A Ton of Japanese Animation News Landed During the Festive Season
The Yuletide season provide a wealth of pastimes far superior than checking the latest news: discovering surprises, feasting on holiday treats, and harnessing meditation skills to refrain from arguing with family members. Hopefully you were able to accomplish all these things and more. That said, the world of entertainment doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Many thrilling developments emerged over the festive period, and if you didn't see a few, here is a roundup of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Is Set to Continue (In 2027)
Without a doubt the biggest revelation, the notorious controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to stop further production. The show will come back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—such a distant date they easily could have called it season 4. Adding to the surprise, the studio J.C. Staff will remain leading the project. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the outset, which could be taken as a hopeful indicator. But, the promotional image for the second cour is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This leads one to believe that, nowadays, they could be trolling the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Set to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a name for being an top-tier animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the exceptional quality of its work but for the good working conditions of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not produced an anime based on a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved a huge following when it debuted in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a extended pause due to the mangaka's health issues. When it resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series demonstrated it maintained the fans' affection and positive sentiment, and now fans are ecstatic about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Is Getting a Follow-Up In Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only just received an English translation, but the anime has been running for years, and its sixth season was yet another excellent entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been announced as in production, and it will very likely air in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
Another studio renowned for the superior craftsmanship of its productions, Science Saru has given us hit shows of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, inspired by the real historical figure of Fatima, an prominent woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and captivating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my watchlist.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Season Two
Shortly after the conclusion of its twenty-fourth episode, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be securing a follow-up. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete air date has yet to be revealed.
