A Heap of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped Over the Holidays
The Christmas holidays provide a plethora of pursuits far superior than scanning the latest news: opening presents, indulging in festive fare, and using patience techniques to not arguing with family members. Hopefully you managed to accomplish all these things and more. Nevertheless, the entertainment world never sleeps, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Many noteworthy developments emerged during the break, and just in case you overlooked some of them, here is a compilation of the most exciting bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Set to Continue (Come 2027)
Truly the biggest revelation, the much-discussed controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to stop further production. Season 3 will come back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—so far away they could have called it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will remain at the helm. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the outset, which is seen as a positive development. However, the promotional image for the second cour is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This suggests that, at this point, they are probably teasing the fans.
Ruri Dragon Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a reputation for being an prestigious animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the exceptional quality of its productions but for the good working conditions of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had never worked on an anime stemming from a manga published in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained widespread acclaim when it debuted in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a extended pause due to the author's health issues. When it returned with a reduced workload, the series demonstrated it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and positive sentiment, and now everyone is thrilled about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the top-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English localization, but the anime has been airing for a while, and season 6 was another outstanding entry. It turns out that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in production, and it will probably debut in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
A further studio renowned for the excellent quality of its productions, Science Saru has given us hit shows of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be producing the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, inspired by the real historical figure of Fatima, an influential 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 truly original and fascinating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my watchlist.
Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Season Two
Immediately following the conclusion of the final episode of the first season, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be receiving 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 specific premiere date has not yet been announced.
