A Ton of Japanese Animation News Arrived During the Festive Season
The winter break provide a plethora of activities far superior than checking the headlines: opening presents, indulging in holiday treats, and employing patience techniques to avoid yelling at relatives. I hope you managed to do all these things and more. That said, the entertainment world doesn't take a break, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Many noteworthy announcements came out over the holidays, and just in case you missed a few, here is a summary of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Will Continue (Come 2027)
Truly the most shocking piece of news, the much-discussed disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to deter more episodes. Season 3 will return with a subsequent part in 2027—such a distant date they could have dubbed it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be at the helm. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the beginning, which might be a hopeful indicator. However, the key visual for the continuation is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This leads one to believe that, by now, they must be trolling the fans.
Ruri Dragon Will Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a name for being an top-tier animation studio, making its mark not just for the high caliber of its output but for the fair treatment of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not adapted an anime stemming from a manga from Shonen Jump, arguably the most famous magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became widespread acclaim when it debuted in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a lengthy break due to the author's health issues. When it returned with a lighter schedule, the series demonstrated it still retained the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now the community is thrilled about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up In Production
Kingdom is the best-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English release, but the anime has been running for some time, and its sixth season was yet another outstanding entry. As it happens that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been announced as currently being made, and it will very likely premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
A further studio renowned for the excellent quality of its productions, Science Saru has given us critically acclaimed works of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be producing the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, which is based on the real historical figure of Fatima, an influential woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and fascinating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my must-watch list.
Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Second Season
Shortly after the airing of the final episode of the first season, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be securing a second season. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete release date has not yet been announced.
