After spending most of the first day of Anime NYC on the show floor, I collapsed in a heap in the line for the Main Stage. I wanted to make sure I got there early, though, because Thursday night featured the Netflix panel. Netflix made their latest appearance at Anime NYC to promote several of their most hotly anticipated anime and anime-adjacent productions, with trailer premieres, special guests, and a ton of new footage exclusive to the panel. If what was on display Thursday night is any indication, the near-future of Netflix’s anime slate looks very bright.

Following a countdown that the entire audience took part in, the panel began with host Juju Green (better known as Straw Hat Goofy) taking the stage. The first show spotlighted was Netflix’s upcoming adult animated action series and the “first black anime Western,” Bass X Machina. A steampunk Western inspired by African-American U.S, Marshall Bass Reeves, it tells the story of a father forced to become judge, jury, and executioner. Executive producer and star Brian Tyree Henry took the stage to discuss the show, which he hoped would honor the black cowboys and lawmen that US history has left behind, pointing out that Reeves has been cited as a possible inspiration for the Lone Ranger. He continued that it’s not a historical show but is a show that wants to honor the history at its core, portraying the black experience in America through a steampunk lens and focusing on the question of becoming a man in a country that doesn’t see you as human. In addition to that, the show looks awesome. A trailer was premiered, along with the first five minutes of the series, and it looks to be a bloody, action-packed thrill ride. Produced by Studio Mir, the animation on display was fast, detailed, and at times completely over-the-top, perfect for what the show is going for. (The series was created by LeSean Thomas, who has done directing work on The Boondocks and Black Dynamite, and his work on those shows is on full display here.) The clip also featured the stylized opening credits and theme song by Janelle Monae, who also voice acts in the show. It was a great way to start the panel and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing more once it hits Netflix on November 3rd.

The next show spotlighted at the panel was the second season of Sakamoto Days, the action-comedy adventures of everyone’s favorite hitman-turned-shopkeeper. A teaser was shown spotlighting some of the new characters debuting this season, which premieres in January. Next was a new anime, Fool Night. Taking place in a apocalyptic future where an environmental crisis has led to a lack of sunlight, the show follows Kamiya, who in an attempt to save his sick mother, agrees to be turned into a plant for two years to help save humanity as well as support his family financially. A behind-the-scenes look and new trailer were both shown, and what I saw was stunning. A co-production between animation studios Sunrise and Shaft, the animation on display was absolutely gorgeous, and the use of colors really popped off on the Main Stage’s three screens. Following that was a new look at the long-awaited second season of Blue Eye Samurai. A new trailer was shown, with the reveal that the new season would be premiering in January. However, this was immediately followed by a surprise extended clip of the new season. Based on what I saw, it seems like next chapter will live up to the incredible first one, and I can’t wait for more. Also, a third and final season was revealed to be premiering in 2028. (Juju made it clear that the story was being concluded as the creators always intended.)

No anime con is complete without one of its biggest franchises, and sure enough, next was Netflix’s One Piece projects. The show that got the biggest focus was the Lego One Piece miniseries, which comedically retells the story of the Grand Line through Usopp’s perspective. Jacob Romero, who portrays Usopp in the live-action version, took the stage to discuss the Lego miniseries. According to Jacob, he was surprised at just how much the story could be adapted to the style of the toys and the amount of “Lego imagination” on display during the adaptation. He also teased that his performance would be “pretty unhinged” compared to the live-action version, given the added freedom that voice acting allowed. In addition, new art and a release date were revealed for The One Piece, which premieres in February. Everyone in the audience also got a free One Piece minifig, and posters and a vinyl soundtrack were given out to cosplayers. One Piece Lego sets were also offered to the audience, resulting in a frenzy as everyone tried to get noticed. (Some audience members even held up their babies.)

Finally, Netflix saved the best for last with what was easily the most hotly-anticipated reveal of the entire panel, if the roars from the audience were any indication. Four years ago, Netflix premiered Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, an anime adaptation of the game Cyberpunk: 2077, and it was absolutely awesome. Now the series returns with Cyberpunk: Edgerunners II, a new story featuring a new set of characters. Netflix premiered a new trailer, which dropped the news that the new series would premiere in exactly two months on October 20th. This set the crowd roaring, but the panel still wasn’t done, as the audience was then treated to the first seven minutes of the first episode. Based on what I saw, it promises to keep up the stunning animation, great action, and grisly violence of the previous series.

Overall, this was a very strong showing and a great way to end the first night of Anime NYC. The panel featured some exciting reveals, a lot of great and exclusive footage, and got me hyped for what’s to come. Also, the clips looked great on the Main Stage’s vibrant screen, and seeing everything with an audience was a lot of fun. Stay tuned for more of my Anime NYC coverage.