A Ton of Japanese Animation News Dropped During the Festive Season
The Yuletide season offer a multitude of pursuits far superior than scanning the latest news: discovering surprises, getting stuffed on delicious food, and employing deep breathing to refrain from yelling at loved ones. Hopefully you succeeded in do all these things and more. However, the world of entertainment never sleeps, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Many exciting news items surfaced over the festive period, and just in case you didn't see a few, here is a roundup of the biggest bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (In 2027)
Perhaps the most shocking revelation, the notorious troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to halt more episodes. Season 3 will come back with a subsequent part in 2027—such a distant date 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, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the beginning, which might be a hopeful indicator. Yet, the key visual for the second cour is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This suggests that, nowadays, they are probably mocking the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Will Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a reputation for being an top-tier animation studio, making its mark not just for the exceptional quality of its output but for the ethical practices of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had never worked on an anime adapted from a manga published in Shonen Jump, possibly the most iconic magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained massive popularity when it launched in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a lengthy break due to the author's health issues. When it returned with a lighter schedule, the series proved it maintained the fans' affection and positive sentiment, and now fans are ecstatic about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Is Getting a Follow-Up In Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, epic 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 translation, but the anime has been going on for some time, and its sixth season was another excellent entry. Apparently 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 productions, Science Saru has brought us 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, inspired by the actual historical person 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 truly original and fascinating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my must-watch list.
Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Season Two
Shortly after the release of episode 24, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be securing a second season. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm premiere date has yet to be revealed.
