A Heap of Japanese Animation News Landed Over the Holidays
The Christmas holidays present a plethora of pastimes much better than catching up on the latest news: opening presents, getting stuffed on festive fare, and harnessing deep breathing to not arguing with family members. Hopefully you succeeded in do all these things and more. Nevertheless, the world of entertainment doesn't take a break, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Numerous noteworthy announcements came out during the break, and just in case you didn't see any, 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 disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to stop more episodes. The show will return with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—so far away they could have dubbed it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be at the helm. At least this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board 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 looking opposite ways. This makes me think that, nowadays, they are probably mocking the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a reputation for being an prestigious animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the high caliber of its productions but for the ethical practices of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had never worked on an anime stemming from a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably 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 achieved widespread acclaim when it first appeared 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 returned with a reduced workload, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now the community is ecstatic about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Has a Sequel In Production
Kingdom is the best-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English translation, but the anime has been going on for years, and its sixth season was yet another excellent entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in development, and it will probably premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
A further studio famous for the excellent quality of its productions, Science Saru has delivered masterpieces of the quality 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, based on the real historical figure of Fatima, an powerful woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and captivating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my list of anticipated shows.
Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Second Season
Right after the conclusion of its twenty-fourth episode, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be getting a follow-up. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific premiere date has not been disclosed yet.