A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Arrived Over the Festive Season
The winter break present a multitude of pursuits far superior than checking the headlines: unwrapping gifts, indulging in festive fare, and harnessing deep breathing to not arguing with family members. Hopefully you managed to do all these things and more. Nevertheless, the entertainment world doesn't take a break, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Many exciting news items surfaced over the holidays, and should you didn't see a few, here is a compilation of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Will Continue (By 2027)
Truly the biggest revelation, the widely-criticized troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to stop the series' continuation. Season 3 will be back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—such a distant date they might as well have called it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain at the helm. At least this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the start, which could be taken as a good sign. However, the promotional image for the continuation is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This makes me think that, by now, they must be teasing the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Will Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a reputation for being an top-tier animation studio, making its mark 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, arguably the best-known magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained a huge following when it first appeared in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a lengthy break due to the mangaka's health issues. When it came back with a more relaxed pace, the series demonstrated it maintained the fans' appreciation and positive sentiment, and now the community is ecstatic about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the best-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only just received an English release, but the anime has been running for years, and season 6 was another excellent entry. It turns out that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been announced as in production, and it will almost certainly air in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
A further studio renowned for the artistic merit of its projects, Science Saru has brought us critically acclaimed works of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be taking on the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, inspired by the true story of Fatima, an powerful woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and fascinating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my must-watch list.
Tougen Anki Will Return With a Second Season
Shortly after the release of its twenty-fourth episode, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be securing a second season. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific premiere date has yet to be revealed.
