A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Arrived During the Holidays
The Christmas holidays provide a wealth of pastimes considerably more enjoyable than catching up on the headlines: discovering surprises, indulging in delicious food, and harnessing patience techniques to refrain from arguing with family members. It is wished you managed to accomplish all these things and more. However, the entertainment world doesn't take a break, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Many thrilling announcements surfaced over the holidays, and if you overlooked some of them, here is a compilation of the biggest bits.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Is Set to Continue (By 2027)
Truly the biggest announcement, the much-discussed controversial season that was season 3 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 labeled it season 4. Adding to the surprise, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be leading the project. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the beginning, which might be a hopeful indicator. Yet, the main art for the second cour is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This suggests that, by now, they are probably trolling the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a reputation for being an top-tier animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the superb artistry of its work but for the fair treatment of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Unexpectedly, 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 change that, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became widespread acclaim when it debuted in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the author's health issues. When it returned with a more relaxed pace, the series showed it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and positive sentiment, and now everyone is ecstatic about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Has a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the best-selling, decades-spanning 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 localization, but the anime has been airing for years, and season 6 was yet another excellent entry. As it happens that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in development, and it will almost certainly air in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
A further studio known for the artistic merit of its productions, Science Saru has given us critically acclaimed works of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most 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 true story of Fatima, an prominent woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and intriguing visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my must-watch list.
The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Season Two
Right after the airing of the final episode of the first season, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a follow-up. 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 not been disclosed yet.
