A Ton of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped During the Holidays
The winter break offer a multitude of pastimes far superior than catching up on the headlines: opening presents, getting stuffed on holiday treats, and using meditation skills to not arguing with relatives. Hopefully you managed to do all these things and more. That said, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Many exciting announcements surfaced over the break, and if you overlooked any, here is a compilation of the most exciting bits.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Is Set to Continue (Come 2027)
Truly the most surprising revelation, the widely-criticized troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to halt the series' continuation. The show will come back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—a date so remote they easily could have dubbed it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be in charge. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the outset, which could be taken as a hopeful indicator. Yet, the main art for the second cour is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This makes me think that, nowadays, they could be mocking the fans.
Ruri Dragon Will Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a name for being an prestigious animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the superb artistry of its productions but for the fair treatment of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not adapted an anime adapted from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, arguably the best-known magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained massive popularity when it launched in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a extended pause due to the author's health issues. When it came back with a more relaxed pace, the series showed it still retained the fans' affection and positive sentiment, and now the community is overjoyed about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel In Production
Kingdom is the best-selling, epic 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 airing for years, and season 6 was yet another stellar entry. It turns out that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in development, and it will very likely air in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
Another studio renowned for the excellent quality of its work, Science Saru has delivered masterpieces of the quality 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, based on the real historical figure of Fatima, an prominent woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and captivating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my list of anticipated shows.
Tougen Anki Will Return With a Season Two
Right after the release of the final episode of the first season, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be receiving a follow-up. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete premiere date has yet to be revealed.
