A Ton of Japanese Animation News Arrived Over the Festive Season
The Christmas holidays present a plethora of pastimes much better than checking the latest news: unwrapping gifts, getting stuffed on holiday treats, and employing deep breathing to not yelling at loved ones. I hope you managed to do all these things and more. Nevertheless, the world of entertainment doesn't take a break, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. A slew of thrilling announcements surfaced over the holidays, and if you overlooked a few, here is a compilation of the juiciest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Will Continue (Come 2027)
Without a doubt the most shocking announcement, the much-discussed controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to deter the series' continuation. Season 3 will come back with a second cour in 2027—such a distant date they could have labeled it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be in charge. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the start, which could be taken as a good sign. However, the main art for the new episodes is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This makes me think that, at this point, they must 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, setting itself apart not just for the high caliber of its output but for the good working conditions of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not produced an anime adapted from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, arguably the most famous magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became 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 came back with a lighter schedule, the series demonstrated it still retained the fans' support and positive sentiment, and now the community is overjoyed about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Will Get a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the top-selling, long-running 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 translation, but the anime has been running for a while, and its sixth season was another excellent entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in production, and it will probably debut in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
Another studio renowned for the superior craftsmanship of its productions, Science Saru has given us hit shows of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be producing the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, based on the true story of Fatima, an prominent woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and intriguing visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my list of anticipated shows.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Continue With a Season Two
Right after the airing of its twenty-fourth episode, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be receiving a follow-up. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm premiere date has yet to be revealed.
