A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Arrived During the Holidays
The Yuletide season provide a wealth of activities much better than checking the latest news: opening presents, getting stuffed on festive fare, and using deep breathing to refrain from yelling at family members. It is wished you were able to do all these things and more. However, the showbiz industry doesn't take a break, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. A slew of exciting announcements surfaced over the holidays, and just in case you didn't see any, here is a roundup of the most exciting bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Moving Forward (In 2027)
Truly the most shocking piece of news, the widely-criticized controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to stop more episodes. The show will be back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—such a distant date they easily could have labeled it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will remain in charge. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the outset, which is seen as a positive development. Yet, the promotional image for the new episodes is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This suggests that, by now, they must be trolling the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Set to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a name for being an elite animation studio, making its mark not just for the exceptional quality of its work but for the good working conditions of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not produced an anime based on a manga from Shonen Jump, perhaps the best-known magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became widespread acclaim when it debuted in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the author's health issues. When it returned with a reduced workload, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and positive sentiment, and now fans are ecstatic about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season 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 fairly recently obtained an English localization, but the anime has been going on for years, and season 6 was another stellar entry. Apparently that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in production, and it will almost certainly debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
A further studio famous for the excellent quality of its projects, Science Saru has delivered hit shows of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most 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 actual historical person of Fatima, an influential woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and fascinating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my must-watch list.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Second Season
Right after the release of episode 24, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be receiving a sequel. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete air date has yet to be revealed.
