A Ton of Japanese Animation News Arrived Over the Holidays
The winter break provide a wealth of pastimes much better than checking the latest news: discovering surprises, indulging in delicious food, and harnessing patience techniques to refrain from yelling at family members. It is wished you managed to enjoy all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry doesn't go on vacation, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Many thrilling news items came out during the holidays, and should you overlooked a few, here is a compilation of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Will Continue (In 2027)
Truly the most surprising announcement, the much-discussed disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to stop more episodes. Season 3 will be back with a second cour in 2027—such a distant date they could have dubbed it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will still be in charge. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the beginning, which could be taken as a positive development. But, the key visual for the new episodes is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This leads one to believe that, at this point, they could be trolling the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a standing for being an prestigious animation studio, making its mark not just for the high caliber of its work but for the ethical practices of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not adapted an anime based on a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, possibly the most famous magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved a huge following when it first appeared in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the author's health issues. When it returned with a reduced workload, the series showed it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and enthusiasm, and now fans are overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel In Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, long-running 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 years, and its sixth season was another excellent entry. Apparently that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been revealed as currently being made, and it will very likely air in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
A further studio known for the artistic merit of its productions, Science Saru has given us masterpieces 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, based on the actual historical person of Fatima, an powerful woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and captivating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my list of anticipated shows.
Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Second Season
Right after the conclusion of the final episode of the first season, 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 upcoming season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific premiere date has yet to be revealed.
