by September 9 has officially become “Attack on Titan Day,” and the franchise celebrated the occasion with 99 major announcements. Among the highlights are a newly drawn commemorative illustration by original creator Hajime Isayama, a new official Attack on Titan YouTube channel, a limited-time free manga campaign, new merchandise, and special theatrical screenings of two Attack on Titan films.
The celebration also revealed that the first theatrical film, Attack on Titan Part 1: Guren no Yumiya, will return to Japanese theaters in SCREENX, 4DX, and ULTRA 4DX on October 23, 2026. Meanwhile, Attack on Titan THE LAST ATTACK, which presents the conclusion of Eren Yeager’s story, will receive the same special-format theatrical treatment in 2027.
These announcements were made as part of the first official Attack on Titan Day, creating one of the biggest franchise-wide celebrations since the original manga and anime stories concluded.
September 9 Is Officially ‘Attack on Titan Day’
The date of September 9 has a special connection to Attack on Titan.
Hajime Isayama’s manga began serialization in the inaugural issue of Kodansha’s Bessatsu Shonen Magazine, which went on sale in Japan on September 9, 2009. Because of that connection, September 9 has now been officially recognized as “Attack on Titan Day” by the Japan Anniversary Association.
The choice of the number nine is also particularly appropriate for Attack on Titan. The series features the legendary Nine Titans, nine special Titan powers that play a central role in the story.
To celebrate the new anniversary, the official franchise portal announced 99 major news items, using the number nine as the central theme of the campaign.
For fans, this means September 9 is no longer simply the anniversary of the manga’s beginning. It is now an official annual date dedicated to remembering and celebrating the Attack on Titan franchise.
Hajime Isayama Draws a Special Anniversary Illustration
One of the most anticipated announcements was a brand-new commemorative illustration from Hajime Isayama, the creator of Attack on Titan.
The newly drawn artwork was released to celebrate the establishment of Attack on Titan Day and includes a message of appreciation toward the series’ fans. The illustration is available through the official franchise’s social media channels and portal site.
This is particularly meaningful because Isayama’s original manga concluded in April 2021. While the Attack on Titan franchise has continued through anime releases, films, games, merchandise, and events, newly drawn artwork from Isayama remains a special occasion for longtime fans.
The anniversary illustration therefore became one of the major highlights of the 99-news campaign.
A Special Visual Featuring the Nine Titans
Alongside Isayama’s new artwork, the official website revealed a special Attack on Titan Day commemorative visual featuring all Nine Titans.
The visual is designed around the central symbolism of the number nine, while the commemorative logo takes inspiration from the Founding Titan/series’ final Titan imagery, further connecting the anniversary to the franchise’s mythology.
For newcomers, the Nine Titans are nine unique Titan powers that can be inherited by humans. Unlike ordinary Titans, these special Titans possess individual abilities, personalities, es and histories.
They are one of the most important elements of the Attack on Titan story, making them a natural centerpiece for the first official anniversary visual.
99 Chapters of the Manga Are Free for 99 Hours
Another major announcement is a special reading campaign on Magazine Pocket, Kodansha’s official manga platform.
Starting at 12:00 a.m. JST on September 9, 2026, readers can access the original Attack on Titan manga for free through Chapter 99 for 99 hours.
This is an important correction to the original article: the campaign does not mean that only Chapter 99 is available for free.
Instead, readers can read the manga up through Chapter 99, giving new fans an opportunity to experience a substantial portion of the early story.
The campaign is also a clever reference to the anniversary date and the franchise’s repeated use of the number nine.
For people who have watched the anime but never read Isayama’s manga, the promotion provides an easy opportunity to compare the original artwork and storytelling with the animated adaptation.
The Official Attack on Titan YouTube Channel Has Launched
Another major development is the launch of a dedicated official Attack on Titan YouTube channel.
According to the franchise’s official portal, the channel is planned to feature a variety of video content for fans around the world, including limited-time anime streams and exclusive special videos.
The creation of an official YouTube channel is especially significant because Attack on Titan has a huge international audience.
Rather than being used only for occasional promotional trailers, the channel is expected to become another central place for official franchise video content.
Fans should therefore keep an eye on the channel as future anniversary projects, promotional videos and special releases are announced.
‘Attack on Titan Part 1: Guren no Yumiya’ Returns in October
One of the biggest theatrical announcements concerns the first Attack on Titan compilation film.
