Last weekCrunchyroll announced has licensed multiple animeto premiere at this July’s Anime Expo before they premiere in Japan, along with many others to premiere at the same time, and more anime to premiere for the first time outside of Japan all at the same event. Some anime franchises in the large lineup includeMy Hero Academia,Blue Lock,andClassroom of the Elite.
Anime Expo is a convention for anime and manga fans in North America, often featuring guests from the industry and exclusive anime releases, along with typical convention activities such as cosplay competitions. This year’s Anime Expo takes place from July 1st until the 4th at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
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Recently Licensed Titles
As previously mentioned, Crunchyroll licensed multiple titles for special releases during the Anime Expo, whose name is often shortened to the initials ‘AX’. The following are the titles most recently licensed by Crunchyroll for the event.
Both of theMy Hero Academia Season FiveOVAswill release for the first time in North America at the event, on July 1st at 12:00p.m. PDT. My Hero Academia follows the story of agreen-haired protagonist named Deku, who was born without superpowers and gains them through his childhood idol, thrusting him into the life of a Marvel-esque superhero. The fifth season of the anime has been produced by the anime studio Bones for all five seasons and is directed by Masahiro Mukai under the supervision of the chief director Kenji Nagasaki, who was the director for the first three seasons.
Shine On! Bakumatsu Bad Boys!will have a world premiere of the first episode on July 1st, 7:00 p.m. PDT. It is an original anime so although there is no source material to go off of, however, it is confirmed totake place in the Samurai era, and is about criminals called upon to replace the defeated police force of the time. It is animated by Geno Studio, and is the first original anime to be produced by Twin Engine.
The last of the recently licensed titles isSmile of the Arsnotoria the Animationwill also have a world premiere of it’s first two episodes on July 2 at 11:30 a.m. PDT. It is an adaptation of a popular Japanese mobile app calledSmile of the Arsnotoriacreated by Nitroplus and published by Goodsmile Company, and isabout students at a school of magic. Liden Films will be adapting the title.
Additional World Premieres
There are three more anime confirmed to have world premieres at the Anime Expo in July.
FUUTO PIis confirmed for a world premiere for July 2nd at 7:30 p.m. PDT during the event. It is an adaptation ofFuuto Tantei,which is a detective dramamanga that began in 2017 and is still serializing, in which criminals use devices to turn themselves into superhuman monsters, and those fighting them have no choice but to follow suit to stand a chance against them. Magic Casple is producing the anime partnering with Studio Kai forFUUTO PI.
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In/Spectre Season 2is also confirmed for a world premiere for the second episode only, this time on July 3rd at 3:30 p.m. PDT. The first season of In/Spectre was released in 2020 through the studio Brian’s Base and produced by multiple companies including Crunchyroll themselves. It is asupernatural mystery anime featuring yokai, spirits from Japanese folklore.
Another anime releasing two episodes worldwide through Anime Expo isShoot! Goal to the Future. The anime is an adaptation of a manga that was serialized from Jun 10, 2025 to Jun 03, 2025,about a high school soccer team. It is produced by EMT Squared, and will premiere the first two episodes July 3rd, at 3:30 p.m. PDT.
International And North American Premieres
And finally, there are a few anime that although aren’t world premieres, are still premiering for the first time outside of Japan.
Utawarerumono: Mask of Truthwill premiere on July 1st at 7:00 p.m. PDT during the event. It is a continuation of theUtawarerumunofranchise, the first season of which premiered in 2006, which isbased on a visual novelof the same name. The franchise features an amnesiac protagonist navigating the world based of the Ainu, who are a group of indigenous people of Japan.
YUREI DECOwill have its international premiere on July 2nd, at 11:30 a.m. PDT. The original anime series is made through the studio Science SARU, which is best known for titles such asDevilman Crybaby, Ping Pong the Animation, andKeep Your Hands Off Eizouken. The anime is aboutthe adventures of the Ghost Detectives Club, a group of people who are considered “socially dead”.
The infamousClassroom of the Elitewill have its second season premiere internationally at Anime Expo on July 3rd at 3:30 p.m. PDT. It tells the tale of aschool that separates kids into classes by ranking, without revealing what gives them these rankings, and only treating those in the highest-ranking well. The first season was produced by the anime studio Lerche, who are known forToilet Bound Hanako-Kun, Assassination Classroom,and the anime adaptation ofDaganropa.
The last anime announced for a North American premiere isBlue Lock, which is an incredibly popular soccer manga. It features a group of300 soccer players trapped in a prison-esque situationin which they compete against each other, with the final player standing getting to be the striker of Japan’s soccer team, and the rest banned from auditioning for the team ever again. The first episode will premiere on July 2nd at 11:30 a.m. PDT.
