A Mountain of Japanese Animation News Arrived Over the Festive Season
The Christmas holidays offer a plethora of activities far superior than catching up on the headlines: unwrapping gifts, feasting on delicious food, and harnessing meditation skills to refrain from snapping at family members. I hope you were able 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. Numerous exciting developments came out over the holidays, and just in case you missed a few, here is a roundup of the most exciting bits.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Will Continue (Come 2027)
Without a doubt the biggest piece of news, the notorious disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to stop more episodes. Season 3 will come back with a second cour in 2027—so far away they easily could have labeled it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will still be at the helm. At least this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the outset, which might be a hopeful indicator. Yet, the key visual for the new episodes is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This suggests that, by now, they must be teasing the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Will Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a standing for being an elite animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the exceptional quality of its productions but for the fair treatment of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably 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 became a huge following when it debuted in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a extended pause due to the author's health issues. When it returned with a lighter schedule, the series showed it hadn't lost the fans' support and goodwill, and now everyone is thrilled about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel In Production
Kingdom is the top-selling, epic 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 release, but the anime has been running for years, and season 6 was a further excellent entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as currently being made, and it will probably premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
A further studio known for the artistic merit of its work, Science Saru has brought us critically acclaimed works of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, 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 actual historical person of Fatima, an influential woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and intriguing visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my watchlist.
Tougen Anki Will Return With a Second Season
Right after the airing of episode 24, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be securing a follow-up. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm air date has yet to be revealed.
