A Ton of Japanese Animation News Landed Over the Festive Season
The Yuletide season provide a wealth of pursuits much better than scanning the headlines: unwrapping gifts, indulging in delicious food, and using meditation skills to refrain from arguing with family members. It is wished you managed to do all these things and more. That said, the world of entertainment never sleeps, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Many exciting announcements emerged during the holidays, and if you didn't see any, here is a summary of the most exciting bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Set to Continue (Come 2027)
Perhaps the most surprising revelation, the notorious troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to deter more episodes. Season 3 will come back with a subsequent part in 2027—a date so remote they might as well have called it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation 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 outset, which might be a good sign. But, the main art for the new episodes is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This leads one to believe that, at this point, they must be trolling the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Set to Be the Premiere 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 high caliber of its productions but for the fair treatment of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not produced an anime based on a manga published in Shonen Jump, possibly the best-known magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved massive popularity when it debuted in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a extended pause due to the creator's health issues. When it returned with a reduced workload, the series showed it maintained the fans' affection and goodwill, and now everyone is overjoyed about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the top-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English translation, but the anime has been airing for a while, and season 6 was another stellar entry. As it happens that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in production, and it will probably air in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
A further studio renowned for the superior craftsmanship of its work, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be producing the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, based on the real historical figure of Fatima, an influential woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and intriguing visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my watchlist.
Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Season Two
Shortly after the conclusion of its twenty-fourth episode, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be receiving a sequel. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm air date has yet to be revealed.
