During Anime Expo 2025 weekend, the “Ascendance of a Bookworm & 2025 Anime Line-Up Sneak Peek” panel offered an in-depth look at upcoming projects from Yomiuri TV animation and anime staff. Through Q&A segments and insights from production staff on upcoming series, attendees were able to celebrate the exciting futures of some of their favorite anime.
The Yomiuri TV Anime Expo 2025 panel, hosted by anime internet personality Gigguk, began when WIT Studio CEO George Wada, TO Books managing director Yu Shibata, and YTV animation anime producer Goshi Yoshida took the stage as the first trailer for Ascendance of a Bookworm Season 4 was played. The trailer showcased the main character, now using the name Rozemyne, struggling to bring a printing press to a fantasy world where the distribution of knowledge may upset the balance of the ruling class.
When speaking on the trailer, Wada said, “We love to live up to the WIT Studio quality, and bring you lots of action and clean images.”
Shibata added, “We’re coming to the 10 year anniversary of Ascendance of a Bookworm, with the work translated into over 20 countries. This partnership with WIT Studio is very exciting and should make the visuals and action better than ever.”
Yoshida also expressed his belief in the series and “hopes to make Ascendance of a Bookworm into the Japanese Harry Potter.” He also called on the audience for input on which musical artist should do Ascendance of a Bookworm Season 4’s opening theme.
The Vermilion Mask and More Anime Discussed at the Yomiuri TV Anime Expo 2025 Panel
The panel then discussed the upcoming anime adaptation for The Vermilion Mask, which also received a teaser trailer. The trailer utilized visuals from the manga to showcase the action-packed opening chapter. The attendees also received a free copy of the manga. YTV animation chief producer Kozo Misawa and Shōnen Gahōsha manga editor Taichi Kimura also took the stage to share their thoughts on the work, with Misawa practicing his English.
Misawa said, “every episode is like the climax of the series!” Kimura highlighted that, “There are a lot of battles, and a lot of masks that give the characters different powers. Like if you wear a cat mask you can see in the dark and beat the
shitout of your opponent! There are a lot of intense battles, and I hope you love it.”
Kimura also revealed that volume 7 of The Vermilion Mask is releasing in Japan this month, and a physical edition of the unreleased volume is part of the panel’s surprise giveaway. He also shared that volumes 1 through 4 of The Vermilion Mask are available on the emaqi platform. Moreover, Gigguk encouraged fans in attendance to follow the official social media channels for the manga, @Vermilion_EN.
The Yomiuri TV panel also shared a rundown of several trailers for current and upcoming projects, such as the Blue Miburo Season 2 and Reincarnated as a Neglected Noble: Raising My Baby Brother With Memories From My Past Life. A teaser trailer for upcoming isekai anime Hero Without a Class: Who Even Needs Skills?! was also shown ahead of its October 2025 premiere on HIDIVE. Hero Without a Class anime director Kaoru Yabana also commented on the anime.
Yabana said, “no matter how difficult the circumstances may be, like the main character Arel, one can change their future through hard work.”
The rundown ended with the main PV for Mechanical Marie, which will premiere in October 2025. A video message from director Junji Nishimura was also released. Nishimura described the series as a “chaotic romantic comedy” and shared that he’s drawing from his experience working on the Ranma ½ anime.
Lastly, the panel ended with a raffle where eight attendees won autographed shikishi related to the anime shown, one attendee won the pre-release print edition of volume seven of The Vermilion Mask manga, and a commemorative photo featuring the panelists and audience was taken.
