A Heap of Japanese Animation News Landed Over the Festive Season
The Christmas holidays offer a multitude of pursuits far superior than scanning the updates: unwrapping gifts, getting stuffed on holiday treats, and using deep breathing to avoid arguing with relatives. It is wished you were able to accomplish all these things and more. Nevertheless, the world of entertainment doesn't go on vacation, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. A slew of exciting news items came out over the festive period, and if you didn't see some of them, here is a roundup of the most exciting bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Set to Continue (By 2027)
Without a doubt the most shocking piece of news, the notorious troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to stop more episodes. The show will come back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—a date so remote they could have labeled it season 4. Adding to the surprise, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be in charge. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the start, which might be a positive development. Yet, the main art for the second cour 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 teasing the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Set to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a reputation 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. Unexpectedly, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga from Shonen Jump, arguably the most famous magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a great 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 resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series demonstrated it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now the community is thrilled about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Will Get a Sequel In Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, epic Shueisha manga that is aside from 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 airing for some time, and season 6 was a further excellent entry. Apparently that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been revealed as currently being made, and it will very likely premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
Another studio renowned for the excellent quality of its productions, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works of the quality 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 influential woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and intriguing 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 Will Continue With a Second Season
Right after the conclusion of episode 24, it was announced 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 second season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has not been disclosed yet.