A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped During the Holidays
The Christmas holidays offer a multitude of activities much better than checking the latest news: discovering surprises, indulging in holiday treats, and harnessing deep breathing to refrain from snapping at relatives. It is wished you were able to accomplish all these things and more. However, the showbiz industry doesn't take a break, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Many noteworthy announcements emerged over the festive period, and if you didn't see some of them, here is a summary of the juiciest bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (In 2027)
Without a doubt the most shocking piece of news, the widely-criticized troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to deter further production. 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, animation 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 is seen as a good sign. However, the key visual for the second cour is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This suggests that, nowadays, they must be teasing the fans.
Ruri Dragon Will Be the First 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 high caliber 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 stemming from a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became massive popularity when it debuted in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the author's health issues. When it came back with a reduced workload, the series proved it still retained the fans' support and goodwill, and now fans are thrilled about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Has a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the best-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only recently got an English release, but the anime has been running for some time, and its sixth season was a further stellar entry. Apparently 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 Bringing A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
Another studio known for the excellent quality of its projects, Science Saru has delivered hit shows of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, 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 prominent woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and intriguing visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my must-watch list.
Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Second Season
Immediately following the airing of the final episode of the first season, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be securing a second season. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm release date has not been disclosed yet.