A Heap of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped Over the Festive Season
The winter break offer a wealth of pastimes considerably more enjoyable than catching up on the updates: opening presents, getting stuffed on holiday treats, and employing meditation skills to avoid arguing with relatives. I hope you were able to do all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry doesn't go on vacation, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. A slew of thrilling announcements surfaced during the festive period, and should you missed a few, here is a summary of the juiciest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Will Continue (By 2027)
Truly the biggest piece of news, the notorious troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to halt further production. Season 3 will be back with a subsequent part in 2027—so far away they could have labeled it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will still be leading the project. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the beginning, which could be taken as a good sign. Yet, the promotional image for the continuation is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This suggests that, nowadays, they could be teasing the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Set to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a name for being an elite animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the high caliber of its output but for the ethical practices of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not produced an anime adapted from a manga published in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most famous magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became massive popularity when it launched in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a lengthy break due to the creator's health issues. When it resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series showed it still retained the fans' support and enthusiasm, and now the community is overjoyed about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the best-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only just received an English localization, but the anime has been airing for years, and its sixth season was a further excellent entry. Apparently that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been revealed as currently being made, and it will very likely debut in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
One more studio renowned for the artistic merit of its productions, Science Saru has brought us critically acclaimed works of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be producing the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, based on the actual historical person of Fatima, an powerful woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and captivating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my watchlist.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Season Two
Right after the conclusion of episode 24, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be getting a second season. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete release date has not been disclosed yet.
