A Mountain of Japanese Animation News Dropped During the Holidays
The Yuletide season present a wealth of pastimes far superior than catching up on the updates: discovering surprises, getting stuffed on festive fare, and using meditation skills to not arguing with relatives. Hopefully you were able to enjoy all these things and more. However, the entertainment world never sleeps, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. A slew of thrilling announcements came out during the festive period, and should you missed any, here is a roundup of the juiciest bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Will Continue (In 2027)
Without a doubt the biggest announcement, the widely-criticized troubled production that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to halt more episodes. The show will return with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—so far away they easily could have called it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be in charge. At least this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the beginning, which is seen as a positive development. Yet, the promotional image for the new episodes is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This makes me think that, at this point, they are probably mocking the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Set to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a reputation for being an top-tier animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the superb artistry of its productions but for the ethical practices of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not produced an anime based on a manga from Shonen Jump, perhaps the most famous magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved widespread acclaim when it debuted in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the author's health issues. When it resumed publication with a more relaxed pace, the series showed it maintained the fans' appreciation and positive sentiment, and now everyone is ecstatic about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel In Production
Kingdom is the best-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only recently got an English translation, but the anime has been going on for years, and its sixth season was another outstanding entry. As it happens that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been revealed as currently being made, and it will probably premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
One more studio renowned for the artistic merit of its projects, 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 influential 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 evokes Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my list of anticipated shows.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Second Season
Shortly after the conclusion of episode 24, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be getting 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 cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm premiere date has yet to be revealed.
