A Heap of Japanese Animation News Arrived During the Festive Season
The Christmas holidays provide a multitude of activities considerably more enjoyable than catching up on the latest news: unwrapping gifts, getting stuffed on holiday treats, and harnessing meditation skills to not yelling at relatives. I hope you managed to do all these things and more. Nevertheless, the world of entertainment doesn't take a break, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Numerous exciting announcements came out over the break, and should you missed some of them, here is a summary of the juiciest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Set to Continue (In 2027)
Perhaps the biggest revelation, the widely-criticized troubled production that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to stop the series' continuation. Season 3 will be back with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they easily could have labeled it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain at the helm. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the beginning, which is seen as a positive development. Yet, the key visual for the second cour is identical to 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.
The Ruri Dragon Series Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a name for being an top-tier animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the high caliber of its output but for the fair treatment of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not produced an anime stemming from a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably the best-known magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained massive popularity when it first appeared in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a extended pause due to the mangaka's health issues. When it returned with a lighter schedule, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' support and goodwill, and now fans are overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season 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 haven't come across it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English localization, but the anime has been running for some time, and its sixth season was yet another stellar entry. As it happens that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in development, and it will very likely premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
One more studio known for the artistic merit of its work, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works of the ilk 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, inspired by the true story of Fatima, an influential woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and captivating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my watchlist.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Continue With a Season Two
Right after the conclusion of the final episode of the first season, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a second season. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific air date has yet to be revealed.
