A Heap of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped During the Holidays
The Yuletide season offer a wealth of activities far superior than catching up on the updates: unwrapping gifts, indulging in festive fare, and employing meditation skills to refrain from snapping at family members. Hopefully you managed to enjoy all these things and more. However, the world of entertainment never sleeps, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Numerous noteworthy announcements emerged over the festive period, and if you didn't see a few, here is a compilation of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Will Continue (By 2027)
Perhaps the biggest announcement, the much-discussed controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to stop the series' continuation. Season 3 will return with a second cour in 2027—such a distant date they might as well have labeled it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain leading the project. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the start, which is seen as a positive development. However, the key visual for the second cour is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This makes me think that, nowadays, they must be trolling the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Will Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a name for being an elite animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the high caliber of its work but for the good working conditions of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not produced an anime based on a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became widespread acclaim when it debuted in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a extended pause due to the author's health issues. When it came back with a lighter schedule, the series demonstrated it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and enthusiasm, and now fans are ecstatic about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only recently got an English localization, but the anime has been running for some time, and season 6 was another outstanding entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in development, and it will probably debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
A further studio renowned for the artistic merit of its work, Science Saru has brought us masterpieces 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 true story of Fatima, an influential woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and intriguing visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my watchlist.
Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Season Two
Immediately following the conclusion of episode 24, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be getting a sequel. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm air date has not been disclosed yet.