Once again, YTV Animation and YTE hosted an exciting panel at this year’s Anime Expo. Anime Expo is the largest anime convention in the United States and brings the best of the medium to the Los Angeles Convention, from big name panels such Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War, Jujutsu Kaisen, and so much more. Keep reading to learn what you can expect from YTV Animation and YTE in the coming months.
Ascendance of a Bookworm
At the panel, it was announced that Ascendance of a Bookworm—which is currently halfway through its fourth season—will be colliding with another highly-acclaimed fantasy series, Witch Hat Atelier. When asked how this collaboration came out, director Yoshiaki Iwasaki revealed that Miya Kazuki (Ascendance of a Bookworm) and Kamome Shirahama (Witch Hat Atelier) are really good friends. The titles have a lot in common and focus on female characters that must overcome living in a world fraught with restrictions. Myne wants to become a librarian where books are scarce, while Coco dreams of being a witch while magic is limited to those born with the gift. Not only do both series feature beautiful art and animation, they show what it means to live with many restraints and doing whatever it takes to make impossible goals come true.
An official trailer was also shown at the panel, and unsurprisingly, was met with excitement from congoers.
In addition, creator designer Aiko Minowa entertained guests with a live drawing of Myne, which was absolutely beautiful.
The World’s Strongest Witch
YTV Animation and YTE also announced their October 2026 lineup, staring with World’s Strongest Witch! Originally beginning as a light novel written by Sakaki Mochimaru and illustrated by Riritto in May 2022, it soon became popular and was adapted in a manga series in November of the same year, now illustrated by Tamaki Toga.
The story follows Lorna Hermit, a girl from an aristocratic family. After being kicked out for having a “useless” SS-rank skill, Lorna suddenly finds herself living on the outside. There, she discovers her new skill, “Internet” is actually useful, and allows her to research about the world. This new knowledge makes her powerful, and despite wanting to live a peaceful life, she must deal with her newfound strength.
It was important to director, Joji Furuta, and the producers, Akira Kakuta and Yuki Sato, that they stay as true to the source material was possible. The world, as created by Mochimaru, Rirrito, and Toga, is absolutely incredible and detailed, and their priority is to recreate the original to the animation, from the delicate characters to the backdrop itself.
The Vermilion Mask
Last year the YTV Animation and YTE panel, it was announced that The Vermilion Mask was getting an anime series. Written by Dr. Poro and Nabana Naba, the series follows Peru, a mask maker, who seeks to destroy cursed masks after he accidentally kills his master and friends while donning one.
At the 2026 panel, fans got even more hyped for the upcoming October adaptation. Guests were given a sneak peek of the first five minutes of the first episode, and it immediately draws you in. In fact, the whole room groaned when the five minutes were up, obviously hoping for more.
One of the special guests was the voice of Peru himself, Taihi Kimura. When asked about what he thinks about the series, he was blunt about how sad and intense The Vermilion Mask is. However, he also brought focus on Peru’s growth and the heartwarming journey he must take in order to find the cursed masks and make sure no tragedy like that ever happens again. Being able to bring life to Peru was an amazing experience for him, and he had this to say about getting casted:
I was super happy. At the same time, I knew it was a challenge part to play. It’s such a complex character. So, I could imagine it would be a challenge for me, and I have a lot to overcome.
Uncle’s Obsession with Cute Things
The final announcement in the October lineup was Uncle’s Obsession with Cute Things. As the title suggests, the series is about a handsome—seemingly calculated—manager who harbors a secret: he loves cute objects, especially a mascot named Pugtato. Mitsutaka Oji struggles to keep this part of his live private from his co-workers, but wants to meet those who share his passion. The manga, written and illustrated by Tsutomu, was first serialized in 2017, and was even adapted into a television drama from August to September 2020.
Fans were delighted by a very special guests during this last leg of Anime Expo’s panel. Pugtato himself arrived, and of course, he was adorable. He taught everyone a cute dance and even invited the panelist to join him. Pugtato showed what makes it him so charming, and it was no surprise that Mitsutaka is so taken with him. Once the anime is released, there will surely be plushies that everyone will want to buy!
