A Mountain of Japanese Animation News Dropped Over the Festive Season
The Christmas holidays provide a multitude of pursuits much better than catching up on the updates: discovering surprises, indulging in holiday treats, and using patience techniques to not yelling at loved ones. Hopefully you managed to enjoy all these things and more. However, the showbiz industry doesn't go on vacation, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Many exciting news items came out over the festive period, and should you overlooked a few, here is a summary of the biggest bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Will Continue (In 2027)
Truly the biggest piece of news, the much-discussed disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to deter more episodes. Season 3 will return with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they could have called it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be leading the project. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the outset, which is seen as a hopeful indicator. But, the key visual for the new episodes is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This makes me think that, at this point, they could be mocking the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Set to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a name for being an top-tier animation studio, making its mark not just for the high caliber of its output but for the ethical practices of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not adapted an anime adapted from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most famous magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved massive popularity when it launched in 2022 after just a handful of installments, 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 demonstrated it hadn't lost the fans' support and positive sentiment, and now the community is ecstatic about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Is Getting a Follow-Up Now in the Works
Kingdom is the highly popular, long-running Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only recently got an English translation, but the anime has been running for a while, and season 6 was yet another outstanding entry. It turns out that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in production, and it will almost certainly premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
One more studio known for the excellent quality of its productions, Science Saru has given us masterpieces of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most 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 influential woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and captivating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my list of anticipated shows.
The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Second Season
Right after the conclusion of its twenty-fourth episode, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be securing a follow-up. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has not yet been announced.
