A Heap of Japanese Animation News Landed During the Festive Season
The Yuletide season present a plethora of pursuits far superior than catching up on the updates: discovering surprises, getting stuffed on festive fare, and using deep breathing to avoid yelling at loved ones. Hopefully you succeeded in do all these things and more. That said, the world of entertainment doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Numerous thrilling news items came out over the holidays, and just in case you missed a few, here is a compilation of the most exciting bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Moving Forward (In 2027)
Perhaps the biggest revelation, the widely-criticized controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to stop the series' continuation. The show will be back with a second cour in 2027—such a distant date they easily could have called it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will still be in charge. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the beginning, which might be a good sign. Yet, the main art for the continuation is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This leads one to believe that, by now, they are probably teasing the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a standing for being an prestigious animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the exceptional quality of its work but for the ethical practices of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not adapted an anime adapted from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, possibly the most famous magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, 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 showed it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and enthusiasm, and now the community is ecstatic about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, long-running Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with 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 cour, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as currently being made, and it will almost certainly air in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
One more studio famous for the excellent quality of its productions, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, inspired by the real historical figure of Fatima, an prominent woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and fascinating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my watchlist.
Tougen Anki Will Return With a Second Season
Immediately following the conclusion of its twenty-fourth episode, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a follow-up. Inspired by 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 release date has not been disclosed yet.
