A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Arrived During the Festive Season
The winter break present a plethora of pursuits far superior than catching up on the headlines: unwrapping gifts, feasting on holiday treats, and using meditation skills to not arguing with relatives. Hopefully you were able to enjoy all these things and more. Nevertheless, the showbiz industry doesn't take a break, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. A slew of exciting news items emerged over the festive period, and should you overlooked a few, here is a compilation of the juiciest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Moving Forward (In 2027)
Truly the biggest revelation, the widely-criticized troubled production that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to stop more episodes. The show will come back with a second cour in 2027—so far away they might as well have labeled it season 4. Adding to the surprise, the studio J.C. Staff will remain at the helm. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the beginning, which could be taken as a hopeful indicator. But, the main art for the continuation is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This makes me think that, by now, they could be teasing the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a reputation for being an top-tier animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the high caliber of its work but for the fair treatment of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not adapted an anime stemming from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, perhaps the best-known magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved a huge following when it first appeared in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the mangaka's health issues. When it resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series demonstrated it still retained the fans' affection and goodwill, and now fans are thrilled about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up In Production
Kingdom is the best-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is other than 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 going on for years, and season 6 was another stellar entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been announced as in development, and it will very likely debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
Another studio famous for the artistic merit of its projects, Science Saru has brought us masterpieces of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more 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 intellectual 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. Debuting in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my must-watch list.
The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Second Season
Shortly after the release of episode 24, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be securing a second season. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete air date has not yet been announced.
