A Ton of Japanese Animation Updates Landed Over the Holidays
The Yuletide season present a wealth of pursuits considerably more enjoyable than scanning the updates: unwrapping gifts, feasting on holiday treats, and employing deep breathing to not arguing with loved ones. Hopefully you managed to accomplish all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry doesn't take a break, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. A slew of exciting news items emerged during the festive period, and should you didn't see some of them, here is a roundup of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Will Continue (Come 2027)
Perhaps the most surprising announcement, the much-discussed disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to halt further production. Season 3 will return 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, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be leading the project. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the start, which is seen as a good sign. However, the promotional image for the new episodes is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This leads one to believe that, by now, they must be trolling the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Set to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a standing for being an prestigious animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the superb artistry of its output but for the fair treatment of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably the best-known magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained a huge following when it first appeared in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a extended pause due to the author's health issues. When it came back with a reduced workload, the series proved it still retained the fans' affection and positive sentiment, and now everyone is ecstatic about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Has a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, epic Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only just received an English translation, but the anime has been airing for years, and season 6 was yet another outstanding entry. As it happens that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been announced as in production, and it will very likely debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
Another studio known for the artistic merit of its projects, Science Saru has brought us hit shows of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, based on the true story of Fatima, an influential woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. 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. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my list of anticipated shows.
The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Second Season
Right after the conclusion of episode 24, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a follow-up. 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 firm release date has not been disclosed yet.
