A Heap of Japanese Animation News Landed Over the Holidays
The Christmas holidays offer a wealth of activities far superior than scanning the latest news: discovering surprises, indulging in holiday treats, and using patience techniques to not arguing with family members. Hopefully you were able to enjoy all these things and more. However, the world of entertainment doesn't go on vacation, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Many exciting developments emerged during the break, and should you overlooked any, here is a roundup of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Is Set to Continue (By 2027)
Without a doubt the biggest piece of news, the widely-criticized controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to deter more episodes. The show will return with a second cour in 2027—so far away they could have called it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be in charge. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the start, which is seen as a good sign. But, the promotional image for the new episodes is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This makes me think that, at this point, they are probably trolling the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a standing for being an prestigious animation studio, making its mark not just for the superb artistry of its productions but for the fair treatment of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not adapted an anime adapted 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 achieved a huge following when it first appeared in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the creator's health issues. When it resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series proved it still retained the fans' affection and positive sentiment, and now the community is overjoyed about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Is Getting a Follow-Up In Production
Kingdom is the best-selling, epic 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 translation, but the anime has been going on for a while, and its sixth season was a further stellar entry. It turns out that was just the first half, 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 To Anime
Another studio renowned for the artistic merit of its productions, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be producing 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 captivating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my watchlist.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Continue With a Second Season
Right after the airing of episode 24, 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 cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete premiere date has not yet been announced.
