A Heap of Japanese Animation Updates Arrived Over the Festive Season
The winter break offer a plethora of pastimes much better than catching up on the updates: opening presents, feasting on holiday treats, and employing meditation skills to avoid arguing with loved ones. It is wished you succeeded in do all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Many exciting announcements emerged over the holidays, and should you overlooked a few, here is a summary of the juiciest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Is Set to Continue (In 2027)
Truly the biggest piece of news, the notorious disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to stop the series' continuation. Season 3 will return with a subsequent part in 2027—such a distant date they could have labeled it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will remain leading the project. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the start, which could be taken as a hopeful indicator. But, the promotional image for the new episodes is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This makes me think that, by now, they are probably trolling the fans.
Ruri Dragon Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a standing for being an elite animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the exceptional quality of its output but for the fair treatment of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not produced an anime based on a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, possibly the most iconic magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became a huge following when it debuted in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a lengthy break due to the author's health issues. When it came back with a lighter schedule, the series proved it still retained the fans' affection and goodwill, and now everyone is overjoyed about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel In Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, epic Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English translation, 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 initial batch, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as currently being made, and it will probably air in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
One more studio renowned for the artistic merit of its projects, Science Saru has brought us hit shows of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be producing 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. Judging from the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and captivating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my must-watch list.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Season Two
Immediately following the conclusion of its twenty-fourth episode, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a sequel. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific air date has not yet been announced.
