A Heap of Japanese Animation News Landed During the Holidays
The Christmas holidays offer a wealth of pastimes considerably more enjoyable than catching up on the headlines: discovering surprises, feasting on festive fare, and harnessing patience techniques to not yelling at family members. It is wished you succeeded in accomplish all these things and more. However, the entertainment world doesn't take a break, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Many exciting announcements came out during the break, and just in case you missed a few, here is a compilation of the most exciting bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (Come 2027)
Truly the most surprising piece of news, the widely-criticized disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to stop further production. The show will come back with a second cour in 2027—so far away they easily could have labeled it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be in charge. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the start, which might be a hopeful indicator. Yet, the main art for the continuation is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This makes me think that, at this point, they must be mocking the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a reputation for being an top-tier animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the superb artistry of its productions but for the fair treatment of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became massive popularity when it launched in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the author's health issues. When it returned with a lighter schedule, the series demonstrated it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now fans are thrilled about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Has a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the top-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only just received an English localization, but the anime has been running for years, and season 6 was another outstanding entry. Apparently 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 Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
One more studio known for the artistic merit of its projects, Science Saru has brought us critically acclaimed works of the caliber 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 true story 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 distinctly fresh and fascinating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my list of anticipated shows.
The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Season Two
Right after the airing of episode 24, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be getting a follow-up. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm release date has yet to be revealed.
