A Mountain of Japanese Animation News Arrived Over the Holidays
The winter break present a wealth of pursuits far superior than checking the updates: unwrapping gifts, indulging in festive fare, and harnessing deep breathing to avoid snapping at loved ones. It is wished you were able to accomplish all these things and more. However, the showbiz industry doesn't take a break, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. A slew of noteworthy announcements emerged over the holidays, and if you overlooked any, here is a compilation of the juiciest bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Is Set to Continue (By 2027)
Truly the most surprising revelation, the much-discussed troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to stop further production. The show will return with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—a date so remote they might as well have labeled it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will remain at the helm. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the beginning, which might be a good sign. However, the key visual for the second cour is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This suggests that, by now, they could be trolling the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Will Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a name for being an elite animation studio, making its mark not just for the superb artistry of its output but for the ethical practices of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not produced an anime adapted from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, possibly 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 massive popularity when it first appeared 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 returned with a lighter schedule, the series demonstrated it maintained the fans' affection and positive sentiment, and now everyone is thrilled about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up Currently in Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, 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 localization, but the anime has been going on for years, and its sixth season was another outstanding entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in production, and it will almost certainly debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
Another studio famous for the artistic merit of its work, Science Saru has brought us masterpieces of the caliber 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, which is based on the actual historical person of Fatima, an prominent woman and scholar 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 intriguing visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Debuting 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 release of the final episode of the first season, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be securing a second season. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm air date has not been disclosed yet.
