A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Arrived Over the Festive Season
The Yuletide season provide a plethora of activities considerably more enjoyable than catching up on the updates: opening presents, indulging in holiday treats, and harnessing deep breathing to refrain from snapping at family members. I hope you were able to do all these things and more. Nevertheless, the world of entertainment doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Many noteworthy developments emerged during the holidays, and just in case you overlooked some of them, here is a summary of the juiciest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Will Continue (In 2027)
Perhaps the most shocking piece of news, the much-discussed controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to halt the series' continuation. The show will come back with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they easily could have dubbed it season 4. Adding to the surprise, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be in charge. At least 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 continuation is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This makes me think that, at this point, they could be mocking the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a standing for being an elite animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the superb artistry of its productions but for the ethical practices of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not produced an anime stemming from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, perhaps 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 massive popularity when it debuted in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the creator's health issues. When it came back with a more relaxed pace, the series proved it still retained the fans' support and enthusiasm, and now everyone is overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Is Getting a Follow-Up In Production
Kingdom is the top-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only just received an English localization, but the anime has been running for a while, and season 6 was yet another excellent entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in production, and it will almost certainly premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
A further studio renowned for the excellent quality of its work, Science Saru has delivered hit shows 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, based on the actual historical person of Fatima, an powerful woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and intriguing visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my watchlist.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Continue With a Second Season
Shortly after the airing of its twenty-fourth episode, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be getting a second season. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete air date has not been disclosed yet.
