A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Landed During the Festive Season
The Yuletide season present a plethora of pursuits far superior than catching up on the headlines: opening presents, feasting on holiday treats, and harnessing meditation skills to refrain from snapping at loved ones. Hopefully you were able to do all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry never sleeps, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Numerous thrilling announcements came out over the break, and should you overlooked any, here is a summary of the juiciest bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (Come 2027)
Perhaps the most surprising announcement, the widely-criticized disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to stop the series' continuation. Season 3 will come back with a subsequent part in 2027—a date so remote they easily could have dubbed it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be leading the project. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the outset, which is seen as a good sign. Yet, the main art for the second cour is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This suggests that, by now, they could be trolling the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a reputation for being an elite animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the high caliber of its output but for the ethical practices of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga from Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained a huge following when it debuted in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a lengthy break due to the creator's health issues. When it came back with a more relaxed pace, the series showed it maintained the fans' support and positive sentiment, and now fans are ecstatic about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Will Get a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the top-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only recently got an English release, but the anime has been airing for years, and season 6 was another stellar entry. It turns out that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in development, and it will almost certainly air in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
Another studio known for the excellent quality of its productions, Science Saru has given us masterpieces of the caliber 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, which is based on the real historical figure of Fatima, an influential woman and scholar 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 intriguing 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 watchlist.
Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Season Two
Right after the airing of episode 24, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be securing a second season. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm air date has not been disclosed yet.
