A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Arrived During the Holidays
The winter break offer a multitude of pursuits much better than scanning the latest news: discovering surprises, indulging in holiday treats, and employing meditation skills to refrain from arguing with family members. It is wished you succeeded in do all these things and more. That said, the world of entertainment never sleeps, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Numerous thrilling developments came out during the break, and should you missed any, here is a roundup of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (Come 2027)
Perhaps the most surprising revelation, the notorious troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to halt further production. Season 3 will return with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they might as well have called it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be at the helm. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the start, which is seen as a positive development. However, the promotional image for the new episodes is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This leads one to believe that, by now, they are probably trolling the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Set to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a name for being an prestigious animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the high caliber of its work but for the fair treatment of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had never worked on an anime adapted from a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably the best-known magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved massive popularity when it debuted in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a lengthy break due to the creator's health issues. When it resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series demonstrated it still retained the fans' appreciation and enthusiasm, and now the community is thrilled about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Will Get a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the top-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only recently got an English release, but the anime has been running for a while, and its sixth season was another excellent entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in production, and it will very likely premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
Another studio famous for the excellent quality of its work, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works 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 actual historical person of Fatima, an influential woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and fascinating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my watchlist.
Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Season Two
Immediately following the release of episode 24, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be getting 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 cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has yet to be revealed.
