A Ton of Japanese Animation News Dropped Over the Festive Season
The winter break present a multitude of pursuits considerably more enjoyable than scanning the headlines: unwrapping gifts, feasting on festive fare, and using patience techniques to avoid snapping at relatives. I hope you managed to accomplish all these things and more. That said, the world of entertainment never sleeps, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Many noteworthy news items emerged during the break, and just in case you overlooked any, here is a summary of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Set to Continue (In 2027)
Without a doubt the most surprising revelation, the notorious controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to deter further production. Season 3 will come 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, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain at the helm. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the beginning, which could be taken as a hopeful indicator. But, the main art for the second cour is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This suggests that, by now, they must be teasing the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Set to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a reputation for being an elite animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the exceptional quality of its work but for the good working conditions of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not produced an anime stemming from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, possibly the most iconic magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained widespread acclaim when it launched in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the mangaka's health issues. When it came back with a lighter schedule, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and enthusiasm, and now the community is overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Has a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the top-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only recently got an English release, but the anime has been going on for a while, and its sixth season was a further excellent entry. As it happens that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been revealed as currently being made, and it will very likely premiere 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 delivered masterpieces 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 true story of Fatima, an prominent woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and intriguing visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my must-watch list.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Second Season
Immediately following the release of the final episode of the first season, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be getting a second season. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete premiere date has yet to be revealed.
