A Mountain of Japanese Animation News Arrived During the Holidays
The Yuletide season provide a multitude of pastimes considerably more enjoyable than checking the updates: unwrapping gifts, feasting on delicious food, and using meditation skills to not arguing with loved ones. It is wished you managed to enjoy all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry doesn't take a break, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. A slew of exciting news items emerged during the festive period, and should you missed a few, here is a summary of the juiciest bits.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Is Set to Continue (In 2027)
Perhaps the biggest piece of news, the widely-criticized troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to deter further production. The show will come back with a subsequent part in 2027—a date so remote they might as well have dubbed it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be in charge. 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 continuation is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This makes me think that, nowadays, they are probably mocking the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Set to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a standing for being an prestigious animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the exceptional quality of its output but for the ethical practices of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had never worked on an anime adapted from a manga published in Shonen Jump, possibly the most famous magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained a huge following when it launched in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a lengthy break due to the mangaka's health issues. When it came back with a reduced workload, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and enthusiasm, and now the community is overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up In Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English localization, but the anime has been running for a while, and season 6 was a further excellent entry. It turns out that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in development, and it will probably debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
A further studio known for the superior craftsmanship of its projects, Science Saru has delivered masterpieces of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be producing 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 scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and captivating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my watchlist.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Continue With a Second Season
Shortly after the conclusion of episode 24, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be getting a follow-up. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm premiere date has not yet been announced.
