A Ton of Japanese Animation News Landed During the Holidays
The winter break provide a wealth of pursuits far superior than scanning the headlines: unwrapping gifts, indulging in festive fare, and using deep breathing to refrain from snapping at family members. It is wished you succeeded in enjoy all these things and more. However, the entertainment world doesn't take a break, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Many noteworthy news items emerged during the holidays, and just in case you overlooked any, here is a summary of the biggest bits.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Will Continue (By 2027)
Perhaps the most shocking revelation, the widely-criticized controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to deter more episodes. The show will return with a second cour in 2027—so far away they might as well have dubbed it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be leading the project. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the outset, which might be a hopeful indicator. However, the promotional image for the second cour is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This leads one to believe that, at this point, they could be mocking the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Set to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a reputation for being an prestigious animation studio, making its mark not just for the exceptional quality of its productions but for the fair treatment of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had never worked on an anime adapted from a manga published in Shonen Jump, possibly the most famous magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved massive popularity when it launched 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 still retained the fans' affection and enthusiasm, and now fans are thrilled about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Has a Sequel Now in the Works
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 fairly recently obtained an English release, but the anime has been running for a while, and its sixth season was yet another excellent entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been revealed as currently being made, and it will very likely debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
One more studio known for the artistic merit of its projects, Science Saru has delivered hit shows of the ilk 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 real historical figure of Fatima, an powerful woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and captivating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my list of anticipated shows.
Tougen Anki Will Return With a Season Two
Shortly after the release of its twenty-fourth episode, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a second season. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm air date has not yet been announced.
