A Heap of Japanese Animation News Landed Over the Holidays
The Yuletide season offer a multitude of pursuits considerably more enjoyable than catching up on the headlines: unwrapping gifts, indulging in holiday treats, and using deep breathing to avoid yelling at family members. It is wished you managed to enjoy all these things and more. Nevertheless, the entertainment world doesn't take a break, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Many noteworthy developments came out during the break, and should you didn't see a few, here is a summary of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (In 2027)
Without a doubt the most surprising announcement, the notorious controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to stop the series' continuation. Season 3 will come back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—such a distant date they could have called it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be in charge. At least this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the start, which could be taken as a positive development. Yet, the key visual for the continuation is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This suggests that, nowadays, they could be mocking the fans.
Ruri Dragon Will Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a name for being an elite animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the high caliber of its productions but for the fair treatment of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not adapted an anime stemming from a manga published in Shonen Jump, possibly the most famous magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved widespread acclaim when it first appeared in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a lengthy break due to the creator's health issues. When it came back with a more relaxed pace, the series demonstrated it still retained the fans' appreciation and enthusiasm, and now everyone is ecstatic about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel In Production
Kingdom is the top-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only recently got an English release, but the anime has been airing for years, and season 6 was a further excellent entry. As it happens that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been announced as currently being made, and it will almost certainly premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
A further studio famous for the artistic merit of its productions, Science Saru has delivered masterpieces of the caliber 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, which is based on the real historical figure of Fatima, an powerful 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 intriguing visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my must-watch list.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Continue With a Second Season
Immediately following the airing of its twenty-fourth episode, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be securing a second season. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete premiere date has yet to be revealed.
