A Mountain of Japanese Animation News Dropped Over the Holidays
The winter break offer a multitude of pastimes far superior than checking the headlines: unwrapping gifts, feasting on holiday treats, and using patience techniques to refrain from arguing with loved ones. It is wished you succeeded in do all these things and more. That said, the world of entertainment doesn't take a break, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Many noteworthy announcements emerged over the break, and if you didn't see any, here is a roundup of the biggest bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Will Continue (In 2027)
Truly the most shocking piece of news, the widely-criticized troubled production that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to stop further production. The show will be back with a subsequent part in 2027—so far away they easily could have dubbed it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be at the helm. At least this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the outset, which could be taken as a positive development. However, the key visual for the continuation is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This leads one to believe that, by now, they could be mocking the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Set to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a standing for being an top-tier animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the superb artistry of its work but for the ethical practices of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not produced an anime based on a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, arguably the most famous magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became a huge following when it launched in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a lengthy break due to the mangaka's health issues. When it resumed publication with a more relaxed pace, the series showed it still retained the fans' support and goodwill, and now everyone is overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the best-selling, long-running 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 localization, but the anime has been going on for some time, and its sixth season was another excellent entry. As it happens that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been announced as currently being made, and it will almost certainly premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
Another studio known for the superior craftsmanship of its work, Science Saru has given 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, which is based on the real historical figure of Fatima, an powerful woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and fascinating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my list of anticipated shows.
Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Season Two
Right after the airing of episode 24, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be securing a sequel. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm premiere date has not been disclosed yet.