A Heap of Japanese Animation Updates Arrived Over the Festive Season
The winter break present a wealth of activities considerably more enjoyable than catching up on the updates: discovering surprises, getting stuffed on festive fare, and employing meditation skills to not yelling at relatives. Hopefully you were able to do all these things and more. Nevertheless, the showbiz industry doesn't take a break, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. A slew of exciting developments surfaced during the break, and should you didn't see some of them, here is a summary of the most exciting bits.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Will Continue (Come 2027)
Truly the most shocking revelation, the much-discussed controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to stop the series' continuation. Season 3 will return with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they easily could have dubbed it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain leading the project. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the outset, which could be taken as a positive development. Yet, the main art for the continuation is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This suggests that, at this point, they are probably teasing the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Set to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a standing for being an elite animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the exceptional quality of its work but for the ethical practices of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained widespread acclaim when it first appeared in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the creator's health issues. When it came back with a more relaxed pace, the series showed it hadn't lost the fans' affection and goodwill, and now the community is overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up Currently in Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, long-running Shueisha manga that is aside from 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 stellar entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in development, and it will very likely air in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
A further studio renowned for the superior craftsmanship of its work, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works of the caliber 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, based on the actual historical person of Fatima, an prominent woman and scholar 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 captivating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my must-watch list.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Continue With a Season Two
Right after the airing of episode 24, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be securing a sequel. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete release date has not yet been announced.
