A Mountain of Japanese Animation News Arrived During the Festive Season
The Yuletide season offer a multitude of pursuits considerably more enjoyable than scanning the headlines: discovering surprises, indulging in festive fare, and harnessing meditation skills to not yelling at relatives. Hopefully you were able to accomplish all these things and more. However, the showbiz industry never sleeps, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Many exciting developments emerged over the holidays, and if you didn't see any, here is a compilation of the most exciting bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Set to Continue (By 2027)
Perhaps the biggest piece of news, the widely-criticized troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to deter the series' continuation. Season 3 will come back with a second cour in 2027—such a distant date they easily could have called it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be leading the project. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the beginning, which could be taken as a hopeful indicator. However, the main art for the second cour is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This makes me think that, nowadays, they are probably teasing the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a reputation for being an prestigious animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the exceptional quality of its productions but for the fair treatment of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga from Shonen Jump, possibly 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 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 author's health issues. When it returned with a reduced workload, the series showed it still retained the fans' affection and enthusiasm, and now everyone is ecstatic about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Will Get 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 just received 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 half, because a "sequel" has been announced as in development, and it will probably debut in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
One more studio renowned for the superior craftsmanship of its projects, Science Saru has brought us hit shows of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be taking on the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, based on the true story 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 distinctly fresh and captivating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my list of anticipated shows.
Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Season Two
Shortly after the release of episode 24, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be getting a sequel. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on 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 yet to be revealed.
