DMM announced on May 30 that Tadatoshi Fujimaki — the legendary manga artist behind Kuroko's Basketball and the recently-concluded Kill Blue — will appear at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles this July for a special panel and live drawing session. The appearance marks Fujimaki's first visit to the largest North American anime convention.
Details
The announcement was accompanied by a brand-new three-minute recap trailer (viewable on YouTube at youtu.be/hLY6Utwkkls) that covers the story of Kill Blue so far: from Juzo Ogami's first day of middle school as a formerly legendary 39-year-old hitman transformed into a 13-year-old boy, to his reluctant recruitment into the home economics club, his entanglement with the heiress Noren Mitsuoka, and the rotating lineup of rival assassins out to claim a bounty on her head.
The Kill Blue anime premiered in April 2026 as part of the Spring 2026 anime season, animated by studio CUE with direction by Hiro Kaburagi (Great Pretender). The opening theme "ATTITUDE" is performed by K-pop group aespa, while the ending theme "KILL SHOT" is performed by RIIZE — a notable cross-cultural collaboration for a Jump anime.
The anime is streaming on Netflix, Crunchyroll, Amazon Prime Video, and other platforms. The Kill Blue manga concluded serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump in early 2026, with the first six volumes currently available in English, volume seven releasing on June 9, and volume eight on August 11, 2026.
Community Reception
The announcement has been met with enthusiasm from international fans, particularly those of Kuroko's Basketball who have long hoped for Fujimaki's first U.S. appearance. On X/Twitter, the official Kill Blue English account's announcement post garnered significant engagement, with fans expressing excitement about the live drawing session and the opportunity to meet the mangaka in person.
However, the community's feelings about the Kill Blue manga itself are more divided. On Reddit's r/WeeklyShonenJump, readers have debated the manga's ending, with some feeling it was cut short due to cancellation — reflected in an abrupt final arc and a series of epilogue chapters. Others appreciated the anime adaptation's high production quality, which some described as unusually polished for a series whose manga run had concluded before the anime finished airing.
The discussion highlights the complex position Kill Blue occupies: a series that received a premium anime treatment with major studio backing and K-pop tie-ins, while the source material's ending left some readers wanting more. Nonetheless, Fujimaki's attendance at Anime Expo represents a significant moment for both Kuroko's Basketball fans and those who followed his latest work.
Adaptation Details
The Kill Blue anime adaptation features a stacked production team and cast:
- Animation Production: CUE
- Director / Series Composition: Hiro Kaburagi
- Character Design: Miho Daidōji
- Juzo Ogami: Yūko Sanpei (Japanese) / Kayli Mills (English)
- Noren Mitsuoka: Fūka Izumi (Japanese) / Dawn M. Bennett (English)
- Opening Theme: "ATTITUDE" by aespa
- Ending Theme: "KILL SHOT" by RIIZE