A Mountain of Japanese Animation News Dropped Over the Festive Season
The Yuletide season present a plethora of pastimes much better than catching up on the headlines: unwrapping gifts, indulging in delicious food, and employing patience techniques to avoid yelling at loved ones. Hopefully you managed to enjoy all these things and more. However, the showbiz industry doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Numerous thrilling news items emerged over the break, and if you overlooked some of them, here is a roundup of the biggest bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (Come 2027)
Without a doubt the biggest announcement, the widely-criticized troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to stop more episodes. Season 3 will return with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they might as well have called it season 4. Adding to the surprise, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be at the helm. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the beginning, which is seen as a hopeful indicator. However, the key visual for the continuation is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This leads one to believe that, at this point, they are probably mocking the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a standing for being an elite animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the high caliber of its work but for the ethical practices of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not produced an anime adapted from a manga published in Shonen Jump, possibly the most famous magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved massive popularity when it debuted in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a extended pause due to the mangaka's health issues. When it returned with a lighter schedule, the series demonstrated it hadn't lost the fans' support and positive sentiment, and now the community is ecstatic about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel In Production
Kingdom is the top-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English localization, but the anime has been running for some time, and season 6 was another stellar entry. Apparently that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in development, and it will very likely air in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
A further studio famous for the superior craftsmanship of its work, Science Saru has given us hit shows of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, 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 influential woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime called 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 without a doubt be on my must-watch list.
Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Season Two
Shortly after the airing of episode 24, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a second season. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has not been disclosed yet.