A Heap of Japanese Animation News Landed Over the Holidays
The winter break present a plethora of pastimes considerably more enjoyable than checking the latest news: discovering surprises, feasting on delicious food, and employing meditation skills to not arguing with loved ones. It is wished you succeeded in do all these things and more. Nevertheless, the showbiz industry never sleeps, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. A slew of noteworthy news items emerged over the break, and if you didn't see any, here is a compilation of the juiciest bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Is Set to Continue (In 2027)
Perhaps the biggest piece of news, the notorious disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to halt the series' continuation. Season 3 will return with a second cour in 2027—such a distant date they might as well have called it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain in charge. At least this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the outset, which is seen as a good sign. But, the main art for the second cour is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This makes me think that, at this point, they are probably teasing the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a reputation for being an elite animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the exceptional quality of its productions but for the good working conditions of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had never worked on an anime stemming from a manga published in Shonen Jump, possibly the most famous magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved widespread acclaim when it first appeared in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the author's health issues. When it returned with a lighter schedule, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' support and goodwill, and now fans are overjoyed about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the best-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only recently got an English localization, but the anime has been running for some time, and season 6 was another stellar entry. As it happens that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in production, and it will probably premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
A further studio renowned for the superior craftsmanship of its work, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be producing the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, which is based on the true story of Fatima, an prominent woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and intriguing visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my list of anticipated shows.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Second Season
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 is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete premiere date has not been disclosed yet.
