A Heap of Japanese Animation Updates Arrived During the Festive Season
The winter break offer a wealth of pastimes far superior than scanning the headlines: opening presents, feasting on festive fare, and using meditation skills to not snapping at loved ones. I hope you managed to enjoy all these things and more. Nevertheless, the entertainment world never sleeps, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Many exciting news items emerged during the holidays, and should you missed a few, here is a roundup of the most exciting bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Is Set to Continue (By 2027)
Perhaps the most shocking revelation, the notorious troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to stop the series' continuation. The show will come back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—so far away they might as well have dubbed it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will still be in charge. At least this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the outset, which could be taken as a good sign. Yet, the key visual for the continuation is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This suggests that, by now, they could be mocking the fans.
Ruri Dragon Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a name for being an elite animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the superb artistry of its productions but for the ethical practices of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not adapted an anime based on a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably the best-known magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved massive popularity when it launched in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a lengthy break due to the mangaka's health issues. When it returned with a more relaxed pace, the series demonstrated it hadn't lost the fans' affection and goodwill, and now everyone is ecstatic about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, long-running Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only just received an English release, but the anime has been going on for a while, and season 6 was a further outstanding entry. Apparently that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as currently being made, and it will almost certainly premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
Another studio known for the artistic merit of its productions, Science Saru has delivered hit shows of the ilk 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, which is based on the true story of Fatima, an influential woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and intriguing visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my list of anticipated shows.
Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Second Season
Shortly after the release of the final episode of the first season, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be getting a second season. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm air date has not yet been announced.
