A Heap of Japanese Animation News Dropped During the Festive Season
The Christmas holidays present a multitude of pursuits considerably more enjoyable than checking the latest news: unwrapping gifts, getting stuffed on festive fare, and harnessing patience techniques to not snapping at relatives. I hope you were able to accomplish all these things and more. However, the showbiz industry never sleeps, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. A slew of thrilling developments emerged during the break, and just in case you overlooked some of them, here is a compilation of the most exciting bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (By 2027)
Without a doubt the most shocking piece of news, the notorious troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to deter more episodes. The show will come back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—a date so remote they might as well have labeled it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will remain at the helm. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the beginning, which might be a good sign. However, the promotional image for the new episodes is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This suggests that, at this point, they are probably trolling the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a name for being an elite animation studio, making its mark not just for the high caliber of its work but for the good working conditions of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, arguably the most famous magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained widespread acclaim when it first appeared in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a lengthy break due to the author's health issues. When it came back with a lighter schedule, the series demonstrated it still retained the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now everyone is overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Will Get a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the top-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English release, but the anime has been airing for a while, and season 6 was yet another stellar entry. It turns out that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been revealed as currently being made, and it will almost certainly premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
A further studio known for the excellent quality of its productions, Science Saru has brought us critically acclaimed works of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be producing the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, inspired by the actual historical person of Fatima, an powerful woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and intriguing visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my must-watch list.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Season Two
Immediately following the conclusion of the final episode of the first season, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be securing a sequel. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm premiere date has yet to be revealed.