Attack on Titan Part 1: Guren no Yumiya will return to theaters in Japan on October 23, 2026, with screenings in SCREENX, 4DX and ULTRA 4DX formats.
The film, whose English title is commonly rendered as Attack on Titan Part 1: Crimson Bow and Arrow, originally condensed the early portion of the TV anime into a theatrical experience.
The new screenings are designed to give fans a more immersive way to experience the beginning of Eren, Mi,, and Armin’s journey.
What Is SCREENX?
For beginners, SCREENX is a cinema format that expands the image from the main screen onto the theater’s side walls.
This creates a wider visual field and can make large-scale action sequences feel more immersive.
For a series famous for its three-dimensional maneuvering battles, giant Titans and fast-moving aerial action, the format is particularly well suited to Attack on Titan.
4DX and ULTRA 4DX Add More Physical Effects
The October 2026 theatrical revival will also be available in 4DX and ULTRA 4DX.
Unlike a conventional movie screening, 4DX uses moving seats and environmental effects to make viewers feel more physically involved in the action.
Depending on the theater and sequence, audiences can experience effects such as movement, vibration, and other environmental sensations.
For Attack on Titan, this could make scenes involving the Omni-Directional Mobility Gear, Titan battles and explosive action feel considerably more intense.
The announcement therefore gives longtime fans a reason to revisit the first theatrical film even if they have already watched the original TV anime.
‘THE LAST ATTACK’ Will Return in 2027
The second major theatrical announcement concerns Attack on Titan THE LAST ATTACK.
The film will return to theaters in 2027 in SCREENX, 4DX and ULTRA 4DX, marking the franchise’s first presentation of THE LAST ATTACK in SCREENX.
THE LAST ATTACK combines the two final Attack on Titan Final Season specials into one theatrical feature and presents the conclusion of Eren Yeager’s story.
The 2027 screening will therefore give fans another opportunity to experience the franchise’s ending on a giant cinema screen.
An exact 2027 release date has not yet been announced.
What Is ‘Attack on Titan THE LAST ATTACK’?
For viewers who may be unfamiliar with the film, THE LAST ATTACK is not a completely new continuation of the story.
Instead, it is a theatrical presentation of the anime’s final chapters, combining the concluding material of Attack on Titan Final Season into a single cinematic experience.
The story focuses on the final confrontation between Eren and the people who once fought alongside him.
Without going into major spoilers, the movie brings together the series’ central themes of freedom, war, sacrifice, friendship, hatred, and the consequences of violence.
Its 2027 return in premium formats is therefore likely to be especially meaningful for fans who want to revisit the conclusion in a theater environment.
‘Attack on Titan 3’ Game Reveals New MAPPA Visual
The Attack on Titan Day campaign also delivered an update for the video-game side of the franchise.
Attack on Titan 3, the upcoming action game from Koei Tecmo Games, has unveiled a new key visual for its opening animation.
The opening animation is being produced by MAPPA, the animation studio that handled Attack on Titan: The Final Season. The game is scheduled for release on December 10, 2026.
This makes the game one of the major new Attack on Titan projects arriving before the end of 2026.
The opening-animation visual was revealed as part of the 99-news campaign, adding another connection between the game’s presentation and the anime franchise.
The game is also scheduled to appear at Tokyo Game Show 2026, giving fans another opportunity to learn more about the project.
Commemorative Merchandise Goes on Sale
Fans interested in collectibles also received new announcements.
Commemorative Attack on Titan Day merchandise began going on sale through the official Shonen Magazine SHOP on September 9, 2026.
The lineup includes items using the new anniversary visual as well as merchandise featuring newly drawn illustrations by Hajime Isayama, including artwork depicting characters in formal clothing.
The official 99-news campaign also includes a large number of additional merchandise announcements, collaborations, figures, and events planned for Japan and overseas.
This shows that the anniversary is being treated as a broad franchise celebration rather than simply a one-day social-media campaign.
A Special Attack on Titan Day Livestream
The anniversary celebrations concluded with a special livestream on September 9 at 9:30 p.m. JST.
The program featured three major members of the anime’s Japanese voice cast:
- Yuki Kaji — Eren Yeager
- Yui Ishikawa — Mikasa Ackerman
- Hiro Shimono — Connie Springer
The broadcast was hosted through the newly launched official Attack on Titan YouTube channel.
