A Heap of Japanese Animation Updates Landed Over the Holidays
The Yuletide season present a plethora of activities far superior than catching up on the updates: opening presents, indulging in holiday treats, and using meditation skills to refrain from snapping at family members. Hopefully you succeeded in do all these things and more. Nevertheless, the world of entertainment never sleeps, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. A slew of exciting news items surfaced during the break, and should you overlooked a few, here is a summary of the biggest bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Will Continue (In 2027)
Truly the most surprising announcement, the widely-criticized controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to stop the series' continuation. Season 3 will be back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—such a distant date they could have dubbed it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will still be in charge. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the outset, which is seen as a good sign. However, the promotional image for the continuation is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This suggests that, at this point, they are probably trolling the fans.
Ruri Dragon Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a standing for being an prestigious animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the superb artistry of its work but for the ethical practices of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not produced an anime based on a manga published in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved widespread acclaim when it first appeared in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a lengthy break due to the creator's health issues. When it returned with a more relaxed pace, the series proved it still retained the fans' affection and positive sentiment, and now everyone is ecstatic about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Will Get a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the best-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only just received an English localization, but the anime has been going on for years, and season 6 was a further stellar entry. It turns out that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in development, and it will very likely air in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
One more studio famous for the superior craftsmanship of its work, Science Saru has brought us masterpieces of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be taking on the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, which is based on the true story of Fatima, an influential woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and fascinating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my must-watch list.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Season Two
Immediately following the airing of episode 24, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be getting a sequel. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm premiere date has not been disclosed yet.
