A Heap of Japanese Animation News Landed Over the Holidays
The Yuletide season provide a wealth of pursuits far superior than scanning the headlines: discovering surprises, feasting on delicious food, and employing deep breathing to not arguing with loved ones. It is wished you succeeded in enjoy all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Numerous thrilling announcements came out over the break, and if you didn't see some of them, here is a compilation of the juiciest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Set to Continue (Come 2027)
Without a doubt the most surprising revelation, the widely-criticized disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to halt the series' continuation. The show will be back with a subsequent part in 2027—a date so remote they easily could have dubbed it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain at the helm. At least this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the start, which could be taken as a hopeful indicator. Yet, the key visual for the continuation is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This suggests that, nowadays, they must be teasing the fans.
Ruri Dragon Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a reputation for being an top-tier animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the high caliber of its productions but for the good working conditions of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not adapted an anime stemming from a manga from Shonen Jump, perhaps the best-known magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained a huge following when it debuted in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a extended pause due to the author's health issues. When it resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series showed it maintained the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now everyone is thrilled about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Is Getting a Follow-Up Currently in Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, long-running Shueisha manga that is aside from 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 going on for years, and its sixth season was another stellar entry. It turns out that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in production, and it will probably debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
A further studio renowned for the excellent quality of its productions, Science Saru has delivered masterpieces 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, which is based on the actual historical person of Fatima, an powerful woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and intriguing visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my watchlist.
The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Season Two
Immediately following the airing of the final episode of the first season, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a second season. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific air date has not been disclosed yet.