The appearance of the three voice actors was particularly fitting because Eren, Mikasa, and Connie have been important characters throughout the anime’s story.
The livestream was designed as a celebration of the newly established anniversary and provided another major event for fans following the 99-news announcements.
‘Attack on Titan’ Has Become a Global Anime Phenomenon
For new fans, it is worth understanding just how successful Attack on Titan has become.
Hajime Isayama’s manga began in 2009 and concluded in 2021 after 139 chapters, collected into 34 volumes.
The official portal states that the series has surpassed 140 million copies in circulation worldwide, a figure that demonstrates the enormous scale of the franchise’s popularity.
The television anime began in 2013.
The first three seasons were produced by WIT STUDIO, while MAPPA took over production for the fourth and final season. The complete anime adaptation reached a total of 94 episodes, with the story concluding in 2023.
The franchise has since continued through theatrical screenings, games, merchandise, collaborations, exhibitions,s and international events.
Why September 9 Matters to New Fans
If you are new to Attack on Titan, the significance of September 9 is easy to understand:
September 9, 2009:
The manga begins serialization.
April 9, 2021:
The original manga concludes.
2013:
The television anime begins.
2023:
The TV anime reaches its conclusion.
September 9, 2026:
September 9 becomes officially recognized as Attack on Titan Day, with 99 franchise announcements.
The new anniversary therefore connects the franchise’s present directly to the date when Isayama’s original manga journey began.
More Than Just One Anniversary Announcement
Although the Isayama illustration and theatrical screenings received much of the attention, the full list contains far more than two or three announcements.
The official portal’s 99-news campaign includes updates covering:
- Anime-related projects
- Manga promotions
- Games
- Figures and collectibles
- Cafés
- Pop-up events
- International collaborations
- Merchandise
- Exhibitions
- YouTube content
- Theater screenings
- New character goods
- International releases
- Future 2027 projects
The official portal is presenting these announcements as a worldwide celebration, with news connected to multiple regions and different parts of the Attack on Titan franchise.
Some of the 99 announcements are smaller merchandise or collaboration updates, while others—such as the theatrical screenings, official YouTube channel, and Attack on Titan 3—are major franchise developments.
What Happens Next for Attack on Titan?
Although the main manga and television anime have ended, the September 9 announcements make it clear that Attack on Titan remains an active franchise.
The immediate future includes the October 23, 2026 theatrical return of Attack on Titan Part 1: Guren no Yumiya in SCREENX, 4X, and ULTRA 4DX.
Then, in December 2026, Attack on Titan 3 is scheduled to arrive from Koei Tecmo Games, with MAPPA handling its opening animation.
In 2027, Attack on Titan THE LAST ATTACK will receive its first SCREENX presentation alongside 4DX and ULTRA 4DX screenings.
Additional merchandise, exhibitions, collaborations and international events are also planned.
This means fans can expect Attack on Titan to remain visible across anime, games, theatrical releases and merchandise even after the conclusion of its main story.
The first official Attack on Titan Day has turned September 9 into a major new date for fans of Hajime Isayama’s legendary series.
The celebration is much bigger than a simple anniversary post. Ninety-nine official news items were released, matching the significance of the number nine throughout the franchise. Among the biggest highlights are a new commemorative illustration by Isayama, a special Nine Titans visual, a 99-hour manga campaign, the launch of an official YouTube channel, new merchandise, a new Attack on Titan 3 game visual, and major theatrical announcements.
For movie fans, the biggest immediate news is the return of Attack on Titan Part 1: Guren no Yumiya on October 23, 2026, where audiences will be able to experience the film in SCREENX X, X X,a nd ULTRA 4DX.
Then in 2027, Attack on Titan THE LAST ATTACK will return in the same premium formats, giving fans another opportunity to experience the conclusion of Eren Yeager’s story on the big screen.
Meanwhile, the launch of the official YouTube channel and the upcoming Attack on Titan 3 game show that the franchise is continuing to expand into new forms of entertainment.
Even though the original manga and television anime have concluded, Attack on Titan is clearly far from disappearing. With its enormous global fanbase, more than 140 million copies in circulation, new theatrical screenings, a nd multiple projects planned for 2026 and 2027, the series is entering a new phase—one focused less on continuing the original story and more on celebrating and expanding its legacy.
