A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Arrived Over the Holidays
The Yuletide season present a plethora of activities much better than scanning the updates: opening presents, getting stuffed on festive fare, and using deep breathing to avoid snapping at loved ones. I hope you managed to accomplish all these things and more. Nevertheless, the world of entertainment never sleeps, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Many thrilling developments came out during the festive period, and if you overlooked a few, here is a roundup of the most exciting bits.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Is Set to Continue (By 2027)
Without a doubt the biggest announcement, the widely-criticized controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to halt further production. Season 3 will be back with a second cour in 2027—so far away they might as well have called it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will still be in charge. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the start, which might be a positive development. Yet, the main art for the continuation is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This suggests that, by now, they must be teasing the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Set to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a name for being an top-tier animation studio, making its mark not just for the superb artistry of its output but for the fair treatment of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not produced an anime based on a manga from Shonen Jump, possibly the most iconic magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved a huge following when it debuted in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the mangaka's health issues. When it returned with a more relaxed pace, the series showed it maintained the fans' affection and enthusiasm, and now the community is ecstatic about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up Now in the Works
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 recently got an English localization, but the anime has been running for some time, and its sixth season was yet another excellent entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been announced as currently being made, and it will very likely air in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
Another studio famous for the excellent quality of its work, Science Saru has delivered hit shows of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling 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 intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and captivating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my must-watch list.
Tougen Anki Will Return With a Season Two
Immediately following the airing of the final episode of the first season, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a follow-up. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm premiere date has not yet been announced.
