A Mountain of Japanese Animation News Dropped Over the Holidays
The winter break offer a wealth of pastimes much better than scanning the latest news: discovering surprises, getting stuffed on festive fare, and employing deep breathing to refrain from snapping at family members. I hope you managed to do all these things and more. However, the entertainment world doesn't take a break, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Many noteworthy developments surfaced during the holidays, and if you didn't see a few, here is a summary of the most exciting bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Moving Forward (In 2027)
Truly the biggest piece of news, the notorious disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to deter further production. Season 3 will come back with a subsequent part in 2027—a date so remote they could have dubbed it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be in charge. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the outset, which is seen as a hopeful indicator. However, 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, at this point, they must be trolling the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a standing for being an elite 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. Curiously, until now, it had not adapted an anime adapted from a manga serialized in 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 gained widespread acclaim when it first appeared in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a extended pause due to the creator's health issues. When it resumed publication with a more relaxed pace, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' affection and enthusiasm, and now the community is overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Has a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the top-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English release, but the anime has been running for a while, and season 6 was yet another excellent entry. It turns out that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in development, and it will almost certainly air in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
Another studio famous for the excellent quality of its productions, Science Saru has given us masterpieces of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be taking on the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, based on the true story of Fatima, an prominent woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and captivating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my watchlist.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Continue With a Season Two
Right after the release of its twenty-fourth episode, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a second season. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm air date has not been disclosed yet.
