
Premiere: August 12, 2023 (Japan)
- This is an anime adaptation of Akira Toriyama’s 2000 manga.
- The story follows three characters searching for water in a desert, showing off Toriyama’s humor and action style.
- SDCC held the world premiere, letting fans see this visually impressive adaptation for the first time.
Uzumaki
Premiere: Late 2023 (Toonami)
- This series adapts Junji Ito’s famous horror manga.
- The four-part miniseries keeps Ito’s well-known eerie black-and-white art style.
- The trailer features the creepy horror and strange visuals that made the original manga stand out.
- Ito attended SDCC and talked with fans about the adaptation and his other works.
One Piece: Monsters
Release: TBD
- Eiichiro Oda’s one-shot manga Monsters, created before One Piece, is getting its first anime adaptation. The story follows swordsman Ryoma as he battles a dragon.gon.
- This expands the One Piece universe and introduces Oda’s early work to viewers around the world.
Crunchyroll Announcements
- New English dubs are coming for One Piece episodes 977 to 988.
- Crunchyroll has picked up new licenses, including SHY and Fluffy Paradise.
- The panel also discussed plans for global streaming and efforts to localize more shows.
Manga Announcements & Licensing
Kodansha USA
- New print and digital manga licenses:
- Blood Blade (digital Fall 2023, print Spring 2024)
- Fed Up With Being the Spoiled Queen’s Genius Butler, I Ran Away and Built the World’s Strongest Army
- Mermaid Prince
- Digital-only: The World is Dancing, Issak, Blade Girl
- Kodansha is focusing on a variety of genres and digital-first releases to reach readers around the world.
DelRey Manga Titles
- Shugo Chara by PEACH-PIT
- Mamotte! Lollipop by Michiyo Kikuta
- Mushishi by Yuki Urushibara
- Kitchen Princess by Miyuki Kobayashi
- Parasyte by Hitoshi Iwaaki (new English translation)
Manga Creator Appearances
- Junji Ito was given the Inkpot Award for his work in horror manga.
- Other panels featuring creators offered perspectives on publishing, new releases, and what inspires their work.
- Fans could join Q&A sessions, get autographs, and see special sneak peeks of new manga volumes.
Why SDCC 2023 Matters for Anime & Manga Fans
San Diego Comic‑Con 2023 showed that anime and manga are central to global pop culture. From returning favorites like FLCL: Grunge to high-profile original anime projects like Lazarus, the convention highlighted the continued growth and cross-media influence of Japanese storytelling.
