A Heap of Japanese Animation News Arrived During the Holidays
The winter break present a plethora of activities much better than scanning the latest news: discovering surprises, feasting on delicious food, and harnessing patience techniques to refrain from yelling at family members. I hope you were able to enjoy all these things and more. However, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Many exciting announcements surfaced during the festive period, and just in case you missed any, here is a compilation of the most exciting bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Is Set to Continue (In 2027)
Without a doubt the biggest announcement, the notorious controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to stop further production. The show will come back with a subsequent part in 2027—such a distant date they might as well have dubbed it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be leading the project. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the beginning, which could be taken as a positive development. Yet, the promotional image for the new episodes is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This suggests that, by now, they could be teasing the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a name for being an elite animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the exceptional quality of its productions but for the good working conditions of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not adapted an anime adapted from a manga serialized 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 massive popularity when it debuted in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a extended pause due to the mangaka's health issues. When it resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series demonstrated it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and positive sentiment, and now the community is ecstatic about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up Currently in Production
Kingdom is the top-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only just received an English translation, but the anime has been going on for a while, and season 6 was another outstanding entry. Apparently that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been announced as in production, and it will probably debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
One more studio renowned for the superior craftsmanship of its projects, Science Saru has brought us masterpieces of the ilk 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 true story of Fatima, an influential woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime titled 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 must-watch list.
The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Second Season
Immediately following the release of episode 24, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a sequel. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm premiere date has not been disclosed yet.
