A Heap of Japanese Animation News Landed During the Holidays
The Christmas holidays present a wealth of pastimes considerably more enjoyable than checking the headlines: opening presents, getting stuffed on festive fare, and harnessing patience techniques to avoid yelling at loved ones. Hopefully you succeeded in accomplish all these things and more. However, the showbiz industry doesn't take a break, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Numerous noteworthy announcements surfaced over the break, and just in case you missed any, here is a summary of the biggest bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Is Set to Continue (Come 2027)
Perhaps the most shocking revelation, the notorious troubled production that was season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to stop more episodes. The show will return with a second cour in 2027—such a distant date they might as well have labeled it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be at the helm. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the start, which is seen as a good sign. Yet, the key visual for the new episodes is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This makes me think that, nowadays, they could be teasing the fans.
Ruri Dragon Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a standing for being an elite animation studio, making its mark 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 produced an anime based on a manga published in Shonen Jump, possibly the most famous magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved widespread acclaim when it launched in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a extended pause due to the mangaka's health issues. When it resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series showed it still retained the fans' appreciation and enthusiasm, and now everyone is ecstatic about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel In Production
Kingdom is the best-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only just received an English localization, but the anime has been airing for a while, and season 6 was another stellar entry. As it happens that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in development, and it will almost certainly air in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
A further studio known for the superior craftsmanship of its work, Science Saru has delivered masterpieces of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be taking on the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, based on the actual historical person of Fatima, an influential 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 highly unique and captivating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my must-watch list.
The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Season Two
Right after the airing of its twenty-fourth episode, it was confirmed 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 delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has not yet been announced.
