A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped During the Holidays
The Yuletide season present a plethora of activities considerably more enjoyable than scanning the updates: unwrapping gifts, indulging in festive fare, and employing meditation skills to not yelling at loved ones. I hope you succeeded in accomplish all these things and more. However, the showbiz industry never sleeps, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Numerous thrilling developments surfaced during the festive period, and just in case you didn't see a few, here is a roundup of the juiciest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Set to Continue (Come 2027)
Without a doubt the most surprising announcement, the much-discussed controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to halt further production. Season 3 will be back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—so far away they might as well have dubbed it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain in charge. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the start, which is seen as a positive development. However, the promotional image for the new episodes is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This suggests that, at this point, they are probably mocking the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a name for being an top-tier animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the high caliber of its work but for the ethical practices of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not adapted an anime adapted from a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably the best-known magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became a huge following when it launched in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a lengthy break due to the mangaka's health issues. When it resumed publication with a more relaxed pace, the series demonstrated it still retained the fans' affection and goodwill, and now fans are ecstatic about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the highly popular, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only just received an English translation, but the anime has been going on for years, and season 6 was a further outstanding entry. It turns out that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in production, and it will very likely premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
Another studio renowned for the superior craftsmanship of its productions, Science Saru has given us hit shows of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more 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 true story of Fatima, an influential woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and captivating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my must-watch list.
Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Second Season
Immediately following the conclusion of its twenty-fourth episode, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be securing a second season. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete release date has not been disclosed yet.
