A Heap of Japanese Animation News Landed During the Festive Season
The Yuletide season offer a plethora of pursuits much better than catching up on the headlines: opening presents, indulging in festive fare, and employing deep breathing to refrain from snapping at relatives. It is wished you succeeded in enjoy all these things and more. That said, the entertainment world never sleeps, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Many thrilling announcements came out over the break, and just in case you missed some of them, here is a summary of the most exciting bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (By 2027)
Without a doubt the biggest announcement, the notorious controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to stop more episodes. Season 3 will be back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—such a distant date they might as well have called it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be at the helm. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the outset, which is seen as a positive development. But, the key visual for the second cour is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This suggests that, by now, they are probably teasing the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a reputation for being an top-tier animation studio, making its mark not just for the high caliber of its output but for the good working conditions of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not adapted an anime based on a manga from Shonen Jump, perhaps 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 achieved massive popularity when it first appeared in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the author's health issues. When it returned with a lighter schedule, the series demonstrated it still retained the fans' appreciation and enthusiasm, and now fans are ecstatic about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the highly popular, long-running Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only just received an English localization, but the anime has been airing for years, and season 6 was yet another excellent entry. As it happens that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been announced as currently being made, and it will very likely air in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
A further studio known for the artistic merit of its projects, Science Saru has delivered hit shows of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be taking on 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 intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and captivating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my must-watch list.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Second Season
Immediately following the airing of its twenty-fourth episode, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be receiving a follow-up. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has yet to be revealed.
