A Heap of Japanese Animation Updates Landed During the Holidays
The Yuletide season present a multitude of pastimes considerably more enjoyable than scanning the updates: opening presents, indulging in festive fare, and employing meditation skills to not arguing with relatives. I hope you succeeded in enjoy all these things and more. That said, the world of entertainment doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Numerous noteworthy news items emerged during the holidays, and if you missed any, here is a roundup of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Moving Forward (Come 2027)
Without a doubt the biggest piece of news, the much-discussed troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to deter more episodes. The show will return with a subsequent part in 2027—so far away they could have called it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be leading the project. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the beginning, which might be a hopeful indicator. But, the main art for the new episodes is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This leads one to believe that, nowadays, they could be trolling the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a reputation for being an top-tier animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the exceptional quality of its output but for the fair treatment 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 field. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became a huge following when it first appeared in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the author's health issues. When it came back with a more relaxed pace, the series proved it still retained the fans' support and goodwill, and now fans are thrilled about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the top-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English release, but the anime has been running for some time, and its sixth season was yet another excellent entry. As it happens that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been announced as currently being made, and it will probably air in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
A further studio renowned for the excellent quality of its work, Science Saru has delivered hit shows of the quality 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 true story of Fatima, an powerful woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and intriguing 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 Is Set to Continue With a Season Two
Immediately following the conclusion of the final episode of the first season, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be securing a second season. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm release date has yet to be revealed.
