A Heap of Japanese Animation News Landed During the Holidays
The Christmas holidays provide a wealth of pastimes considerably more enjoyable than checking the updates: opening presents, feasting on holiday treats, and using patience techniques to not arguing with loved ones. Hopefully you managed to enjoy all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry doesn't take a break, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Numerous thrilling announcements surfaced during the break, and just in case you overlooked any, here is a compilation of the juiciest bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Will Continue (By 2027)
Truly the most surprising announcement, the much-discussed controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to halt more episodes. The show will return with a second cour in 2027—so far away they easily could have called it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be at the helm. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the start, which could be taken as a hopeful indicator. However, the key visual for the new episodes is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This makes me think that, at this point, they must be teasing the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a name for being an elite animation studio, making its mark not just for the high caliber 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 stemming from a manga published in Shonen Jump, perhaps the best-known magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained widespread acclaim when it debuted in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a extended pause due to the mangaka's health issues. When it came back with a lighter schedule, the series proved it still retained the fans' appreciation and positive sentiment, and now the community is ecstatic about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Has a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, epic Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only just received an English localization, but the anime has been running for years, and season 6 was another outstanding entry. As it happens that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been announced as in development, and it will very likely air in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
One more studio renowned for the excellent quality of its projects, Science Saru has given us masterpieces of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more 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 actual historical person of Fatima, an prominent woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and captivating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my watchlist.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Continue With a Second Season
Shortly after the conclusion of episode 24, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be securing a sequel. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete premiere date has not been disclosed yet.
