A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Landed Over the Festive Season
The Christmas holidays offer a wealth of pursuits considerably more enjoyable than catching up on the latest news: opening presents, getting stuffed on festive fare, and employing deep breathing to not snapping at loved ones. I hope you managed to enjoy all these things and more. Nevertheless, the showbiz industry never sleeps, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Many exciting news items emerged over the break, and just in case you missed any, here is a compilation of the biggest bits.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Is Set to Continue (Come 2027)
Truly the most surprising revelation, the much-discussed troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to halt the series' continuation. The show will return 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 continue to be in charge. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the outset, which could be taken as a positive development. But, the promotional image for the second cour is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This leads one to believe that, by now, they could be trolling the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Will Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a reputation for being an top-tier animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the superb artistry 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 published in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most famous magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became massive popularity when it first appeared in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a lengthy break due to the creator's health issues. When it resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series demonstrated it still retained the fans' support and enthusiasm, and now the community is overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Will Get a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the top-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English release, 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 half, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in production, and it will probably debut in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
One more studio known for the excellent quality of its productions, Science Saru has brought us critically acclaimed works of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most recently, 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 prominent woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and captivating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my must-watch list.
Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Second Season
Shortly after the release of the final episode of the first season, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be receiving 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 cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm premiere date has not yet been announced.
