A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Arrived During the Festive Season
The winter break present a multitude of pastimes far superior than checking the latest news: discovering surprises, feasting on delicious food, and using meditation skills to refrain from yelling at loved ones. It is wished you managed to do all these things and more. Nevertheless, the world of entertainment doesn't take a break, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Many exciting developments came out during the holidays, and should you overlooked some of them, here is a compilation of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Will Continue (Come 2027)
Truly the biggest revelation, the much-discussed troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to halt more episodes. The show will be back with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they might as well have dubbed it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be in charge. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the outset, which might be a good sign. Yet, the promotional image for the second cour is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This suggests that, at this point, they are probably teasing the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Set to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a name for being an top-tier animation studio, making its mark not just for the exceptional quality of its productions but for the good working conditions of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not produced an anime stemming from a manga published in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved massive popularity when it launched in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the author's health issues. When it returned with a lighter schedule, the series demonstrated it maintained the fans' affection and goodwill, and now everyone is ecstatic about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the best-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English translation, but the anime has been going on for years, and its sixth season was yet another outstanding entry. Apparently that was just the first cour, 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 Into an Anime Series
Another studio known for the superior craftsmanship of its productions, Science Saru has given us hit shows of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be taking on the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, inspired by the actual historical person of Fatima, an prominent woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and intriguing visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my list of anticipated shows.
Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Second Season
Immediately following the release of the final episode of the first season, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be securing a follow-up. Based on 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 release date has not been disclosed yet.
