A Ton of Japanese Animation News Arrived Over the Holidays
The Christmas holidays offer a wealth of pastimes far superior than checking the updates: opening presents, feasting on delicious food, and using meditation skills to avoid snapping at loved ones. I hope you were able to accomplish all these things and more. Nevertheless, the world of entertainment doesn't take a break, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Many thrilling news items came out during the festive period, and if you didn't see any, here is a roundup of the biggest bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Is Set to Continue (Come 2027)
Truly the biggest revelation, the widely-criticized troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to deter the series' continuation. Season 3 will come back with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they easily could have called it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will remain at the helm. At least this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the beginning, which might be a hopeful indicator. But, the key visual for the second cour is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This leads one to believe that, by now, they must be teasing the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Set to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a name for being an prestigious animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the superb artistry of its productions but for the fair treatment of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not adapted an anime adapted from a manga from Shonen Jump, perhaps the most famous magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a excellent 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 lengthy break due to the creator's health issues. When it resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series showed it still retained the fans' support and goodwill, and now everyone is overjoyed about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only recently got an English localization, but the anime has been going on for some time, and season 6 was another excellent entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been announced as currently being made, and it will almost certainly air in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
One more studio renowned for the artistic merit of its productions, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works 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, which is based on the actual historical person of Fatima, an prominent woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and fascinating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my must-watch list.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Season Two
Right after the conclusion of the final episode of the first season, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be securing 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 cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific premiere date has not been disclosed yet.
