A Heap of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped Over the Festive Season
The winter break present a wealth of pursuits much better than checking the latest news: opening presents, feasting on delicious food, and harnessing deep breathing to avoid snapping at relatives. I hope you were able to enjoy all these things and more. Nevertheless, the entertainment world doesn't take a break, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Numerous noteworthy announcements came out over the break, and if you overlooked a few, here is a summary of the most exciting bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (In 2027)
Truly the biggest revelation, the widely-criticized controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to deter more episodes. The show will come back with a second cour in 2027—such a distant date they might as well have dubbed it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be in charge. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the start, which might be a positive development. Yet, the promotional image for the continuation is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This suggests that, at this point, they could be teasing the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a reputation for being an prestigious animation studio, making its mark not just for the high caliber of its work but for the ethical practices of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most famous magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became massive popularity when it first appeared in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a extended pause due to the mangaka's health issues. When it resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series showed it hadn't lost the fans' affection and enthusiasm, and now everyone is overjoyed about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel In Production
Kingdom is the best-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English release, but the anime has been going on for years, and season 6 was a further stellar entry. Apparently that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in production, and it will very likely air in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
One more studio renowned for the superior craftsmanship of its productions, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be producing 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. Based on the trailer, the anime titled 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 definitely be on my must-watch list.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Season Two
Immediately following the conclusion of episode 24, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a sequel. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete release date has not been disclosed yet.
