A Heap of Japanese Animation News Dropped During the Festive Season
The winter break offer a wealth of pursuits considerably more enjoyable than checking the headlines: unwrapping gifts, feasting on holiday treats, and employing deep breathing to not yelling at relatives. It is wished you succeeded in accomplish all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry doesn't take a break, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. A slew of exciting developments emerged over the break, and just in case you didn't see some of them, here is a roundup of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Set to Continue (By 2027)
Truly the most surprising announcement, the widely-criticized controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to stop further production. The show will be back with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they could have dubbed it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will remain at the helm. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the start, which is seen as a hopeful indicator. Yet, the promotional image for the new episodes is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This leads one to believe that, nowadays, they must be mocking the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a reputation for being an elite animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the high caliber of its work but for the fair treatment of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga published in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became a huge following when it launched in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the mangaka's health issues. When it came back with a more relaxed pace, the series proved it maintained the fans' support and goodwill, and now the community is ecstatic about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the best-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is other than 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 airing for a while, and season 6 was yet another excellent entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as currently being made, and it will probably premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
Another studio known for the superior craftsmanship of its work, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, which is based on the actual historical person of Fatima, an powerful woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and fascinating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my watchlist.
Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Second Season
Right after the conclusion of the final episode of the first season, it was announced 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 second season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm premiere date has not been disclosed yet.
