A Heap of Japanese Animation News Arrived Over the Holidays
The winter break provide a wealth of pursuits much better than scanning the updates: discovering surprises, feasting on festive fare, and employing deep breathing to not snapping at loved ones. I hope you were able to accomplish all these things and more. That said, the world of entertainment doesn't take a break, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. A slew of thrilling news items emerged over the holidays, and if you overlooked any, here is a summary of the juiciest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Moving Forward (In 2027)
Without a doubt the biggest revelation, the notorious troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to deter more episodes. Season 3 will be back with a subsequent part in 2027—so far away they could have labeled it season 4. Adding to the surprise, the studio J.C. Staff will remain leading the project. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the beginning, which could be taken as a good sign. But, the promotional image for the new episodes is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This leads one to believe that, at this point, they are probably trolling the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Set to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a name for being an prestigious animation studio, making its mark not just for the high caliber of its work but for the good working conditions of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not produced an anime stemming from a manga published in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most famous magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved a huge following when it debuted in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a lengthy break due to the author's health issues. When it resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series demonstrated it hadn't lost the fans' support and positive sentiment, and now everyone is overjoyed about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the top-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only recently got an English release, but the anime has been running for years, and season 6 was yet another outstanding entry. As it happens that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in production, and it will very likely debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
One more studio famous for the artistic merit of its productions, Science Saru has given us critically acclaimed works 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, which is based on the true story of Fatima, an prominent woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on 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. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my watchlist.
The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Second Season
Immediately following the conclusion of episode 24, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be securing a follow-up. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm release date has not been disclosed yet.
