A Ton of Japanese Animation Updates Landed Over the Holidays
The Yuletide season provide a plethora of pastimes much better than checking the headlines: discovering surprises, feasting on holiday treats, and using patience techniques to avoid arguing with family members. It is wished you managed to accomplish all these things and more. Nevertheless, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Numerous exciting news items came out during the festive period, and should you didn't see any, here is a compilation of the juiciest bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Will Continue (In 2027)
Perhaps the most surprising announcement, the widely-criticized troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to deter further production. Season 3 will return with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they might as well have labeled it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be at the helm. At least this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the start, which could be taken as a hopeful indicator. However, the promotional image for the continuation is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This makes me think that, nowadays, they are probably trolling the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Will Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a reputation for being an elite animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the high caliber of its output but for the good working conditions of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not adapted an anime stemming from a manga published in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most famous magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved widespread acclaim when it debuted in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the author's health issues. When it resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series showed it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now everyone is overjoyed about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Has a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the best-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only just received an English localization, but the anime has been going on for a while, and its sixth season was another excellent entry. It turns out that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as currently being made, and it will almost certainly debut in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
Another studio known for the artistic merit of its productions, Science Saru has brought us hit shows of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, inspired by the actual historical person of Fatima, an powerful woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and fascinating visual style, which reminds me a bit 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 Second Season
Right after the release of its twenty-fourth episode, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be securing a sequel. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific air date has not been disclosed yet.
