A Ton of Japanese Animation News Arrived During the Festive Season
The Christmas holidays offer a plethora of pursuits far superior than checking the latest news: opening presents, feasting on festive fare, and employing patience techniques to not yelling at relatives. It is wished you were able to enjoy all these things and more. However, the world of entertainment doesn't take a break, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Many exciting developments came out over the festive period, and just in case you missed some of them, here is a compilation of the juiciest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Set to Continue (Come 2027)
Perhaps the most shocking announcement, the notorious troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to halt further production. The show will return with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they easily could have labeled it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will still be at the helm. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the outset, which is seen as a positive development. But, the main art for the continuation is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This leads one to believe that, at this point, they could be teasing the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a standing for being an top-tier 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. Unexpectedly, until now, it had never worked on an anime stemming from a manga from Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained a huge following when it debuted in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the mangaka's health issues. When it resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series showed it hadn't lost the fans' support and goodwill, and now fans are ecstatic about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Will Get a Sequel In Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only just received an English translation, but the anime has been going on for some time, and season 6 was a further stellar entry. As it happens that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been announced as currently being made, and it will almost certainly debut in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
Another studio renowned for the artistic merit of its productions, Science Saru has given us critically acclaimed works of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, inspired by the real historical figure of Fatima, an prominent woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and fascinating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my watchlist.
Tougen Anki Will Return With a Season Two
Shortly after the release of the final episode of the first season, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a follow-up. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has yet to be revealed.
