Anime Expo 2025 in Los Angeles was a key event for anime fans, with announcements that promise a future filled with major productions. Among these, four series stand out, promising compelling stories and high-quality audiovisual content: Cyberpunk: Edgerunners II, Sugar Sugar Rune, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run, and GATE 2: Tides of Conflict.
In this article, we review the planned dates, creative teams, and essential synopses to ensure you don't miss a thing about these highly anticipated releases.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners II
Revenge and redemption in Night City
One of the big bombshells of Anime Expo 2025 was the confirmation of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners II, an independent series that returns to the futuristic and dystopian universe of Night City.
Produced by Studio TRIGGER, the second season features a renewed creative team with Kai Ikarashi directing, Masahiko Otsuka composing music, and Ichigo Kanno designing characters.
This new installment, which will consist of ten episodes, will focus on a brand-new story that will explore themes of redemption and revenge, leaving behind the original narrative of the first season.
Although it doesn't have a specific date yet, it's expected to premiere sometime in 2026, exclusively on Netflix.
The overwhelming success of the first season, winner of the Best Anime of the Year 2023 award, confirms the popularity of the franchise and the high expectations generated by this sequel.
Sugar Sugar Rune
The magical return of Chocolat and Vanilla
To mark the 20th anniversary of Moyoco Anno's original manga, Sugar Sugar Rune is back with an innovative and modern project produced by Studio Khara, famous for its work on Evangelion.
The Anime Expo presentation included a special short film, Sugar Sugar Rune: Les deux sorcières, a prequel supervised by the author and created by Yusuke Matsui, who will also direct the upcoming series.
This new anime is neither a direct sequel nor a remake, but rather a visually innovative reinterpretation in CG animation. The project aims to appeal to both the new generation and long-time fans, while maintaining the magical and enchanting essence of the protagonists Chocolat and Vanilla.
The release date is planned for sometime in 2026.
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run
The wildest race begins
The JoJo's Bizarre Adventure anime series continues with the long-awaited adaptation of the manga's seventh episode, Steel Ball Run, officially announced at Anime Expo 2025.
Set in 1890, this saga tells the frenetic race across the American West starring Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli.
David Production is in charge of the production, with Yasuhiro Kimura and Hideya Takahashi directing, and Toshiyuki Kato supervising the project. The script is adapted by Yasuko Kobayashi, and the music is by Yugo Kanno. The character designs, by Daisuke Tsumagari, were shown in the official promotional image.
Although a release date is still unknown, a special global streaming event has been announced for September 23, 2025, where more details and, possibly, the official date will be revealed.
GATE 2: Tides of Conflict
A sequel to celebrate a decade
Ten years after the first season, GATE returns with a new season titled Tides of Conflict.
The official announcement came at Anime Expo 2025, where it was confirmed that the creative team will include Toru Takahashi as director, Tatsuhiko Urahata on script composition, and Shigeru Fujita on character designs.
This sequel will delve deeper into the original story based on Takumi Yanai's novels, centering on the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the portal that connects Tokyo to a medieval world filled with magic, mythical creatures, and renewed conflict.
Although there's no set release date, production is underway, promising to once again blend action, fantasy, and geopolitics in an expanded universe.
Big and promising returns
The Anime Expo 2025 reveals hint at promising years ahead for anime. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners II returns with a darker, more mature tone; Sugar Sugar Rune revives magic with a modern twist; JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run continues its epic saga with new challenges; and GATE 2 revisits its blend of fantasy and action with renewed conflicts.
Each project demonstrates the creative and technical diversity of Japanese anime, generating great expectations for 2025 and 2026.
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