A Mountain of Japanese Animation News Dropped During the Festive Season
The winter break provide a wealth of pastimes far superior than catching up on the headlines: unwrapping gifts, feasting on holiday treats, and employing meditation skills to not yelling at relatives. Hopefully you were able to accomplish all these things and more. That said, the entertainment world never sleeps, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. A slew of exciting announcements emerged during the break, and if you didn't see any, here is a roundup of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Moving Forward (Come 2027)
Without a doubt the biggest announcement, the much-discussed disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to deter more episodes. The show will come back with a subsequent part in 2027—a date so remote they could have dubbed it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will still be at the helm. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the beginning, which could be taken as a positive development. However, the key visual for the new episodes is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This suggests that, at this point, they are probably trolling the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Set to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a standing for being an elite animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the exceptional quality of its productions but for the ethical practices of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not adapted an anime based on a manga from Shonen Jump, possibly the best-known magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became massive popularity when it launched in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a extended pause due to the mangaka's health issues. When it resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series showed it still retained the fans' affection and enthusiasm, and now the community is thrilled about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the top-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only just received an English localization, but the anime has been going on for some time, and its sixth season was yet another excellent entry. Apparently that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been revealed as currently being made, and it will probably debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
Another studio renowned for the excellent quality of its work, Science Saru has given us masterpieces of the ilk 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 actual historical person of Fatima, an prominent woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and intriguing visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my list of anticipated shows.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Continue With a Season Two
Immediately following the conclusion of the final episode of the first season, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be securing a second season. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific premiere date has yet to be revealed.