A Ton of Japanese Animation News Landed Over the Holidays
The Yuletide season offer a wealth of activities far superior than scanning the latest news: unwrapping gifts, getting stuffed on festive fare, and employing meditation skills to not yelling at family members. I hope you managed to do all these things and more. However, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Numerous thrilling news items came out over the holidays, and just in case you didn't see any, here is a roundup of the biggest bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Will Continue (Come 2027)
Perhaps the most shocking revelation, the notorious controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to stop the series' continuation. Season 3 will be back with a subsequent part in 2027—so far away they could 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 outset, which might be a positive development. Yet, the key visual for the new episodes is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This suggests that, at this point, they could be teasing the fans.
Ruri Dragon Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a reputation for being an prestigious animation studio, making its mark not just for the superb artistry of its productions but for the ethical practices of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not produced an anime adapted from a manga published in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most famous magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a superb 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 two-year hiatus due to the creator's health issues. When it returned with a reduced workload, the series demonstrated it maintained the fans' affection and enthusiasm, and now fans are thrilled about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up Currently in Production
Kingdom is the top-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is other than 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 running for some time, and season 6 was yet another excellent entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in development, and it will probably debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
A further studio renowned for the artistic merit of its work, Science Saru has delivered masterpieces of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, which is based on the actual historical person of Fatima, an prominent woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and intriguing visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my must-watch list.
Tougen Anki Will Return With a Season Two
Shortly after the release of episode 24, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be securing a follow-up. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has not been disclosed yet.
