A Ton of Japanese Animation News Landed During the Festive Season
The Yuletide season offer a plethora of pursuits considerably more enjoyable than catching up on the latest news: unwrapping gifts, getting stuffed on holiday treats, and employing patience techniques to not yelling at loved ones. Hopefully you were able to enjoy all these things and more. However, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Numerous exciting developments surfaced during the festive period, and if you didn't see some of them, here is a compilation of the most exciting bits.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Will Continue (In 2027)
Truly the biggest revelation, the widely-criticized disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to halt further production. The show will be back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—a date so remote they might as well have labeled it season 4. Adding to the surprise, the studio J.C. Staff will remain in charge. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the outset, which might be a good sign. Yet, the main art for the new episodes is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This leads one to believe that, at this point, they are probably mocking the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime Produced By 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 work but for the fair treatment of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not produced an anime adapted from a manga from Shonen Jump, possibly the most iconic magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained a huge following when it first appeared in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the author's health issues. When it returned with a reduced workload, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' support and enthusiasm, and now fans are overjoyed about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up In Production
Kingdom is the top-selling, decades-spanning 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 airing for a while, and its sixth season was another excellent entry. It turns out that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been announced as in development, and it will very likely debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
A further studio renowned for the excellent quality of its projects, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works of the ilk 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, which is based on the true story of Fatima, an prominent 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 intriguing visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my must-watch list.
Tougen Anki Will Return With a Season Two
Immediately following the release of episode 24, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be securing a sequel. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm air date has yet to be revealed.