A Mountain of Japanese Animation News Dropped During the Holidays
The Yuletide season offer a multitude of pastimes far superior than catching up on the headlines: opening presents, getting stuffed on holiday treats, and harnessing deep breathing to avoid snapping at relatives. It is wished you managed to enjoy 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. A slew of thrilling announcements surfaced over the holidays, and should you overlooked a few, here is a compilation of the juiciest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Moving Forward (By 2027)
Truly the biggest piece of news, the much-discussed disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to deter the series' continuation. Season 3 will be back with a subsequent part in 2027—so far away they might as well have called it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be in charge. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the start, which is seen as a good sign. However, the promotional image for the second cour is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This leads one to believe that, by now, they must be teasing the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Set to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a standing for being an prestigious 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 adapted an anime based on a manga published in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most famous magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became a huge following when it debuted in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a extended pause due to the creator's health issues. When it came back with a reduced workload, the series showed it still retained the fans' support and goodwill, and now fans are overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Is Getting a Follow-Up In Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English localization, but the anime has been going on for a while, and season 6 was yet another outstanding entry. As it happens that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been announced as in production, and it will very likely debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
One more studio known for the excellent quality of its projects, Science Saru has delivered hit shows of the quality 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, based on the real historical figure of Fatima, an prominent woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and fascinating 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.
The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Second Season
Shortly after the release of the final episode of the first season, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a sequel. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete release date has not been disclosed yet.
