A Heap of Japanese Animation News Dropped Over the Holidays
The Yuletide season present a wealth of pastimes far superior than catching up on the latest news: unwrapping gifts, indulging in delicious food, and harnessing patience techniques to not yelling at family members. It is wished you were able to do all these things and more. Nevertheless, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. A slew of thrilling developments emerged during the festive period, and just in case you missed any, here is a summary of the juiciest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Will Continue (In 2027)
Truly the most surprising revelation, the widely-criticized troubled production that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to stop further production. The show will return with a subsequent part in 2027—such a distant date they might as well have labeled it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will remain in charge. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the start, which is seen as a good sign. But, the promotional image for the new episodes is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This suggests that, at this point, they must be trolling the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By 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 good working conditions of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not produced an anime adapted from a manga serialized in 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 achieved widespread acclaim when it first appeared in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a extended pause due to the mangaka's health issues. When it resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series proved it still retained the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now fans are ecstatic about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Has a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, epic Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English translation, but the anime has been running for some time, and season 6 was another outstanding entry. It turns out that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in development, and it will very likely debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
Another studio renowned for the superior craftsmanship of its productions, Science Saru has given us hit shows 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, based on the actual historical person of Fatima, an powerful woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime titled 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.
Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Season Two
Shortly after the airing of the final episode of the first season, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a follow-up. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete air date has not yet been announced.
