A Heap of Japanese Animation News Landed Over the Holidays
The Christmas holidays provide a wealth of pastimes considerably more enjoyable than catching up on the headlines: unwrapping gifts, feasting on holiday treats, and harnessing patience techniques to refrain from arguing with loved ones. It is wished you were able to do all these things and more. Nevertheless, the entertainment world doesn't take a break, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. A slew of exciting news items came out over the break, and if you overlooked any, here is a roundup of the juiciest bits.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Is Moving Forward (Come 2027)
Perhaps the most shocking announcement, the widely-criticized troubled production that was season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to deter the series' continuation. The show will return with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—so far away they could have called it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be leading the project. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the start, which is seen as a positive development. However, the main art for the second cour is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This suggests that, at this point, they are probably trolling the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By 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 ethical practices of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not produced an anime adapted from a manga published in Shonen Jump, possibly the best-known magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained widespread acclaim when it launched in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a extended pause due to the creator's health issues. When it came back with a lighter schedule, the series demonstrated it maintained the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now fans are overjoyed about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Is Getting a Follow-Up Currently in Production
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 recently got an English localization, but the anime has been running for a while, and its sixth season was another stellar entry. It turns out that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as currently being made, and it will very likely premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
A further studio renowned for the excellent quality of its projects, Science Saru has delivered masterpieces of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be taking on 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 intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique 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.
The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Season Two
Immediately following the conclusion of episode 24, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be receiving a sequel. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has yet to be revealed.
