A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped Over the Holidays
The Yuletide season present a wealth of pursuits considerably more enjoyable than scanning the updates: unwrapping gifts, feasting on holiday treats, and employing meditation skills to avoid arguing with family members. I hope you succeeded in enjoy all these things and more. That said, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Many noteworthy developments came out during the festive period, and just in case you didn't see some of them, here is a summary of the juiciest bits.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Is Set to Continue (By 2027)
Truly the most surprising revelation, the much-discussed troubled production that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to stop the series' continuation. The show will return with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—such a distant date they could have called it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain leading the project. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the beginning, which might be a positive development. But, the main art for the second cour is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This makes me think that, at this point, they could be mocking the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a reputation for being an prestigious animation studio, making its mark not just for the superb artistry of its output but for the ethical practices of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not adapted an anime stemming from a manga from Shonen Jump, possibly the best-known magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved widespread acclaim when it first appeared in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a lengthy break due to the author's health issues. When it resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series proved it still retained the fans' support and enthusiasm, and now the community is overjoyed about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Is Getting a Follow-Up In Production
Kingdom is the best-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is not 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 airing for a while, and season 6 was another excellent entry. As it happens that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been announced as in development, and it will very likely premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
Another studio renowned for the excellent quality of its productions, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more 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 influential woman and scholar 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. Debuting in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my watchlist.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Season Two
Immediately following the release of the final episode of the first season, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a second season. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete release date has yet to be revealed.
