A Heap of Japanese Animation Updates Landed Over the Holidays
The Christmas holidays offer a wealth of activities considerably more enjoyable than scanning the updates: discovering surprises, getting stuffed on holiday treats, and harnessing deep breathing to not arguing with loved ones. I hope you managed to enjoy all these things and more. Nevertheless, the entertainment world never sleeps, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Numerous exciting announcements surfaced over the break, and just in case you didn't see any, here is a roundup of the juiciest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Will Continue (In 2027)
Truly the most surprising revelation, the much-discussed troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to deter further production. Season 3 will be back with a subsequent part in 2027—a date so remote they might as well have called it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will remain in charge. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the outset, which could be taken as a positive development. Yet, the key visual for the new episodes is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This suggests that, by now, they are probably trolling the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a standing for being an top-tier animation studio, making its mark not just for the superb artistry of its output but for the fair treatment of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga published in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved widespread acclaim when it first appeared in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the author's health issues. When it resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series proved it still retained the fans' appreciation and enthusiasm, and now the community is overjoyed about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel In Production
Kingdom is the top-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only just received an English localization, but the anime has been going on for some time, and season 6 was yet another outstanding entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been announced as in production, and it will probably premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
One more studio famous for the artistic merit of its work, Science Saru has brought us hit shows of the caliber 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, which is based on the true story of Fatima, an powerful woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh 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 list of anticipated shows.
Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Season Two
Shortly after the release of episode 24, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be securing a second season. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has yet to be revealed.
