A Mountain of Japanese Animation News Dropped Over the Festive Season
The Yuletide season provide a multitude of pastimes considerably more enjoyable than catching up on the latest news: unwrapping gifts, feasting on festive fare, and employing deep breathing to not arguing with family members. I hope you succeeded in accomplish all these things and more. That said, the entertainment world doesn't take a break, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. A slew of noteworthy developments surfaced over the holidays, and if you didn't see a few, here is a summary of the juiciest bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Will Continue (Come 2027)
Truly the biggest piece of news, the much-discussed disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to stop further production. Season 3 will come back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—so far away they might as well have dubbed it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be in charge. At least this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the start, which is seen as a positive development. But, the promotional image for the continuation is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This leads one to believe that, nowadays, they are probably trolling the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a reputation for being an top-tier animation studio, making its mark not just for the high caliber of its work but for the ethical practices of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not adapted an anime adapted from a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably the most famous magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved massive popularity when it launched in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the creator's health issues. When it came back with a reduced workload, the series showed it maintained the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now everyone is ecstatic about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Will Get a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, epic Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only just received an English translation, but the anime has been airing for years, and season 6 was another excellent entry. Apparently that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in development, and it will probably premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
A further studio known for the artistic merit of its productions, Science Saru has given us critically acclaimed works 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, based on the true story of Fatima, an prominent woman and scholar 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 fascinating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my list of anticipated shows.
Tougen Anki Will Return With a Second Season
Right after the conclusion of the final episode of the first season, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a second season. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete premiere date has not been disclosed yet.
