A Mountain of Japanese Animation News Landed Over the Holidays
The winter break provide a multitude of pursuits much better than catching up on the updates: opening presents, feasting on holiday treats, and harnessing patience techniques to not arguing with family members. It is wished you were able to do all these things and more. However, the showbiz industry doesn't take a break, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Numerous exciting developments emerged over the holidays, and if you overlooked any, here is a compilation of the juiciest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Will Continue (By 2027)
Truly the biggest piece of news, the widely-criticized troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to deter further production. Season 3 will come back with a second cour in 2027—such a distant date they might as well have labeled it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be leading the project. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the start, which might be a good sign. 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 leads one to believe that, by now, they must be teasing the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a standing for being an prestigious animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the superb artistry of its productions but for the ethical practices of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not produced 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 became a huge following when it launched in 2022 after just a small number of issues, 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 still retained the fans' appreciation and enthusiasm, and now everyone is overjoyed about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Will Get a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the best-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English translation, but the anime has been running for a while, and season 6 was yet another stellar entry. As it happens that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been announced as currently being made, and it will very likely premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
Another studio famous for the excellent quality of its work, Science Saru has delivered hit shows of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most 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 true story of Fatima, an powerful woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and fascinating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my list of anticipated shows.
Tougen Anki Will Return With a Second Season
Shortly after the release of the final episode of the first season, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be getting a follow-up. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific premiere date has yet to be revealed.