A Heap of Japanese Animation Updates Arrived Over the Festive Season
The Yuletide season offer a plethora of pursuits much better than catching up on the updates: opening presents, feasting on delicious food, and using deep breathing to avoid arguing with loved ones. It is wished you managed to enjoy all these things and more. That said, the world of entertainment never sleeps, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Many thrilling developments came out during the festive period, and just in case you missed any, here is a compilation of the juiciest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Moving Forward (In 2027)
Truly the most surprising piece of news, the notorious troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to stop the series' continuation. The show will return with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—so far away they could have labeled it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain in charge. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the outset, which might be a good sign. But, the key visual for the second cour is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This suggests that, nowadays, they are probably teasing the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Set to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a name for being an elite animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the exceptional quality of its output but for the ethical practices of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not produced an anime based on a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, possibly the best-known magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved a huge following when it debuted 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 resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series proved it maintained the fans' appreciation and enthusiasm, and now everyone is thrilled about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only recently got an English translation, but the anime has been going on for years, and season 6 was yet another stellar entry. As it happens that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been revealed as currently being made, and it will probably debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
A further studio known for the artistic merit of its work, Science Saru has delivered masterpieces of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, 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. From the trailer, the anime titled 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 without a doubt be on my list of anticipated shows.
Tougen Anki Will Return With a Second Season
Right after the release of its twenty-fourth episode, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be securing a second season. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete premiere date has not been disclosed yet.
