A Heap of Japanese Animation News Arrived During the Holidays
The winter break offer a multitude of pastimes far superior than checking the updates: unwrapping gifts, feasting on holiday treats, and employing patience techniques to not yelling at loved ones. I hope you managed to enjoy all these things and more. However, the showbiz industry doesn't take a break, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Many thrilling developments emerged during the holidays, and should you didn't see a few, here is a roundup of the most exciting bits.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Will Continue (In 2027)
Perhaps the biggest revelation, the much-discussed troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to stop more episodes. Season 3 will return with a second cour in 2027—such a distant date they easily could have dubbed it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be leading the project. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the start, which could be taken as a good sign. 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 suggests that, by now, they could be mocking the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a standing for being an elite animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the high caliber of its work but for the good working conditions of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained massive popularity when it launched in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the creator's health issues. When it returned with a lighter schedule, the series showed it hadn't lost the fans' affection and enthusiasm, and now everyone is thrilled about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Will Get a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only just received an English release, but the anime has been running for a while, and its sixth season was yet another outstanding entry. It turns out that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in production, and it will almost certainly debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
A further studio known for the excellent quality of its projects, Science Saru has brought us masterpieces of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, inspired by the actual historical person of Fatima, an influential woman and thinker 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 fascinating 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 watchlist.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Season Two
Immediately following the airing of the final episode of the first season, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be getting a second season. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm premiere date has not been disclosed yet.
