A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped During the Festive Season
The Yuletide season provide a wealth of pastimes far superior than checking the headlines: unwrapping gifts, getting stuffed on delicious food, and using meditation skills to refrain from snapping at relatives. Hopefully you succeeded in accomplish all these things and more. That said, the world of entertainment never sleeps, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. A slew of noteworthy announcements surfaced during the festive period, and should you didn't see any, here is a compilation of the juiciest bits.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Is Moving Forward (By 2027)
Perhaps the most shocking announcement, the widely-criticized controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to halt further production. The show will be back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—a date so remote they could have labeled it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain in charge. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the outset, which might be a positive development. Yet, 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 suggests that, by now, they could be mocking the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a reputation for being an prestigious animation studio, making its mark not just for the exceptional quality of its work but for the ethical practices of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not produced an anime adapted from a manga from Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became a huge following when it first appeared in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a lengthy break due to the mangaka's health issues. When it came back with a more relaxed pace, the series demonstrated it maintained the fans' affection and positive sentiment, and now everyone is thrilled about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the top-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only just received an English release, but the anime has been airing for years, and its sixth season was a further stellar entry. It turns out that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in production, and it will very likely debut in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
Another studio renowned for the excellent quality of its work, Science Saru has brought us masterpieces of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be taking on the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, inspired by the true story of Fatima, an prominent woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique 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 list of anticipated shows.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Continue With a Second Season
Shortly after the release of episode 24, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be securing a sequel. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm premiere date has not yet been announced.
