A Heap of Japanese Animation Updates Arrived Over the Festive Season
The Yuletide season provide a plethora of activities much better than checking the headlines: opening presents, getting stuffed on festive fare, and employing deep breathing to avoid snapping at loved ones. Hopefully you managed to do all these things and more. Nevertheless, the showbiz industry never sleeps, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Numerous noteworthy announcements emerged during the festive period, and just in case you didn't see any, here is a roundup of the most exciting bits.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Will Continue (Come 2027)
Truly the most surprising announcement, the much-discussed troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to stop more episodes. Season 3 will come back with a second cour in 2027—such a distant date they easily could have called it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will still be at the helm. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the start, which might be a hopeful indicator. However, the main art for the second cour is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This makes me think that, at this point, they are probably mocking the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Will Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a standing for being an elite animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the exceptional quality of its work but for the fair treatment of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had never worked on an anime adapted from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, arguably the most famous magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became widespread acclaim when it launched in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a lengthy break due to the author's health issues. When it resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' support and positive sentiment, and now fans are overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up Now in the Works
Kingdom is the highly popular, epic 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 translation, but the anime has been running for years, and season 6 was another stellar entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been announced as currently being made, and it will probably debut in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
A further studio famous for the excellent quality of its work, Science Saru has brought us critically acclaimed works of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more 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 real historical figure of Fatima, an prominent woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and captivating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my must-watch list.
The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Season Two
Right after the airing of the final episode of the first season, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a second season. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete premiere date has not been disclosed yet.