A Ton of Japanese Animation Updates Arrived Over the Festive Season
The Yuletide season present a plethora of pursuits considerably more enjoyable than scanning the updates: unwrapping gifts, getting stuffed on festive fare, and employing patience techniques to refrain from snapping at family members. I hope you succeeded in do all these things and more. However, the showbiz industry doesn't take a break, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Many noteworthy developments came out over the break, and should you overlooked some of them, here is a summary of the juiciest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Is Set to Continue (Come 2027)
Without a doubt the biggest revelation, the widely-criticized disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to deter the series' continuation. Season 3 will come back with a subsequent part in 2027—a date so remote they easily could have labeled it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain leading the project. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the beginning, which might be a positive development. But, the main art for the second cour is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This makes me think that, by now, they are probably mocking the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a reputation for being an prestigious animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the superb artistry of its productions but for the ethical practices of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not adapted an anime stemming from a manga published in Shonen Jump, possibly the most famous magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved a huge following when it debuted in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a lengthy break due to the author's health issues. When it returned with a reduced workload, the series showed it hadn't lost the fans' affection and enthusiasm, and now everyone is ecstatic about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Is Getting a Follow-Up In Production
Kingdom is the top-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only recently got an English translation, but the anime has been going on for years, and its sixth season was yet another stellar entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been announced as in development, and it will probably premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
A further studio renowned for the artistic merit of its work, Science Saru has given us 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, inspired by the actual historical person of Fatima, an prominent woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and fascinating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my list of anticipated shows.
The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Second Season
Right after the conclusion of the final episode of the first season, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be securing a sequel. Based on 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 specific premiere date has not been disclosed yet.
