A Ton of Japanese Animation News Dropped During the Holidays
The winter break provide a multitude of activities far superior than catching up on the latest news: unwrapping gifts, feasting on holiday treats, and harnessing deep breathing to refrain from snapping at family members. Hopefully you managed to do all these things and more. Nevertheless, the showbiz industry never sleeps, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. A slew of noteworthy news items surfaced during the break, and should you didn't see some of them, here is a roundup of the most exciting bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Is Set to Continue (By 2027)
Perhaps the most surprising piece of news, the much-discussed disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to deter further production. Season 3 will be back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—so far away they easily could have labeled it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be leading the project. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the start, which might be a hopeful indicator. Yet, the promotional image for the continuation is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This makes me think that, by now, they could be teasing the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series 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, setting itself apart not just for the superb artistry of its productions but for the good working conditions of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not produced an anime based on a manga from Shonen Jump, arguably the best-known magazine in the business. 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 author's health issues. When it came back with a lighter schedule, the series demonstrated it hadn't lost the fans' support and positive sentiment, and now everyone is thrilled about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the best-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English localization, but the anime has been running for a while, and season 6 was another stellar entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in production, and it will probably debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
Another studio known for the superior craftsmanship of its productions, Science Saru has given us masterpieces of the caliber 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, inspired by the true story of Fatima, an influential woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and intriguing visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my must-watch list.
Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Season Two
Shortly after the conclusion of the final episode of the first season, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be securing a second season. Based on 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 yet been announced.
