A Heap of Japanese Animation News Dropped During the Festive Season
The Christmas holidays offer a multitude of pursuits much better than checking the updates: unwrapping gifts, indulging in festive fare, and employing meditation skills to not yelling at loved ones. Hopefully you were able to do all these things and more. Nevertheless, the world of entertainment never sleeps, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Numerous noteworthy announcements came out over the festive period, and just in case you missed any, here is a compilation of the biggest bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Will Continue (In 2027)
Truly the most shocking announcement, the widely-criticized disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to deter more episodes. Season 3 will return with a second cour in 2027—such a distant date they could have labeled it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be leading the project. At least this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the beginning, which is seen as a positive development. Yet, the main art for the continuation is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This suggests that, nowadays, they are probably mocking the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Set to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a standing for being an top-tier animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the exceptional quality of its productions but for the fair treatment of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained a huge following when it launched in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the creator's health issues. When it resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series showed it still retained the fans' support and goodwill, and now everyone is overjoyed about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Is Getting a Follow-Up Currently in Production
Kingdom is the best-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only recently got an English translation, but the anime has been running for some time, and its sixth season was a further excellent entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in development, and it will very likely air in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
One more studio renowned for the excellent quality of its work, Science Saru has given us critically acclaimed works of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be taking on the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, inspired by the actual historical person of Fatima, an prominent 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 distinctly fresh and captivating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my list of anticipated shows.
Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Season Two
Right after the airing of the final episode of the first season, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be getting a second season. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life 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 been disclosed yet.
