A Mountain of Japanese Animation News Arrived During the Festive Season
The winter break present a plethora of pursuits far superior than checking the latest news: discovering surprises, getting stuffed on holiday treats, and employing meditation skills to refrain from yelling at relatives. Hopefully you were able to do all these things and more. Nevertheless, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. A slew of exciting news items came out over the festive period, and just in case you overlooked any, here is a roundup of the most exciting bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Is Set to Continue (In 2027)
Perhaps the most shocking announcement, the notorious troubled production that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to halt more episodes. The show will come back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—a date so remote they could have labeled it season 4. Adding to the surprise, the studio J.C. Staff will still be leading the project. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the outset, which might be a positive development. But, the promotional image for the second cour is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This suggests that, nowadays, they are probably teasing the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Set to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a standing for being an elite animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the superb artistry of its work but for the good working conditions of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not produced an anime adapted from a manga from Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became massive popularity when it debuted in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the creator's health issues. When it resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series showed it hadn't lost the fans' affection and positive sentiment, and now everyone is thrilled about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the top-selling, 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 translation, but the anime has been going on for a while, and season 6 was another outstanding entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in development, and it will almost certainly premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
A further studio renowned for the excellent quality of its projects, Science Saru has given us hit shows of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be producing the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, which is based on the real historical figure of Fatima, an influential woman and thinker 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 captivating 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.
Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Season Two
Shortly after the release of episode 24, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be getting a sequel. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete premiere date has not yet been announced.
