A Mountain of Japanese Animation News Landed During the Festive Season
The winter break present a wealth of activities considerably more enjoyable than checking the latest news: opening presents, indulging in festive fare, and employing patience techniques to not arguing with loved ones. I hope you succeeded in enjoy all these things and more. Nevertheless, the world of entertainment doesn't go on vacation, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Many thrilling news items emerged over the break, and if you overlooked some of them, here is a roundup of the most exciting bits.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Will Continue (In 2027)
Perhaps the biggest piece of news, the much-discussed disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to deter the series' continuation. Season 3 will be back with a second cour in 2027—so far away they easily could have called it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be leading the project. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the outset, which is seen as a positive development. Yet, the promotional image for the second cour is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This suggests that, nowadays, they could be trolling the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a standing for being an top-tier animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the high caliber of its output but for the ethical practices of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had never worked on an anime stemming from a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably the best-known magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained massive popularity when it first appeared in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the author's health issues. When it resumed publication with a more relaxed pace, the series showed it still retained the fans' support and enthusiasm, and now the community is thrilled about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the best-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only just received an English translation, but the anime has been going on for a while, and season 6 was another stellar entry. Apparently that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in production, and it will very likely debut in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
Another studio famous for the excellent quality of its projects, Science Saru has brought us hit shows of the quality 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 actual historical person of Fatima, an prominent woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and captivating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my must-watch list.
Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Season Two
Immediately following the airing of episode 24, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be receiving a second season. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific premiere date has yet to be revealed.