A Heap of Japanese Animation News Arrived Over the Holidays
The Christmas holidays present a plethora of activities considerably more enjoyable than scanning the updates: unwrapping gifts, feasting on delicious food, and employing deep breathing to not snapping at loved ones. I hope you succeeded in enjoy all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. A slew of noteworthy announcements came out over the holidays, and just in case you missed some of them, here is a summary of the biggest bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (By 2027)
Without a doubt the most shocking piece of news, the widely-criticized controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to deter more episodes. Season 3 will come back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—such a distant date they could have labeled it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be at the helm. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the beginning, which is seen as a good sign. However, the key visual for the new episodes is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This suggests that, at this point, they are probably mocking the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Set to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a reputation for being an top-tier animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the superb artistry of its output but for the good working conditions of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not produced an anime stemming from a manga from Shonen Jump, perhaps the most famous magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained a huge following when it debuted in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a lengthy break due to the creator's health issues. When it resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series showed it still retained the fans' support and enthusiasm, and now fans are ecstatic about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel In Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, long-running Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only recently got an English release, but the anime has been running for some time, and its sixth season was another stellar entry. Apparently that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in development, and it will almost certainly premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
Another studio renowned for the excellent quality of its work, Science Saru has delivered hit shows of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be taking on the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, based on the actual historical person of Fatima, an powerful woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and fascinating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my must-watch list.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Season Two
Right after the airing of episode 24, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a second season. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete release date has not yet been announced.
