A Heap of Japanese Animation News Dropped Over the Holidays
The winter break provide a multitude of pastimes considerably more enjoyable than scanning the latest news: opening presents, feasting on delicious food, and using patience techniques to avoid yelling at loved ones. It is wished you succeeded in accomplish all these things and more. Nevertheless, the entertainment world never sleeps, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Many exciting news items emerged during the holidays, and just in case you missed any, here is a roundup of the most exciting bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (By 2027)
Perhaps the biggest announcement, the much-discussed controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to halt the series' continuation. Season 3 will come back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—such a distant date they easily could have called it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be leading the project. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the beginning, which might be a hopeful indicator. Yet, the main art for the new episodes is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This suggests that, by now, they could be trolling the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Set to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a name for being an elite animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the superb artistry of its output but for the fair treatment of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not produced an anime stemming from a manga from Shonen Jump, possibly the most famous magazine in the field. 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 small number of issues, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the author's health issues. When it returned with a lighter schedule, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' affection and positive sentiment, and now the community is thrilled about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, epic Shueisha manga that is not 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 a while, and its sixth season was another outstanding entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been announced as currently being made, and it will almost certainly air in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
Another studio famous for the artistic merit of its work, Science Saru has brought us hit shows of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be taking on the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, inspired by the actual historical person of Fatima, an powerful woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and fascinating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my must-watch list.
The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Season Two
Right after the airing of the final episode of the first season, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be getting a sequel. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts 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.
