A Ton of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped During the Holidays
The Christmas holidays present a multitude of pastimes considerably more enjoyable than checking the latest news: discovering surprises, feasting on festive fare, and harnessing patience techniques to avoid yelling at family members. Hopefully you were able to accomplish 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. A slew of noteworthy announcements came out during the holidays, and just in case you overlooked some of them, here is a summary of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Set to Continue (In 2027)
Truly the most surprising revelation, the notorious controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to halt more episodes. Season 3 will be back with a second cour in 2027—so far away they might as well have dubbed it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will remain in charge. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the start, 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 looking opposite ways. This suggests that, nowadays, they are probably teasing the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Set to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a name for being an prestigious animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the exceptional quality of its output but for the good working conditions of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not produced an anime adapted from a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably the best-known magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained a huge following when it first appeared in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the author's health issues. When it returned with a more relaxed pace, the series showed it still retained the fans' support and goodwill, and now the community is ecstatic about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Will Get a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, long-running Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only recently got an English translation, but the anime has been going on for some time, and season 6 was a further excellent entry. It turns out that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been announced as currently being made, and it will almost certainly premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
A further studio famous for the superior craftsmanship of its productions, Science Saru has given us critically acclaimed works of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be producing 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. Judging from the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and captivating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my must-watch list.
The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Second Season
Immediately following the airing of the final episode of the first season, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be getting a follow-up. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm release date has yet to be revealed.
