A Ton of Japanese Animation News Dropped During the Holidays
The winter break offer a plethora of activities far superior than scanning the updates: discovering surprises, getting stuffed on festive fare, and using patience techniques to not snapping at family members. I hope you managed to do all these things and more. Nevertheless, the entertainment world doesn't take a break, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Numerous exciting news items emerged during the festive period, and should you missed any, here is a roundup of the most exciting bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (Come 2027)
Without a doubt the most shocking announcement, the widely-criticized disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to stop further production. Season 3 will be back with a subsequent part in 2027—so far away they could have called it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain leading the project. At least this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the outset, which could be taken as a positive development. However, the main art for the new episodes is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This leads one to believe that, nowadays, they could be teasing the fans.
Ruri Dragon Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a name for being an prestigious animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the high caliber of its output but for the good working conditions of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had never worked on an anime adapted from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most famous magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained widespread acclaim when it first appeared in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a extended pause due to the creator's health issues. When it came back with a more relaxed pace, the series demonstrated it still retained the fans' appreciation and enthusiasm, and now fans are thrilled about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Has a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only just received an English release, but the anime has been running for a while, and season 6 was yet another outstanding entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been revealed as currently being made, and it will almost certainly premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
One more studio renowned for the excellent quality of its productions, Science Saru has delivered hit shows of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, inspired by the true story of Fatima, an prominent woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and captivating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my watchlist.
The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Second Season
Immediately following the airing of its twenty-fourth episode, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a follow-up. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has yet to be revealed.
