A Ton of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped Over the Festive Season
The winter break present a plethora of pursuits considerably more enjoyable than catching up on the updates: discovering surprises, getting stuffed on festive fare, and using meditation skills to avoid yelling at relatives. I hope you succeeded in enjoy all these things and more. Nevertheless, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. A slew of exciting news items came out during the break, and if you missed a few, here is a summary of the juiciest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Moving Forward (Come 2027)
Perhaps the biggest revelation, the notorious troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to deter more episodes. The show will come back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—so far away they could have labeled it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be at the helm. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the beginning, which could be taken as a hopeful indicator. However, the promotional image for the new episodes is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This suggests that, nowadays, they are probably teasing the fans.
Ruri Dragon Will Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a reputation for being an elite animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the superb artistry of its productions but for the ethical practices of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not adapted an anime adapted from a manga from Shonen Jump, perhaps the most famous magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved widespread acclaim when it debuted in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the creator's health issues. When it resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series demonstrated it maintained the fans' support and goodwill, and now fans are thrilled about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Has a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, epic 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 translation, but the anime has been going on for years, and its sixth season was a further excellent entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been announced as in development, and it will almost certainly air in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
Another studio famous for the artistic merit of its productions, Science Saru has delivered hit shows of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling 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 thinker 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 fascinating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my list of anticipated shows.
Tougen Anki Will Return With a Season Two
Immediately following the airing of its twenty-fourth episode, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be receiving a second season. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm air date has yet to be revealed.
