A Ton of Japanese Animation News Arrived Over the Holidays
The winter break present a wealth of activities much better than checking the updates: opening presents, indulging in holiday treats, and harnessing deep breathing to refrain from arguing with family members. Hopefully you succeeded in enjoy all these things and more. Nevertheless, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. A slew of noteworthy news items emerged over the break, and if you missed some of them, here is a roundup of the most exciting bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (By 2027)
Without a doubt the most surprising piece of news, the notorious controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to deter the series' continuation. The show will return with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—so far away they could have dubbed it season 4. Adding to the surprise, the studio J.C. Staff will remain in charge. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the beginning, which could be taken as a positive development. But, the main art for the continuation is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This leads one to believe that, at this point, they are probably trolling the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Set to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a reputation for being an prestigious animation studio, making its mark not just for the high caliber of its output but for the good working conditions of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not adapted an anime stemming from a manga from Shonen Jump, perhaps the most famous magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became a huge following when it debuted in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a extended pause due to the mangaka's health issues. When it resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' support and positive sentiment, and now the community is ecstatic about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the highly popular, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English release, but the anime has been going on for years, and its sixth season was another outstanding entry. As it happens that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as currently being made, 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 superior craftsmanship of its productions, Science Saru has brought us masterpieces of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more 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 real historical figure 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 definitely be on my list of anticipated shows.
The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Second Season
Immediately following the release of the final episode of the first season, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be receiving a sequel. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm release date has not been disclosed yet.
