A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped Over the Festive Season
The Christmas holidays offer a wealth of pursuits much better than checking the headlines: discovering surprises, indulging in festive fare, and harnessing patience techniques to refrain from yelling at loved ones. I hope you were able to accomplish all these things and more. However, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Many noteworthy announcements emerged during the holidays, and if you missed any, here is a compilation of the biggest bits.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Is Moving Forward (By 2027)
Truly the most shocking announcement, the much-discussed disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to deter more episodes. The show will be back with a subsequent part in 2027—such a distant date they could have dubbed it season 4. Adding to the surprise, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be in charge. At least this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the beginning, which might be a hopeful indicator. However, the promotional image for the second cour is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This makes me think that, by now, they must be trolling the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a standing for being an elite animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the high caliber of its work but for the good working conditions of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga from Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained a huge following when it first appeared in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a lengthy break due to the creator's health issues. When it resumed publication with a more relaxed pace, the series demonstrated it maintained the fans' affection and goodwill, and now fans are overjoyed about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Will Get a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the top-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only just received an English translation, but the anime has been running for years, and its sixth season was a further excellent entry. It turns out that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been announced as currently being made, and it will almost certainly air in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
A further studio renowned for the artistic merit 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 handling the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, inspired by the true story of Fatima, an influential woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and intriguing visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my watchlist.
Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Season Two
Shortly after the release of the final episode of the first season, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a second season. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has not yet been announced.
