A Ton of Japanese Animation News Arrived Over the Holidays
The Christmas holidays provide a plethora of activities much better than catching up on the latest news: opening presents, feasting on festive fare, and harnessing meditation skills to not yelling at family members. Hopefully you were able to enjoy all these things and more. That said, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Many exciting news items emerged over the break, and should you overlooked some of them, here is a roundup of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (Come 2027)
Without a doubt the most surprising revelation, the widely-criticized controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to stop further production. The show will be back with a subsequent part in 2027—such a distant date they easily could have labeled it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain at the helm. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the start, which could be taken as a good sign. Yet, the promotional image for the continuation is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This suggests that, nowadays, they could be mocking the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a standing for being an prestigious animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the exceptional quality of its productions but for the good working conditions of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not adapted an anime based on a manga published in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most famous magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a great 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 two-year hiatus due to the author's health issues. When it returned with a reduced workload, the series proved it maintained the fans' affection and enthusiasm, and now the community is thrilled about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, long-running Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only recently got an English translation, but the anime has been airing for a while, and its sixth season was a further excellent entry. Apparently that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in production, and it will probably premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
One more studio known for the excellent quality of its productions, 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 taking on the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, based on the true story of Fatima, an prominent woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and captivating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my must-watch list.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Continue With a Second Season
Immediately following the conclusion of its twenty-fourth episode, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be getting a sequel. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm air date has not been disclosed yet.
