A Heap of Japanese Animation News Dropped Over the Holidays
The Yuletide season provide a multitude of pursuits much better than scanning the updates: opening presents, indulging in holiday treats, and using patience techniques to avoid arguing with relatives. It is wished you succeeded in enjoy all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry doesn't go on vacation, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Numerous noteworthy news items emerged over the holidays, and if you overlooked a few, here is a summary of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Moving Forward (By 2027)
Truly the most surprising revelation, the notorious troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to stop more episodes. The show will come back with a second cour in 2027—such a distant date they might as well have called it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be at the helm. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the start, which might be a hopeful indicator. But, the key visual for the continuation is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This suggests that, by now, they are probably trolling the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Set to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a reputation for being an elite animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the exceptional quality 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 published in Shonen Jump, arguably the most famous magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a great 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 reduced workload, the series showed it still retained the fans' appreciation and positive sentiment, and now fans are ecstatic about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up Now in the Works
Kingdom is the highly popular, epic Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English release, but the anime has been running for years, and season 6 was another stellar entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in development, and it will probably premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
A further studio known for the artistic merit of its projects, Science Saru has given us critically acclaimed works of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be producing the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, which is based on the real historical figure of Fatima, an influential woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and captivating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my must-watch list.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Season Two
Immediately following the airing of the final episode of the first season, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be securing a follow-up. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific premiere date has yet to be revealed.