A Heap of Japanese Animation News Arrived Over the Holidays
The Yuletide season provide a plethora of pursuits far superior than catching up on the headlines: unwrapping gifts, getting stuffed on festive fare, and using patience techniques to refrain from snapping at family members. Hopefully you managed to enjoy all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry never sleeps, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. A slew of noteworthy announcements surfaced over the break, and if you didn't see a few, here is a summary of the most exciting bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Moving Forward (By 2027)
Perhaps the most shocking revelation, the much-discussed controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to stop further production. The show will come back with a subsequent part in 2027—a date so remote they easily could have labeled it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will remain in charge. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the outset, which could be taken as a positive development. Yet, the main art for the continuation is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This suggests that, by now, they must be teasing the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Set to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a standing for being an prestigious animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the exceptional quality of its productions but for the good working conditions of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not adapted an anime based on a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained widespread acclaim when it first appeared in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the mangaka's health issues. When it resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series showed it maintained the fans' affection and goodwill, and now fans are thrilled about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Will Get a Sequel In Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, epic Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only just received an English localization, but the anime has been airing for a while, and season 6 was yet another excellent entry. As it happens that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in production, and it will very likely premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
A further studio known for the artistic merit of its projects, Science Saru has brought us masterpieces of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be producing 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 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 reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my list of anticipated shows.
Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Second Season
Immediately following the airing of its twenty-fourth episode, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be getting a follow-up. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete release date has not been disclosed yet.
