A Ton of Japanese Animation News Arrived Over the Festive Season
The Yuletide season provide a plethora of activities far superior than checking the headlines: unwrapping gifts, feasting on holiday treats, and using meditation skills to not yelling at relatives. I hope you succeeded in do all these things and more. That said, the world of entertainment doesn't take a break, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Many exciting announcements came out during the holidays, and if you overlooked a few, here is a summary of the most exciting bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Moving Forward (By 2027)
Perhaps the most shocking revelation, the notorious disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to deter further production. The show will return with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they might as well have called it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain leading the project. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the start, which is seen as a hopeful indicator. However, the main art for the new episodes is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This makes me think that, at this point, they are probably teasing the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a name for being an top-tier animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the exceptional quality of its output but for the good working conditions of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had never worked on an anime adapted from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, perhaps the best-known magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, 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 lengthy break due to the mangaka's health issues. When it resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series proved it maintained the fans' support and enthusiasm, and now everyone is overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Will Get a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the top-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only recently got an English translation, but the anime has been running for a while, and season 6 was yet another outstanding entry. Apparently that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been announced as in production, and it will probably debut in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
Another studio known for the artistic merit of its projects, Science Saru has given us masterpieces 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, inspired by the real historical figure of Fatima, an influential woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and intriguing visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my list of anticipated shows.
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. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete premiere date has not been disclosed yet.
