A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped During the Holidays
The Yuletide season present a wealth of activities far superior than checking the latest news: opening presents, feasting on delicious food, and using deep breathing to avoid arguing with relatives. Hopefully you managed to enjoy all these things and more. Nevertheless, the world of entertainment never sleeps, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Many noteworthy developments surfaced during the festive period, and if you overlooked some of them, here is a summary of the most exciting bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Is Set to Continue (In 2027)
Without a doubt the most shocking piece of news, the widely-criticized disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to halt more episodes. The show will be back with a subsequent part in 2027—such a distant date they easily could have dubbed it season 4. Adding to the surprise, the studio J.C. Staff will still be at the helm. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the beginning, which might be a positive development. However, the main art for the new episodes is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This suggests that, nowadays, they could be mocking the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a name for being an elite animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the high caliber of its productions but for the good working conditions of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga from Shonen Jump, possibly the best-known magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved a huge following when it launched in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a lengthy break due to the author's health issues. When it came back with a more relaxed pace, the series demonstrated it hadn't lost the fans' support and positive sentiment, and now fans are ecstatic about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up In Production
Kingdom is the best-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English translation, but the anime has been running for a while, and season 6 was a further stellar entry. Apparently that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in development, and it will probably debut in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
Another studio known for the superior craftsmanship of its work, Science Saru has given us critically acclaimed works of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, which is based on the real historical figure of Fatima, an prominent woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and fascinating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my must-watch list.
The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Season Two
Immediately following the conclusion of its twenty-fourth episode, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be getting a follow-up. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific premiere date has not yet been announced.
