Naruto Franchise Announced Crossover and Manga
The iconic anime series revealed a new four-episode collaboration with Ninku and a manga title called Shadow Rising.
Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Animation
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At New York Comic Con, the Naruto franchise unveiled a four-episode crossover anime series featuring Ninku and a new manga project titled Shadow Rising. These announcements are part of the long-term PROJECT RASENGAN roadmap.
Why it matters
The collaboration serves as a debt of gratitude from creator Masashi Kishimoto, who worked with Koji Kiriyama to develop the project. It marks a significant expansion for the franchise as it celebrates decades of global popularity.
The crossover project will consist of four episodes produced by Studio Pierrot. The Naruto Mobile game, which remains a key part of the franchise portfolio, originally launched in China in 2016.
The players
Masashi Kishimoto
He is the creator of the Naruto manga and oversees the development of new projects within the franchise.
Noriyuki Abe
He is a veteran director who is helming the new Naruto x Ninku crossover series at Studio Pierrot.
Tetsuya Nishio
He is a prominent animator serving as the character designer and chief animation director for the project.
Koji Kiriyama
He is a creative lead who is jointly overseeing the crossover project alongside Masashi Kishimoto.
The details
Director Noriyuki Abe, who previously helmed the original Ninku anime in the mid-1990s, is leading the production of the crossover. Tetsuya Nishio has been named the chief animation director and character designer for the effort.
Timeline
The original Ninku anime was directed by Noriyuki Abe in the mid-1990s.
The Naruto Mobile game launched in China in 2016.
The new projects were announced at New York Comic Con on October 10, 2026.
Additional project details are expected to arrive in December 2026 at Jump Festa 2027.
Industry Dynamics
This project fits into the current trend of long-running franchises leveraging nostalgia through high-profile crossovers and expanded multi-media roadmaps. It signals a move to maintain brand relevance by bridging classic properties like Ninku with modern, active series.
Fans will be able to follow the development of these new titles as they move through the production cycle leading up to their eventual release. The inclusion of these projects in the global PROJECT RASENGAN strategy suggests a coordinated rollout across international markets.
The takeaway
The return of a director from the 1990s era highlights the value franchises place on institutional continuity when creating new crossover content. Readers should look for official announcements in December to see how these projects fit into the broader release calendar.
What happens next
Fans can expect further updates regarding the crossover anime and the Shadow Rising manga during the Jump Festa 2027 event in December 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in the industry on our Animation section page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Complex.
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