A Mountain of Japanese Animation News Arrived Over the Holidays
The Christmas holidays provide a multitude of pastimes much better than checking the latest news: discovering surprises, feasting on delicious food, and employing meditation skills to not yelling at relatives. I hope you managed to enjoy all these things and more. That said, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Many noteworthy developments emerged over the festive period, and just in case you didn't see some of them, here is a roundup of the juiciest bits.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Is Moving Forward (Come 2027)
Without a doubt the most shocking piece of news, the notorious controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to halt more episodes. The show will come back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—such a distant date they could have labeled it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be in charge. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the beginning, which is seen as a hopeful indicator. However, the promotional image 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, by now, they are probably teasing the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a standing for being an top-tier animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the exceptional quality of its output but for the fair treatment of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had never worked on an anime adapted from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, possibly the best-known magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved massive popularity when it debuted in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a extended pause due to the creator's health issues. When it resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series proved it still retained the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now fans are thrilled about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Has a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the top-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only recently got an English translation, but the anime has been airing for a while, and season 6 was yet another excellent entry. As it happens that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been revealed as currently being made, and it will very likely debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
One more studio known for the superior craftsmanship of its projects, Science Saru has brought us masterpieces 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, inspired by the real historical figure of Fatima, an powerful woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime called 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.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Continue With a Second Season
Immediately following the conclusion of episode 24, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be getting 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 cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete release date has not yet been announced.
