A Heap of Japanese Animation Updates Arrived During the Festive Season
The winter break offer a multitude of activities much better than catching up on the headlines: opening presents, getting stuffed on festive fare, and using deep breathing to avoid snapping at loved ones. I hope you were able to enjoy all these things and more. That said, the world of entertainment never sleeps, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Numerous noteworthy news items came out over the break, and should you overlooked a few, here is a compilation of the juiciest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Moving Forward (Come 2027)
Truly the most surprising announcement, the much-discussed disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to deter the series' continuation. Season 3 will be back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—such a distant date they might as well have labeled it season 4. Adding to the surprise, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be at the helm. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the start, which might be a good sign. But, the key visual for the continuation is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This suggests that, at this point, they must be mocking the fans.
Ruri Dragon Will Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a reputation for being an elite animation studio, making its mark not just for the superb artistry of its work but for the good working conditions of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not adapted an anime adapted from a manga from Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became massive popularity when it launched in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the mangaka's health issues. When it resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series demonstrated it still retained the fans' appreciation and enthusiasm, and now fans are ecstatic about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel In Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, epic Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only recently got an English release, but the anime has been going on for a while, and its sixth season was a further stellar entry. Apparently that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been announced as in production, and it will very likely air in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
A further studio known for the excellent quality of its work, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most recently, 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 actual historical person of Fatima, an prominent woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and intriguing visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my watchlist.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Second Season
Shortly after the release of episode 24, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be getting a sequel. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm release date has yet to be revealed.