A Heap of Japanese Animation News Arrived During the Festive Season
The Christmas holidays present a plethora of pastimes considerably more enjoyable than catching up on the latest news: unwrapping gifts, feasting on festive fare, and employing deep breathing to not arguing with family members. Hopefully you succeeded in enjoy all these things and more. That said, the entertainment world never sleeps, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Many thrilling announcements surfaced over the break, and should you missed some of them, here is a roundup of the most exciting bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Will Continue (In 2027)
Perhaps the most surprising announcement, the much-discussed disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to halt further production. Season 3 will be back with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they easily could have called it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be in charge. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the beginning, which is seen as a positive development. But, the promotional image for the second cour is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This suggests that, at this point, they could be mocking the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a reputation for being an prestigious animation studio, making its mark not just for the superb artistry of its output but for the good working conditions of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not adapted an anime adapted from a manga published in Shonen Jump, possibly the best-known magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became widespread acclaim when it debuted in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the mangaka's health issues. When it returned with a lighter schedule, the series demonstrated it still retained the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now fans are overjoyed about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the best-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only just received an English localization, but the anime has been going on for some time, and its sixth season was another stellar entry. As it happens that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as currently being made, and it will very likely premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
One more studio renowned for the excellent quality of its projects, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be taking on the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, which is 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 named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and intriguing visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my list of anticipated shows.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Continue With a Second Season
Immediately following the airing of its twenty-fourth episode, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a follow-up. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has yet to be revealed.