A Heap of Japanese Animation News Dropped During the Holidays
The Christmas holidays offer a wealth of pursuits considerably more enjoyable than scanning the latest news: discovering surprises, indulging in holiday treats, and harnessing deep breathing to refrain from snapping at loved ones. I hope you succeeded in 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. Numerous thrilling developments emerged over the holidays, and just in case you missed some of them, here is a roundup of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Moving Forward (By 2027)
Without a doubt the most shocking announcement, the widely-criticized controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to deter further production. 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 leading the project. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the start, which could be taken as a hopeful indicator. But, the main art for the second cour is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This makes me think that, by now, they could be trolling the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Will Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a reputation for being an top-tier animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the exceptional quality of its output but for the good working conditions of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not adapted an anime stemming from a manga from Shonen Jump, arguably the best-known magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became widespread acclaim when it launched in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the author's health issues. When it resumed publication with a more relaxed pace, the series proved it maintained the fans' appreciation and enthusiasm, and now fans are overjoyed about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Has a Sequel In Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, long-running Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only just received an English translation, but the anime has been going on for some time, and its sixth season was another stellar entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been announced as in production, and it will almost certainly debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
Another studio renowned for the superior craftsmanship of its projects, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more 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 actual historical person of Fatima, an influential woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and intriguing visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my list of anticipated shows.
Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Second Season
Right after the conclusion of the final episode of the first season, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be securing a sequel. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific premiere date has not yet been announced.
