KILL BLUE manga ends with an anime adaptation announcement

Created by Tadatoshi Fujimaki, best known for Kuroko’s Basketball and Robot x Laserbeam, KILL BLUE manga told the story of Juzo Ogami, a 39-year-old legendary hitman who suddenly finds himself transformed into a teenage boy after being pricked by a mysterious wasp. Instead of chasing down assassination contracts, Ogami is now ordered by his boss to infiltrate a middle school.

Weekly Shonen Jump is a notoriously competitive magazine. Series live or die by reader polls, sales figures, and long-term popularity. Despite Fujimaki’s established reputation, Kill Blue manga never quite broke through as one of Jump’s top performers.

The world of Weekly Shonen Jump is no stranger to dramatic endings and surprise announcements. In 2025 alone, the magazine has seen a wave of major titles conclude their runs, from Undead Unluck to Mission: Yozakura Family. Now, another notable series has joined the list: Tadatoshi Fujimaki’s Kill Blue.

With Chapter 115, the manga has officially come to an end, closing the door on a story that always seemed torn between eccentric comedy, school-life charm, and action-thriller undertones.

What truly shocked fans was the anime reveal that accompanied the manga’s finale. While many expected Kill Blue to fade away as another mid-tier Jump experiment, Shueisha instead greenlit a TV anime set to air in 2026.

Interestingly, the anime of the Kill Blue manga will be produced by Studio CUE. Moreover, the series will be directed by Hiro Kaburagi (Great Pretender, Kimi ni Todoke), with character designs by Miho Daidoji, who worked on Kuroko’s Basketball.

This creative lineup signals a strong emphasis on visual flair, fluid action, and expressive character work, qualities that could elevate Kill Blue’s school-and-assassin hybrid premise.

Additionally, the creator Tadatoshi Fujimaki expressed his excitement:

“I am deeply grateful to all the readers who have supported Kill Blue. Seeing Juzo’s strange new school life brought to animation is a dream come true. Please look forward to the anime in 2026!”

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Fan reactions to KILL BLUE manga: Relief, confusion, and cautious optimism

The manga community’s reaction to the Kill Blue manga ending has been mixed at best. On forums like Reddit and Twitter, readers expressed both relief and disappointment:

• Some felt the manga overstayed its welcome, dragging out arcs without strong payoffs.
• Others argued it ended too soon, with major plotlines like Ogami’s daughter never being addressed.
• Many compared its trajectory to Hitman Reborn!, a series that started with quirky school comedy before shifting to full shonen action. The difference is that Kill Blue never fully committed to either side.

When the anime was announced, the conversation shifted dramatically. Fans who were lukewarm on the Kill Blue manga admitted they’d give the anime a chance, especially if it tightened pacing issues and expanded on underdeveloped arcs.

Some even speculated the anime could provide a “definitive” version of Kill Blue, much like how adaptations sometimes improve or reframe flawed source material (The Devil is a Part-Timer! and Blue Exorcist come to mind).

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What to expect from the Kill Blue Anime

The biggest question now is how the anime will approach its adaptation. Will it faithfully cover all 115 chapters of the Kill Blue manga, or will it restructure the story for better pacing?

Here are a few possibilities:

• Condensed Storytelling: Expect the anime to streamline weaker arcs and cut filler moments.
• Expanded Focus on Ogami’s Daughter: Given fan complaints, the anime may add original content to explore this unresolved plotline.
• Balanced Tone: The adaptation might lean more toward action-comedy rather than awkward romance, reframing Juzo and Noren’s dynamic.
• Improved Villain Presentation: Characters like Jardin boss Oka, often criticized as goofy, could be rewritten for more credibility.

If Studio CUE and Kaburagi can strike the right balance, Kill Blue has the potential to surprise skeptics and win over new fans who skipped the manga.