A Heap of Japanese Animation Updates Arrived Over the Festive Season
The Yuletide season provide a multitude of pastimes considerably more enjoyable than checking the updates: discovering surprises, getting stuffed on delicious food, and harnessing patience techniques to not yelling at loved ones. Hopefully you succeeded in accomplish all these things and more. Nevertheless, the showbiz industry doesn't go on vacation, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Many thrilling announcements came out over the holidays, and should you didn't see a few, here is a roundup of the most exciting bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (By 2027)
Perhaps the most surprising revelation, the much-discussed controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to deter the series' continuation. The show will come back with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they could have dubbed it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will remain at the helm. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the outset, which could be taken as a positive development. Yet, the key visual for the continuation is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This makes me think that, by now, they are probably teasing the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a reputation for being an top-tier animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the exceptional quality of its output but for the ethical practices of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not adapted an anime stemming from a manga from Shonen Jump, perhaps the most famous magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became a huge following when it debuted 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 resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series proved it maintained the fans' support and positive sentiment, and now the community is thrilled about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Is Getting a Follow-Up In Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English localization, but the anime has been going on for some time, and season 6 was another stellar entry. As it happens that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in development, and it will very likely debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
Another studio known for the superior craftsmanship of its projects, Science Saru has brought us masterpieces of the caliber 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, which is based on the real historical figure of Fatima, an prominent woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and captivating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my watchlist.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Continue With a Second Season
Shortly after the conclusion of episode 24, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be getting a follow-up. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific air date has not yet been announced.
