A Ton of Japanese Animation News Dropped Over the Holidays
The Christmas holidays present a plethora of activities far superior than catching up on the updates: unwrapping gifts, indulging in delicious food, and employing meditation skills to not snapping at loved ones. Hopefully you were able to do all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry doesn't take a break, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Numerous thrilling developments surfaced over the holidays, and should you missed some of them, here is a compilation of the juiciest bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Will Continue (Come 2027)
Truly the most surprising announcement, the widely-criticized troubled production that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to stop the series' continuation. Season 3 will be back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—such a distant date they could have labeled it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will remain leading the project. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the start, which could be taken as a positive development. However, the main art for the new episodes is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This suggests that, at this point, they could be teasing the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a standing for being an elite animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the superb artistry of its productions but for the fair treatment of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not adapted an anime stemming from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the field. 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 handful of installments, but then went into a lengthy break due to the mangaka's health issues. When it returned with a lighter schedule, the series demonstrated it maintained the fans' appreciation and positive sentiment, and now everyone is thrilled about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel In Production
Kingdom is the best-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only recently got an English release, but the anime has been running for some time, and season 6 was a further stellar entry. Apparently that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been announced as in development, 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 work, Science Saru has delivered masterpieces of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be taking on the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, which is based on the true story of Fatima, an prominent woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and fascinating 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 Will Return With a Second Season
Immediately following the conclusion of episode 24, it was revealed 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 new season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete premiere date has yet to be revealed.
