A Mountain of Japanese Animation News Landed Over the Holidays
The Yuletide season provide a multitude of pastimes far superior than catching up on the latest news: opening presents, getting stuffed on holiday treats, and harnessing patience techniques to avoid yelling at loved ones. It is wished you were able to enjoy all these things and more. Nevertheless, the entertainment world never sleeps, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Many exciting news items surfaced during the break, and if you didn't see any, here is a compilation of the biggest 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 season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to stop further production. Season 3 will be back with a second cour in 2027—such a distant date they might as well have dubbed it season 4. Adding to the surprise, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be in charge. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the start, which might be a positive development. But, the main art for the continuation is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This leads one to believe that, at this point, they are probably trolling the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a reputation for being an elite animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the exceptional quality of its output but for the fair treatment of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, possibly the best-known magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained massive popularity 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 resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series demonstrated it hadn't lost the fans' affection and goodwill, and now everyone is thrilled about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel In Production
Kingdom is the top-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only recently got an English release, but the anime has been airing for a while, and season 6 was yet another excellent entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in production, and it will very likely debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
One more studio renowned for the superior craftsmanship of its work, Science Saru has delivered masterpieces of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be taking on the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, inspired by the real historical figure of Fatima, an influential woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and intriguing visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my watchlist.
Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Second Season
Shortly after the release of episode 24, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be getting a second season. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm air date has not yet been announced.
