A Heap of Japanese Animation News Arrived During the Festive Season
The Yuletide season present a multitude of pursuits far superior than catching up on the updates: discovering surprises, getting stuffed on delicious food, and using meditation skills to not arguing with family members. It is wished you were able to do all these things and more. However, the world of entertainment doesn't go on vacation, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. A slew of noteworthy announcements came out over the break, and if you missed some of them, here is a summary of the biggest bits.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Is Set to Continue (By 2027)
Without a doubt the biggest 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 be back with a subsequent part in 2027—such a distant date they could have dubbed it season 4. More surprisingly, animation 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 could be taken as a hopeful indicator. But, the promotional image for the new episodes is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This makes me think that, at this point, they must be teasing the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a name for being an prestigious animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the high caliber of its work but for the ethical practices of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not adapted an anime based on a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, arguably the best-known magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved massive popularity when it launched in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a lengthy break due to the mangaka's health issues. When it came back with a lighter schedule, the series showed it maintained the fans' appreciation and positive sentiment, and now everyone is overjoyed about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Has a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the top-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English release, but the anime has been running for a while, and its sixth season was yet another stellar entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in production, and it will almost certainly premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
One more studio renowned for the artistic merit of its work, Science Saru has brought us masterpieces of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be producing the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, based on the true story of Fatima, an powerful woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and fascinating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my must-watch list.
Tougen Anki Will Return With a Season Two
Right after the release of its twenty-fourth episode, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be receiving a sequel. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete air date has not been disclosed yet.
