A Heap of Japanese Animation News Dropped Over the Festive Season
The winter break present a multitude of pursuits much better than scanning the updates: discovering surprises, getting stuffed on delicious food, and harnessing deep breathing to not arguing with relatives. Hopefully you managed to enjoy all these things and more. That said, the world of entertainment doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Many exciting news items emerged during the break, and if you didn't see some of them, here is a compilation of the most exciting bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (In 2027)
Perhaps the most surprising revelation, the much-discussed disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to halt more episodes. The show will be back with a second cour in 2027—such a distant date they might as well have called it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will still be in charge. At least this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the outset, which is seen as a good sign. However, the promotional image for the continuation is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This suggests that, nowadays, they could be trolling the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a standing for being an elite animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the high caliber of its output but for the good working conditions of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not produced an anime stemming from a manga published in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most famous magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became widespread acclaim when it debuted in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a lengthy break due to the creator's health issues. When it resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series demonstrated it maintained the fans' support and positive sentiment, and now the community is ecstatic about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Has a Sequel In Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only recently got an English localization, but the anime has been airing for years, and season 6 was a further stellar entry. It turns out that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been announced as currently being made, and it will almost certainly debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
A further studio known for the superior craftsmanship of its projects, Science Saru has brought us critically acclaimed works of the quality 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, inspired by the true story of Fatima, an powerful woman and intellectual 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 reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my must-watch list.
Tougen Anki Will Return With a Second Season
Right after the conclusion of the final episode of the first season, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be securing a sequel. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has not been disclosed yet.
