A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped During the Holidays
The Christmas holidays provide a plethora of activities far superior than checking the headlines: unwrapping gifts, feasting on festive fare, and harnessing meditation skills to not yelling at relatives. It is wished you were able to enjoy 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 exciting announcements emerged over the holidays, and if you missed some of them, here is a roundup of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Moving Forward (In 2027)
Truly the most shocking revelation, the notorious troubled production that was season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to halt more episodes. The show will come back with a subsequent part in 2027—so far away they could have called it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be leading the project. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the beginning, which might be a good sign. Yet, the promotional image for the new episodes is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This suggests that, nowadays, they could be teasing the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Set to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a standing for being an prestigious animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the superb artistry of its work but for the ethical practices of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not adapted an anime stemming from a manga from Shonen Jump, arguably the most famous magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained massive popularity when it launched in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a extended pause due to the creator's health issues. When it returned with a lighter schedule, the series demonstrated it maintained the fans' appreciation and positive sentiment, and now fans are overjoyed about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, long-running Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only just received an English localization, but the anime has been going on for a while, and its sixth season was a further stellar entry. It turns out that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in development, and it will very likely air in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
Another studio known for the superior craftsmanship of its projects, Science Saru has given us masterpieces of the ilk 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, based on the real historical figure of Fatima, an prominent woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and captivating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my watchlist.
The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Second Season
Shortly after the release of the final episode of the first season, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a second season. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has yet to be revealed.
