A Heap of Japanese Animation Updates Landed Over the Holidays
The Yuletide season offer a multitude of activities far superior than scanning the headlines: discovering surprises, getting stuffed on holiday treats, and using deep breathing to not yelling at relatives. It is wished you managed to enjoy all these things and more. Nevertheless, the world of entertainment doesn't take a break, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. A slew of noteworthy announcements came out over the break, and just in case you didn't see some of them, here is a summary of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Will Continue (Come 2027)
Perhaps the most shocking piece of news, the notorious troubled production that was season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to stop more episodes. The show will come back with a second cour in 2027—so far away they might as well have dubbed it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be leading the project. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the outset, which is seen as a positive development. But, the key visual for the new episodes is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This leads one to believe that, by now, they could be trolling the fans.
Ruri Dragon Will Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a name for being an top-tier animation studio, making its mark not just for the high caliber of its productions but for the fair treatment of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, arguably the most famous magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained massive popularity when it first appeared in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a extended pause due to the creator's health issues. When it resumed publication with a more relaxed pace, the series showed it maintained the fans' affection and goodwill, and now fans are thrilled about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Has a Sequel In Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, epic Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only recently got an English release, but the anime has been running for years, and season 6 was another stellar entry. As it happens that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been announced as in production, and it will very likely debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
One more studio known for the artistic merit of its productions, Science Saru has given us masterpieces 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 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 captivating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my must-watch list.
Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Second Season
Shortly after the release of the final episode of the first season, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a sequel. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific premiere date has not been disclosed yet.
