A Ton of Japanese Animation News Landed During the Festive Season
The winter break present a plethora of pastimes much better than catching up on the updates: opening presents, indulging in festive fare, and employing deep breathing to refrain from snapping at family members. It is wished you were able to enjoy all these things and more. That said, the entertainment world never sleeps, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Numerous thrilling announcements surfaced during the holidays, and if you overlooked some of them, here is a summary of the most exciting bits.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Will Continue (In 2027)
Truly the most surprising revelation, the notorious troubled production that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to deter the series' continuation. Season 3 will return with a second cour in 2027—so far away they might as well have labeled it season 4. Adding to the surprise, the studio J.C. Staff will still be leading the project. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the outset, which might be a good sign. Yet, the key visual for the new episodes is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This leads one to believe that, by now, they are probably mocking the fans.
Ruri Dragon Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a name for being an elite animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the exceptional quality of its output but for the fair treatment of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had never worked on an anime adapted from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, possibly the best-known magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will change that, 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 creator's health issues. When it came back with a lighter schedule, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' support and enthusiasm, and now fans are ecstatic about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the top-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English translation, but the anime has been airing for a while, and its sixth season was another excellent entry. As it happens that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been announced as currently being made, and it will probably premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
One more studio renowned for the excellent quality of its productions, Science Saru has given us critically acclaimed works of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, based on the real historical figure of Fatima, an powerful woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and intriguing visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my watchlist.
Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Second Season
Shortly after the airing of its twenty-fourth episode, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a second season. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm release date has yet to be revealed.
