A Mountain of Japanese Animation News Arrived Over the Holidays
The Yuletide season provide a wealth of pursuits far superior than catching up on the headlines: opening presents, indulging in delicious food, and employing deep breathing to avoid arguing with loved ones. I hope you were able to enjoy all these things and more. Nevertheless, the entertainment world never sleeps, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. A slew of exciting news items came out during the festive period, and should you didn't see any, here is a roundup of the most exciting bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Is Set to Continue (By 2027)
Truly the most surprising piece of news, the notorious controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to halt the series' continuation. Season 3 will come back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—such a distant date they could have labeled it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain leading the project. At least this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the beginning, which is seen as a positive development. 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 suggests that, at this point, they are probably teasing the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a standing for being an prestigious animation studio, making its mark not just for the high caliber of its work but for the good working conditions of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not produced an anime adapted from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became a huge following when it debuted in 2022 after just a few chapters, 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 showed it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and enthusiasm, and now fans are ecstatic about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the top-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only just received an English translation, but the anime has been going on for years, and its sixth season was yet another stellar entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in development, and it will probably premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
Another studio known for the excellent quality of its work, Science Saru has brought us critically acclaimed works of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, 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 true story of Fatima, an powerful woman and scholar 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 intriguing visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my must-watch list.
Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Season Two
Immediately following the airing of its twenty-fourth episode, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be securing a follow-up. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific premiere date has not yet been announced.
