With the ever-growing anime industry, fans are always on the lookout for the next big hit. A majority of the anime are based on manga series, while some of them are even adapted from light novels and video games. Among these manga, shonen series often get the most attention, especially those under the banner of Shueisha, the largest publication company in the country. The early phase after the manga’s debut is the most crucial since its popularity determines whether or not it can get an anime adaptation. The competition is intense, and there are a lot more manga being released each year than anime series.
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This means that a lot of the series, despite being incredible, will never get the attention they deserve. On the other hand, series that created a lot of hype after their debut after attracting a wide fanbase, often release their anime adaptations while the manga is still ongoing. Not to mention that it’s finally that time of the year when anime and manga fans from all over the world look forward to new announcements during Jump Festa, which is always held in December. So, here are the four best manga series that are likely to announce an anime adaptation sooner than you expect.
4) Phantom Busters
Debuted in August 2023, Phantom Busters by Neoshoco follows Eugene, a high school student who didn’t believe in the existence of ghosts because of his grandmother. She promised to return as a spirit after her death, but that day never came. Eugene meets Mogari, a high school boy who comes from a bloodline of spiritual mediums, and he’s asked to conduct exorcisms in Kamakura, a place known for spirits gathering.
Euegene may be unable to see spirits, but Mogari’s personality and bizarre profession caught his eye. Before long, he joins the “Phantom Busters” club that specializes in exorcisms. While there have been no rumors about the anime adaptation yet, Phantom Busters recently got listed in Jump Station (Green) during Jump Festa 2026, which is definitely a good sign.
3) Marriagetoxin
The story follows Gero, who comes from a clan of hitmen that has existed for hundreds of years. As someone who never attended school and lived his life in the shadows, Gero doesn’t think marriage is for him. However, his life is turned upside down when his clan gives him an ultimatum to marry and produce an heir because they fear their lineage would dissolve. He has no choice but to ask his target, a marriage swindler, to marry him if she wants to live.
Apart from being listed in the Jump Station (Green), Marriagetoxin also sparked anime rumors after it was discovered that the series had registered a domain for the anime. Many unofficial news accounts on X shared the update, including @WSJ_manga. A similar piece of news also surfaced before the Akane-banashi’s anime announcement, so Marriagetoxin announcing the big news during Jump Festa 2026 is pretty much a settled matter.
2) Gokurakugai
Debuted in 2022, this supernatural action series is set in Gokurakugai, which translates to Paradise District. Unlike its name and the outer facade, the district has many strange creatures lurking around that cause all kinds of problems for the locals. The story centers around Tao and Alma, a pair of troubleshooters for hire, whose primary job is to solve various cases, such as finding missing people or dealing with gang-related issues, especially those missions that revolve around mysterious evil creatures known as Magas.
Gokurakugai is one of the best ongoing manga in Jump SQ, and just like the above two series, it’s also expected to announce major news during Jump Festa 2026, and it will likely be about the anime adaptation.
1) Kagurabachi
Of course, if we are talking about manga series possibly getting an anime adaptation, the one that’s sure to announce sooner or later is Weekly Shonen Jump’s hit manga Kagurabachi. The story follows Chihiro Rokuhira, the son of a legendary swordsmith, Kunishige Rokuhira, who lost everything overnight when his father was murdered by a mysterious group of sorcerers, known as the Hishaku. They even stole the legendary Enchanted Blades, his father’s legacy, which grant unimaginable powers to the wielders.
However, the villains could never have anticipated that just before dying, Kunishige forged another Enchanted sword for his son. With Enten in his hands, Chihiro swears to track down his father’s murderers and retrieve the stolen swords. The manga debuted two years ago, so it’s right around the time when we should be expecting a major announcement soon. Although it’s odd that Kagurabachi isn’t listed in Jump Festa 2026, the anime rumors have been circulating for over a year.
Which anime adaptation are you looking forward to? Let us know in the comments below!
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