A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Arrived Over the Festive Season
The Yuletide season offer a multitude of pastimes much better than catching up on the updates: discovering surprises, indulging in delicious food, and using deep breathing to not arguing with family members. I hope you managed to accomplish all these things and more. Nevertheless, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Many noteworthy developments emerged over the break, and if you overlooked some of them, here is a roundup of the juiciest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Set to Continue (Come 2027)
Perhaps the biggest revelation, the much-discussed disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to halt the series' continuation. The show will return with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—so far away they easily could have called it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be leading the project. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the outset, which might be a positive development. Yet, the main art for the continuation is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This makes me think that, nowadays, they are probably trolling the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a reputation for being an elite animation studio, making its mark not just for the high caliber of its work but for the good working conditions of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not adapted an anime stemming from a manga from Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved a huge following when it first appeared in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the creator's health issues. When it resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series showed it still retained the fans' affection and goodwill, and now everyone is thrilled about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Is Getting a Follow-Up Currently in Production
Kingdom is the best-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only recently got an English localization, but the anime has been airing for a while, and season 6 was a further outstanding entry. It turns out that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in production, and it will probably air in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
Another studio known for the excellent quality of its work, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more 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 evokes Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my watchlist.
The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Second Season
Immediately following the conclusion of episode 24, it was confirmed 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 adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific premiere date has not been disclosed yet.
