A Heap of Japanese Animation Updates Landed Over the Holidays
The Christmas holidays offer a wealth of pursuits far superior than checking the headlines: unwrapping gifts, getting stuffed on holiday treats, and harnessing patience techniques to not yelling at relatives. It is wished you succeeded in accomplish all these things and more. Nevertheless, the showbiz industry doesn't take a break, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Numerous noteworthy announcements surfaced over the festive period, and should you overlooked any, here is a compilation of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Set to Continue (Come 2027)
Perhaps the most surprising piece of news, the notorious troubled production that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to halt the series' continuation. Season 3 will be back with a second cour in 2027—so far away they easily could have called it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be at the helm. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the outset, which might be a hopeful indicator. Yet, the promotional image for the new episodes is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This suggests that, at this point, they could be trolling the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Set to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a name for being an elite animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the superb artistry of its work but for the fair treatment of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not produced an anime adapted from a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably the most famous magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained massive popularity when it launched in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the creator's health issues. When it resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series showed it hadn't lost the fans' affection and enthusiasm, and now everyone is overjoyed about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Will Get a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, decades-spanning 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 a further outstanding entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in development, and it will almost certainly air in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
A further studio known for the excellent quality of its productions, Science Saru has given us masterpieces of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most 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 real historical figure of Fatima, an influential woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and fascinating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my watchlist.
The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Second Season
Right after the release of episode 24, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be getting a second season. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm premiere date has not yet been announced.
