A Ton of Japanese Animation Updates Landed During the Holidays
The Yuletide season provide a plethora of activities considerably more enjoyable than catching up on the headlines: opening presents, getting stuffed on delicious food, and harnessing meditation skills to refrain from yelling at family members. It is wished you were able to do all these things and more. That said, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. A slew of noteworthy news items came out over the festive period, and should you didn't see any, here is a compilation of the most exciting bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Is Set to Continue (By 2027)
Truly the biggest announcement, the notorious troubled production that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to stop more episodes. The show will be back with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they could have dubbed it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain at the helm. At least 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 identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This leads one to believe that, at this point, they must be trolling the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a reputation for being an prestigious animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the high caliber of its output but for the fair treatment of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not adapted an anime based on a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, possibly 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 achieved a huge following when it first appeared in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the mangaka's health issues. When it resumed publication with a more relaxed pace, the series showed it hadn't lost the fans' affection and positive sentiment, and now the community is overjoyed about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, epic 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 localization, but the anime has been airing for years, and season 6 was a further stellar entry. Apparently that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been announced as in production, and it will probably premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
A further studio renowned for the excellent quality of its projects, Science Saru has given 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 actual historical person of Fatima, an prominent woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and captivating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my must-watch list.
Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Season Two
Right after the airing of its twenty-fourth episode, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be securing a follow-up. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete air date has not yet been announced.
