A Heap of Japanese Animation News Dropped During the Festive Season
The Yuletide season offer a wealth of pursuits far superior than scanning the latest news: discovering surprises, feasting on festive fare, and employing deep breathing to refrain from snapping at loved ones. Hopefully you were able to enjoy all these things and more. However, the world of entertainment never sleeps, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. A slew of noteworthy developments emerged during the holidays, and should you didn't see a few, here is a summary of the juiciest bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (In 2027)
Truly the most shocking piece of news, the widely-criticized troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to stop the series' continuation. Season 3 will be 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 remain leading the project. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the start, which is seen as a hopeful indicator. But, the promotional image for the second cour is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This makes me think that, nowadays, they are probably trolling the fans.
Ruri Dragon Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a reputation for being an top-tier animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the high caliber of its work but for the good working conditions of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not adapted an anime stemming from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, arguably the most famous magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved a huge following 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 reduced workload, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now fans are thrilled about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the best-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English localization, but the anime has been running for years, and its sixth season was a further outstanding entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in development, and it will very likely air in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
Another studio famous for the excellent quality of its productions, Science Saru has brought us masterpieces of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling 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 scholar 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 fascinating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my must-watch list.
Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Season Two
Right after the conclusion of the final episode of the first season, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be getting a second season. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life 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.
