A Heap of Japanese Animation News Dropped Over the Festive Season
The Christmas holidays provide a multitude of activities considerably more enjoyable than checking the updates: unwrapping gifts, feasting on delicious food, and using patience techniques to not yelling at family members. I hope you were able to do all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry doesn't go on vacation, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Many exciting developments emerged during the break, and should you didn't see a few, here is a compilation of the juiciest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (Come 2027)
Truly the most shocking revelation, the widely-criticized disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to stop more episodes. The show will be back with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they might as well have labeled it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be at the helm. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the beginning, which might be a hopeful indicator. But, the promotional image for the second cour is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This makes me think that, by now, they must be teasing the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a name for being an prestigious animation studio, making its mark not just for the high caliber of its output but for the fair treatment of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not produced an anime adapted from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most famous magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained widespread acclaim when it launched in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a lengthy break due to the mangaka's health issues. When it came back with a reduced workload, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' affection and positive sentiment, and now fans are ecstatic about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel In Production
Kingdom is the top-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only just received an English translation, but the anime has been airing for some time, and season 6 was another excellent entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been announced as in production, and it will probably debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
One more studio renowned for the superior craftsmanship of its work, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works of the quality 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 influential woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and captivating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my must-watch list.
The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Season Two
Shortly after the release of the final episode of the first season, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a follow-up. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm air date has not been disclosed yet.