A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped Over the Festive Season
The Yuletide season offer a multitude of activities much better than scanning the latest news: discovering surprises, feasting on holiday treats, and using deep breathing to avoid arguing with loved ones. Hopefully you managed to enjoy all these things and more. Nevertheless, the entertainment world never sleeps, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Numerous exciting announcements surfaced during the holidays, and if you overlooked any, here is a summary of the juiciest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Will Continue (By 2027)
Without a doubt the most shocking announcement, the much-discussed troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to stop the series' continuation. The show will be back with a second cour in 2027—such a distant date they easily could have called it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be in charge. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the start, which is seen as a positive development. But, the promotional image for the new episodes is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This leads one to believe that, at this point, they could be trolling the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a name for being an prestigious animation studio, making its mark not just for the high caliber of its output but for the fair treatment 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 most famous magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became massive popularity when it first appeared in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a extended pause due to the author's health issues. When it returned with a more relaxed pace, the series proved it maintained the fans' support and positive sentiment, and now the community is overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Will Get a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the top-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only recently got an English translation, but the anime has been going on for a while, and its sixth season was yet another stellar entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in development, and it will very likely air in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
A further studio renowned for the artistic merit of its work, Science Saru has given us masterpieces of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be taking on the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, based on the true story of Fatima, an prominent woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and captivating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my list of anticipated shows.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Season Two
Immediately following the release of its twenty-fourth episode, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be receiving a follow-up. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm premiere date has yet to be revealed.
