A Heap of Japanese Animation Updates Arrived Over the Festive Season
The Yuletide season present a wealth of pastimes far superior than scanning the headlines: opening presents, feasting on delicious food, and using patience techniques to refrain from yelling at loved ones. I hope you were able to do all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry doesn't take a break, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Many thrilling developments emerged over the festive period, and just in case you missed any, here is a compilation of the most exciting bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Will Continue (Come 2027)
Truly the most surprising announcement, the much-discussed controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to halt more episodes. The show will come back with a subsequent part in 2027—a date so remote they easily could have called it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be in charge. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the start, which might be a positive development. But, the promotional image for the continuation is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This suggests that, nowadays, they are probably trolling the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a name for being an prestigious animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the exceptional quality of its work but for the fair treatment of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not produced an anime stemming from a manga published in Shonen Jump, possibly the most famous magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved 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 reduced workload, the series demonstrated it hadn't lost the fans' affection and goodwill, and now fans are overjoyed about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Has a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, long-running Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only recently got an English localization, but the anime has been airing for years, and its sixth season was yet another stellar entry. Apparently 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 Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
A further studio renowned for the superior craftsmanship of its work, Science Saru has brought us hit shows of the quality 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 actual historical person of Fatima, an powerful woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and captivating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my watchlist.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Continue With a Season Two
Right after the release of its twenty-fourth episode, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a second season. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm release date has not yet been announced.