A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped During the Festive Season
The winter break present a multitude of pastimes much better than catching up on the headlines: unwrapping gifts, getting stuffed on delicious food, and using deep breathing to not snapping at family members. Hopefully you succeeded in accomplish all these things and more. However, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Many thrilling announcements surfaced during the festive period, and if you overlooked some of them, here is a roundup of the biggest bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Will Continue (Come 2027)
Perhaps the most surprising piece of news, the much-discussed troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to halt further production. Season 3 will return 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 in charge. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the beginning, which could be taken as a good sign. Yet, the key visual for the new episodes is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This makes me think that, at this point, they could be trolling the fans.
Ruri Dragon Will Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a reputation for being an top-tier animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the superb artistry of its output but for the good working conditions of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had never worked on 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 massive popularity when it launched in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a lengthy break due to the author's health issues. When it came back with a lighter schedule, the series showed it hadn't lost the fans' affection and positive sentiment, and now fans are ecstatic about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the top-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only recently got an English localization, but the anime has been going on for years, and its sixth season was a further excellent entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in development, and it will probably premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
One more studio renowned for the artistic merit of its productions, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works of the quality 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, which is based on the true story of Fatima, an influential woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and intriguing visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my watchlist.
Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Season Two
Immediately following the release of episode 24, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be receiving a follow-up. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm air date has yet to be revealed.
