A Mountain of Japanese Animation News Dropped Over the Holidays
The Christmas holidays provide a multitude of activities considerably more enjoyable than catching up on the latest news: unwrapping gifts, indulging in delicious food, and employing deep breathing to not yelling at relatives. I hope you succeeded in accomplish all these things and more. However, the showbiz industry never sleeps, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Numerous exciting news items surfaced during the festive period, and should you didn't see a few, here is a roundup of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (In 2027)
Truly the most surprising announcement, the much-discussed troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to stop more episodes. Season 3 will return with a subsequent part in 2027—so far away they could have dubbed it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be leading the project. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the outset, which is seen as a good sign. But, the main art for the new episodes is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This suggests that, at this point, they are probably mocking the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Will Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a name for being an top-tier animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the exceptional quality of its productions but for the good working conditions of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga from Shonen Jump, perhaps the best-known magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained widespread acclaim when it first appeared in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a extended pause due to the mangaka's health issues. When it came back with a reduced workload, the series demonstrated it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and positive sentiment, and now fans are ecstatic about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Will Get 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 fairly recently obtained an English localization, but the anime has been running for some time, and its sixth season was another excellent entry. It turns out that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in production, and it will almost certainly debut in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
One more studio renowned for the superior craftsmanship of its projects, Science Saru has brought us hit shows of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling 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 intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and fascinating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my must-watch list.
Tougen Anki Will Return With a Season Two
Immediately following the airing of its twenty-fourth episode, 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 second season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has not yet been announced.
