A Heap of Japanese Animation News Arrived Over the Holidays
The Christmas holidays present a wealth of pursuits much better than scanning the latest news: discovering surprises, getting stuffed on delicious food, and harnessing meditation skills to not arguing with relatives. Hopefully you managed to do all these things and more. That said, the entertainment world never sleeps, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. A slew of exciting news items came out over the holidays, and if you overlooked any, here is a compilation of the juiciest bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Is Set to Continue (Come 2027)
Perhaps the biggest piece of news, the notorious controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to halt the series' continuation. Season 3 will be back with a second cour in 2027—so far away they could have labeled it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will still be at the helm. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the start, which could be taken as a hopeful indicator. Yet, the main art for the second cour is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This makes me think that, nowadays, they could be mocking the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Set to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a reputation for being an prestigious animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the exceptional quality of its output but for the fair treatment of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not adapted an anime stemming from a manga published in Shonen Jump, possibly the most iconic magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became widespread acclaim when it first appeared in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a extended pause due to the author's health issues. When it resumed publication with a more relaxed pace, the series proved it still retained the fans' affection and goodwill, and now fans are thrilled about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the top-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only recently got an English release, but the anime has been airing for a while, and season 6 was yet another outstanding entry. As it happens that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been announced as in production, and it will very likely air in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
Another studio famous for the artistic merit of its work, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works of the ilk 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, based on the real historical figure of Fatima, an prominent woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and fascinating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my list of anticipated shows.
Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Second Season
Shortly after the release of the final episode of the first season, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be securing a sequel. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete release date has yet to be revealed.
