A Heap of Japanese Animation News Dropped Over the Festive Season
The winter break provide a multitude of activities much better than checking the updates: opening presents, feasting on festive fare, and using meditation skills to avoid yelling at loved ones. I hope you succeeded in accomplish all these things and more. However, the world of entertainment doesn't go on vacation, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Numerous exciting announcements surfaced over the break, and just in case you didn't see a few, here is a summary of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Moving Forward (By 2027)
Truly the biggest piece of news, the much-discussed controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to halt more episodes. Season 3 will come back with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they might as well have dubbed it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will still be leading the project. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the outset, which might be a positive development. 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 suggests that, nowadays, they could be trolling the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a name for being an top-tier animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the superb artistry of its work but for the fair treatment of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not produced an anime adapted from a manga from Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a superb 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 lengthy break due to the mangaka's health issues. When it resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series showed it maintained the fans' affection and positive sentiment, and now fans are overjoyed about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Has a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the best-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only just received an English translation, but the anime has been running for some time, and season 6 was a further stellar entry. It turns out that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in production, and it will almost certainly air in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
A further studio famous for the superior craftsmanship of its productions, Science Saru has brought us hit shows of the quality 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, inspired by the actual historical person of Fatima, an prominent woman and intellectual 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 intriguing visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my watchlist.
Tougen Anki Will Return With a Season Two
Shortly after the conclusion of episode 24, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be securing a second season. Adapted from 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 concrete air date has yet to be revealed.