A Ton of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped Over the Holidays
The Yuletide season present a multitude of pursuits far superior than checking the updates: unwrapping gifts, indulging in festive fare, and using patience techniques to refrain from yelling at loved ones. It is wished you managed to do all these things and more. That said, the entertainment world never sleeps, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Numerous noteworthy news items surfaced during the break, and should you didn't see some of them, here is a summary of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Is Set to Continue (In 2027)
Truly the biggest piece of news, the much-discussed disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to stop more episodes. The show will come back with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they might as well have called it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be at the helm. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the beginning, which could be taken as a positive development. However, the key visual for the continuation is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This leads one to believe that, nowadays, they are probably trolling the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Set to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a reputation for being an elite 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. Surprisingly, until now, it had not produced an anime adapted from a manga from Shonen Jump, possibly the most iconic magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained massive popularity when it launched in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the author's health issues. When it returned with a lighter schedule, the series showed it still retained the fans' support and positive sentiment, and now everyone is ecstatic about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel In Production
Kingdom is the best-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only just received an English release, but the anime has been airing for some time, and season 6 was yet another outstanding entry. As it happens that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been announced as in development, and it will very likely debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
One more studio famous for the superior craftsmanship of its productions, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works of the caliber 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, inspired by the actual historical person of Fatima, an powerful woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and fascinating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my watchlist.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Season Two
Shortly after the conclusion of its twenty-fourth episode, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be receiving a sequel. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm air date has not yet been announced.
