A Mountain of Japanese Animation News Dropped Over the Festive Season
The winter break offer a wealth of pastimes considerably more enjoyable than scanning the updates: discovering surprises, getting stuffed on festive fare, and harnessing deep breathing to not snapping at relatives. It is wished you were able to enjoy all these things and more. That said, the world of entertainment never sleeps, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Numerous noteworthy announcements emerged during the festive period, and just in case you overlooked any, here is a roundup of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Will Continue (In 2027)
Without a doubt the biggest revelation, the widely-criticized disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to deter more episodes. Season 3 will come back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—so far away they might as well have labeled it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be in charge. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the start, which might be a good sign. Yet, the key visual for the new episodes is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This makes me think that, by now, they could be mocking the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Set to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a reputation for being an elite animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the high caliber of its productions but for the fair treatment of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had never worked on an anime adapted from a manga from Shonen Jump, perhaps the best-known magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained widespread acclaim when it first appeared in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a lengthy break due to the creator's health issues. When it returned with a lighter schedule, the series proved it still retained the fans' affection and enthusiasm, and now everyone is thrilled about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the best-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only recently got an English release, but the anime has been running for some time, and season 6 was a further stellar entry. Apparently that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in production, and it will very likely air in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
A further studio renowned for the artistic merit of its projects, 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, inspired by the actual historical person of Fatima, an powerful 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 highly unique and fascinating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my watchlist.
Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Season Two
Right after the release 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 second season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm release date has not yet been announced.
