A Mountain of Japanese Animation News Arrived Over the Holidays
The winter break present a multitude of activities considerably more enjoyable than scanning the updates: discovering surprises, getting stuffed on delicious food, and using meditation skills to avoid yelling at family members. Hopefully you succeeded in enjoy all these things and more. However, the world of entertainment never sleeps, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Many thrilling developments emerged during the break, and if you didn't see any, here is a compilation of the most exciting bits.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Is Set to Continue (In 2027)
Truly the most shocking revelation, the much-discussed controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to deter further production. The show will return with a subsequent part in 2027—so far away they might as well have dubbed it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be in charge. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the beginning, which could be taken as a hopeful indicator. However, the main art for the continuation is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This makes me think that, nowadays, they must be mocking the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Will Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime 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 output but for the good working conditions of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had never worked on an anime adapted from a manga from Shonen Jump, perhaps the best-known magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained massive popularity when it launched in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the creator's health issues. When it came back with a more relaxed pace, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and positive sentiment, and now fans are thrilled about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Has a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the top-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only recently got an English translation, but the anime has been airing for some time, and its sixth season was a further excellent entry. As it happens that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been revealed as currently being made, and it will probably premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
One more studio known for the artistic merit of its work, Science Saru has given us hit shows 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, based on the true story of Fatima, an influential woman and intellectual 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 intriguing visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my must-watch list.
Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Second Season
Right after the release of the final episode of the first season, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be getting a sequel. Adapted from 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 release date has yet to be revealed.
