Tadatoshi Fujimaki’s latest manga series, Kill Blue, officially concluded its serialization in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine with its final chapter published on September 1, 2025. Coinciding with the manga’s conclusion, an anime television series adaptation has been announced, slated to premiere in 2026.
Kill Blue Manga Reaches Its Climax and Conclusion
Kill Blue, an action-comedy series, began its serialization in Weekly Shōnen Jump in April 2023. The manga’s 115th chapter marked its grand finale, bringing the story of Juzo Ogami, a legendary 39-year-old hitman who mysteriously reverts to a 12-year-old middle school student, to a close. Ogami’s new mission, given by the head of his assassin syndicate, was to attend middle school to assess its safety for the head’s daughter, Mitsuoka Noren, while an antidote for his condition was sought. The series has been collected into ten tankōbon volumes as of June 2025, with the 11th, 12th, and 13th volumes scheduled to ship on September 4, November 4, and December 4, respectively.
Viz Media and Manga Plus have been publishing the series in English simultaneously with its Japanese release, with Viz Media beginning digital volume releases in July 2024. The manga garnered positive reception, ranking seventh in the Nationwide Bookstore Employees’ Recommended Comics of 2024 and tenth in the print category at the tenth Next Manga Awards in 2024. Critics praised its unique plot among hitman manga and its well-handled artwork and characters.
TV Anime Adaptation Confirmed for 2026
The announcement of a Kill Blue TV anime adaptation has generated excitement among fans, offering a new medium to experience Fujimaki’s unique storytelling. The anime is set to be produced by Studio Cue, with Hiro Kaburagi, known for his work on Great Pretender and Hozuki’s Coolheadedness, directing the series. Miho Daidōji, an animation director for all three seasons and the film of Kuroko’s Basketball, will be handling the character designs, bringing a familiar touch from Fujimaki’s previous successful work. A teaser promotional video and visual were released alongside the announcement.
The decision to adapt Kill Blue into an anime follows a trend within Weekly Shōnen Jump, where anime adaptations often follow the manga’s conclusion, allowing for a complete story to be told without the need for filler content.
Tadatoshi Fujimaki’s Legacy in Manga and Anime
Tadatoshi Fujimaki is a well-regarded manga artist, best known for creating the highly popular sports manga Kuroko’s Basketball, which ran from 2008 to 2014 in Weekly Shōnen Jump. Kuroko’s Basketball inspired three television anime series, two compilation films, a new anime film, a sequel manga, a light novel, a spinoff manga, and a series of stage plays. His previous work, Robot × Laserbeam, also serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump, ran from 2017 to 2018.
The announcement of Kill Blue‘s anime adaptation continues Fujimaki’s successful track record of having his works brought to the screen, further solidifying his place as a prominent creator in the manga and anime industry. Fujimaki expressed his gratitude to readers and excitement for the anime, noting that the “old guy’s gonna move” and hinting at the unique elements of the story that will translate to animation. Fans can look forward to new volumes of the manga leading up to the anime’s debut in 2026.
