A Mountain of Japanese Animation News Dropped Over the Holidays
The winter break present a wealth of pursuits much better than scanning the latest news: unwrapping gifts, feasting on delicious food, and employing patience techniques to refrain from arguing with loved ones. It is wished you managed to do all these things and more. Nevertheless, the entertainment world doesn't take a break, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. A slew of thrilling news items surfaced during the festive period, and if you overlooked a few, here is a compilation of the biggest bits.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Is Moving Forward (Come 2027)
Perhaps the biggest revelation, the widely-criticized controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to deter the series' continuation. The show will return with a subsequent part in 2027—such a distant date they easily could have dubbed it season 4. Adding to the surprise, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be in charge. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the start, which might be a positive development. But, the key visual for the continuation is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This makes me think that, by now, they must be mocking the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Set to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a reputation for being an elite animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the exceptional quality of its productions but for the good working conditions of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably the most famous magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained a huge following when it first appeared in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a lengthy break due to the author's health issues. When it returned with a lighter schedule, the series proved it maintained the fans' affection and enthusiasm, and now everyone is thrilled about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the top-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only just received an English translation, but the anime has been going on for some time, and season 6 was a further 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 Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
Another studio famous for the excellent quality of its productions, Science Saru has delivered hit shows of the quality 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, inspired by the real historical figure of Fatima, an powerful woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and intriguing visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my watchlist.
The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Season Two
Right after the release of its twenty-fourth episode, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be securing a sequel. 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 concrete premiere date has not yet been announced.
