A Mountain of Japanese Animation News Arrived During the Holidays
The Christmas holidays provide a plethora of pursuits much better than scanning the latest news: opening presents, feasting on delicious food, and employing meditation skills to avoid snapping at loved ones. Hopefully you were able to do all these things and more. That said, the entertainment world doesn't take a break, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Numerous thrilling news items came out over the break, and should you didn't see some of them, here is a summary of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Is Set to Continue (By 2027)
Perhaps the most shocking announcement, the widely-criticized controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to halt more episodes. Season 3 will return with a second cour in 2027—so far away they easily could have labeled it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be at the helm. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the beginning, which could be taken as a hopeful indicator. However, the promotional image for the continuation is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This makes me think that, by now, they could be teasing the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a name for being an top-tier animation studio, making its mark not just for the exceptional quality of its work but for the ethical practices of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, possibly the best-known magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved widespread acclaim when it launched in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a extended pause due to the author's health issues. When it returned with a reduced workload, the series demonstrated it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now the community is thrilled about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Is Getting a Follow-Up Now in the Works
Kingdom is the top-selling, long-running 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 release, but the anime has been going on for a while, and season 6 was a further excellent entry. Apparently that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been announced as in development, and it will almost certainly debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
A further studio renowned for the artistic merit of its work, Science Saru has brought us masterpieces of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be taking on the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, based on the actual historical person 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 evokes Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my watchlist.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Continue With a Second Season
Right after the release of episode 24, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a follow-up. Inspired by 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 concrete air date has not yet been announced.
