A Heap of Japanese Animation News Arrived During the Holidays
The winter break provide a multitude of pursuits much better than catching up on the latest news: unwrapping gifts, getting stuffed on delicious food, and harnessing deep breathing to avoid snapping at relatives. Hopefully you managed to accomplish all these things and more. However, the showbiz industry never sleeps, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. A slew of exciting announcements surfaced during the festive period, and just in case you didn't see a few, here is a roundup of the most exciting bits.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Is Moving Forward (By 2027)
Without a doubt the biggest announcement, the notorious disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to deter the series' continuation. Season 3 will be back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—such a distant date they easily could have called it season 4. Adding to the surprise, the studio J.C. Staff will still be leading the project. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the start, which might be a positive development. However, the promotional image for the continuation is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This makes me think that, nowadays, they must be mocking the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a name for being an top-tier animation studio, making its mark not just for the superb artistry of its output but for the fair treatment of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not adapted an anime adapted from a manga from Shonen Jump, perhaps the best-known magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained massive popularity when it launched in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a extended pause due to the mangaka's health issues. When it returned with a reduced workload, the series demonstrated it still retained the fans' support and enthusiasm, and now everyone is overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Is Getting a Follow-Up Now in the Works
Kingdom is the highly popular, long-running Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English translation, but the anime has been going on for a while, and season 6 was a further outstanding entry. It turns out that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been announced as in production, and it will almost certainly debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
One more studio known for the superior craftsmanship of its work, Science Saru has given us hit shows of the caliber 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, based on the real historical figure of Fatima, an powerful woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and intriguing visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my must-watch list.
The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Season Two
Shortly after the airing of episode 24, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be getting a follow-up. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has yet to be revealed.
