A Mountain of Japanese Animation News Arrived Over the Festive Season
The winter break provide a wealth of pastimes much better than catching up on the headlines: opening presents, getting stuffed on delicious food, and using deep breathing to not arguing with loved ones. I hope you succeeded in accomplish all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Many exciting news items came out over the festive period, and if you didn't see any, here is a compilation of the most exciting bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Will Continue (In 2027)
Truly the most shocking revelation, the notorious controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to stop the series' continuation. The show will come back with a subsequent part in 2027—such a distant date they easily could have called it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will still be at the helm. At least this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the start, which is seen as a good sign. But, the promotional image for the second cour is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This leads one to believe that, by now, they must be trolling the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Set to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a name for being an top-tier animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the superb artistry of its productions but for the good working conditions of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not adapted an anime based on a manga from Shonen Jump, possibly the most iconic magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became massive popularity 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 reduced workload, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' support and goodwill, and now the community is ecstatic about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up In Production
Kingdom is the top-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only just received an English release, but the anime has been airing for years, and its sixth season was another stellar entry. Apparently that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in production, and it will probably debut in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
A further studio famous for the excellent quality of its projects, Science Saru has brought us critically acclaimed works of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be producing the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, based on the real historical figure of Fatima, an prominent woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and intriguing visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my list of anticipated shows.
Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Season Two
Shortly after the release of its twenty-fourth episode, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be receiving 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 specific air date has not yet been announced.
