It’s been nearly three years since the original Boruto: Naruto Next Generations anime concluded, but in that time, the story it is adapting has changed dramatically. The anime even tragically cut off just before the thrilling Omnipotence Arc, the final, cataclysmic story preceding the sequel series. But it begs the question, when will Boruto: Two Blue Vortex’s anime come out?
Since the Boruto: Naruto Next Generations anime stopped in March 2023, Studio Pierrot has been undergoing impressive changes. With the acclaim and popularity of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, its tightened seasonal focus has paved the way for more intricate productions of its most prized anime properties. Despite Boruto quietly confirming its return, Two Blue Vortex’s debut is still a mystery.
Is Boruto: Two Blue Vortex the Next Anime?
Not All of Boruto’s Early Stories Have Been Told
Given the most consequential events occur in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations’ Omnipotence Arc, particularly around chapter #79, Two Blue Vortex may not be the very next anime project. Despite Pierrot’s archive for the Boruto anime listing the series as having a Part 2 in the works, this arc directly precedes a time-skip.
Whether this means a brief limited series before Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, or for it to be rolled in as a prologue to the sequel series, is uncertain. It’d arguably be more exciting to see the moment Eida’s Senrigan changes everything, making Kawaki and Uzumaki and forcing Boruto into hiding, on the big screen. But for now it’s a matter of speculation.
With Boruto: Naruto Next Generations having 12 monthly chapters to be adapted, it could make for a bulky movie, especially given Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle’s runtime despite only covering 18 chapters. A special cour adapting it chapter-by-chapter, perhaps being given enough time to build on the canon source material, would easily be a sensible choice.
When Will Boruto’s New Anime Come?
Koji Kashin’s Prescience Is Drawing a Blank
Given a lack of formal announcements aside from the Pierrot portal’s listing, despite veteran Naruto voice actors confirming they’ve been recording for Boruto’s return, 2026-2027 is currently the most optimistic projection. With Naruto Uzumaki voice actor Junko Takeuchi confirming to Maile Flanagan that she is “in for a lot of work”, the progress could already be substantial.
With Naruto Uzumaki voice actor Junko Takeuchi confirming to Maile Flanagan that she is “in for a lot of work”, the progress could already be substantial.
The biggest potential reveal would be Jump Festa 2026, but with Boruto lacking a specific stage, it’s increasingly uncertain as to how soon the anime will get an announcement. With Black Clover being featured there several months after its season 2 confirmation at Anime Expo 2025, it’s entirely possible Yuki Tabata’s hit anime will make its long-awaited return first.
Finally, given the production of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War concluding with Part 4’s release in 2026, and Black Clover announced as coming soon, Pierrot already has several tentpole productions underway. With Boruto’s inevitable yet nebulous return, a lack of formal announcement or trailer likely means the 2027 window, if not later. However, its source material has built a strong pipeline.
Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Will Be a Stronger Anime Project
But Can It Bring Its Filler Below 40% for the First Time?
Boruto: Two Blue Vortex has started in earnest since Fall 2023 thanks to tighter focus, clarity in its narrative, and an urgent threat that feels like a plot evolution rather than rehashing Naruto endgame plotlines. While not an absolute representative of the anime, Kyōhei Ebata, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations animator and director of its final episode, made an intriguing comment.
On June 13, Ebara posted on X about how Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is “so serious that there’s no room to slip in any anime-original content.” This could easily be a reflection on the genuinely focused plot and how it brings the story forward, but knowing how fans can latch onto any commentary, this certainly represents a possible first-ever for a Naruto anime.
Naruto is an infamous franchise for its filler, standing alongside Bleach as the biggest IPs with the most bloated, non-canon stories between episodes adapting the manga. But Boruto’s ~70% filler is egregiously worse, so news of an anime sequel with no room for filler feels impossibly optimistic. For now, this is to be treated only as speculation.
But Boruto’s ~70% filler is egregiously worse, so news of an anime sequel with no room for filler feels impossibly optimistic.
But more than potential filler content, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex features its characters now more developed in their lanes as shinobi of the new era. Boruto has been training under Sasuke. Sarada’s Mangekyo Sharingan has awakened, although she’s yet to fully embrace it in the anime. Even Himawari becomes a shinobi and gets an enormous power-boost.
The result is an anime project that could lean even harder than before into Dragon Ball territory given artist Mikio Ikemoto has acknowledged its influence. With the characters also embracing wild fashion choices, infusing shinobi-chic aesthetic with something straight out of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, it’s a potential new hit in the making.
Is Boruto’s Manga Far Enough Ahead for an Anime Return?
The Seasonal Approach Has Its Drawbacks
One of the biggest reasons for anime whether it’s Ouran High School Host Club or Black Clover is, when it abruptly goes off the air, how much manga content would be needed for a hypothetical return. In Boruto’s case, the manga has released 12 monthly chapters before the time-skip, most unadapted, while Two Blue Vortex has an additional 28.
Should the anime approach each of these chapters, typically running about 40 pages long, this likely means closer to 1-2 chapters per episode. A 12-episode cour would be necessary with between 1-2 years wait time between seasons to allow the manga to stay a reasonable pace ahead. It’s far enough ahead for one season with this approach, so far.
However, it’s important to remain patient, so that hopes aren’t dashed upon Boruto’s return. Given the density of the latest chapters, Ebata’s speculation of no anime-original content could mean these chapters could stand alone. But with conspicuously absent characters who could elevate the storyline, not adding anything new could conversely be a waste.
For now, there’s little left to do but wait. Jump Festa 2026 likely won’t have the answers fans want, but it doesn’t hurt to hope anyway. The anime’s return could instead be teased at Anime Expo 2026 like Black Clover, but given its greater popularity in Japan, it’s not a sure thing it’ll have its big trailer unveiled stateside first.
Boruto: Two Blue Vortex has an opportunity to do what Naruto Next Generations couldn’t. It has a fascinating plot carried on the backs of its main cast, and is a compelling read. But even the most excellent manga arcs can be dragged down by an inferior anime adaptation, and the last thing Boruto fans want is a One-Punch Man situation.
- Writer
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Masashi Kishimoto
- Writers
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Masashi Kishimoto
- Penciler(s)
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Mikio Ikemoto
- Inker(s)
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Mikio Ikemoto
- Colorist(s)
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Mikio Ikemoto
- Publisher(s)
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Viz Media
