A Ton of Japanese Animation News Dropped Over the Holidays
The Yuletide season present a wealth of pursuits considerably more enjoyable than checking the headlines: opening presents, feasting on holiday treats, and employing deep breathing to avoid arguing with relatives. It is wished you managed to do all these things and more. Nevertheless, the world of entertainment never sleeps, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Many noteworthy announcements came out over the festive period, and just in case you didn't see some of them, here is a summary of the juiciest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Is Set to Continue (In 2027)
Truly the most surprising revelation, the widely-criticized controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to halt more episodes. Season 3 will come back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—a date so remote they easily could have dubbed it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain at the helm. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the outset, which is seen as a good sign. However, the key visual for the continuation is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This suggests that, at this point, they are probably trolling the fans.
Ruri Dragon Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a name for being an top-tier animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the exceptional quality of its output but for the ethical practices of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had never worked on an anime stemming from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved a huge following when it first appeared in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a lengthy break due to the mangaka's health issues. When it resumed publication with a more relaxed pace, the series showed it maintained the fans' support and positive sentiment, and now everyone is overjoyed about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up Currently in Production
Kingdom is the best-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English localization, but the anime has been running for years, and its sixth season was another stellar entry. It turns out that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in production, and it will almost certainly debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
One more studio renowned for the superior craftsmanship 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 producing the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, which is based on the actual historical person of Fatima, an powerful woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and fascinating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my must-watch list.
Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Season Two
Right after the conclusion of its twenty-fourth episode, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be securing a sequel. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm premiere date has not been disclosed yet.
