A Ton of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped During the Holidays
The winter break present a wealth of activities much better than catching up on the headlines: unwrapping gifts, getting stuffed on holiday treats, and harnessing patience techniques to avoid yelling at loved ones. It is wished you managed to do all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry doesn't take a break, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. A slew of noteworthy news items surfaced over the break, and should you didn't see any, here is a summary of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Will Continue (Come 2027)
Without a doubt the most shocking announcement, the widely-criticized troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to deter more episodes. The show will be back with a second cour in 2027—such a distant date they might as well have called it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be at the helm. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the beginning, which is seen as a hopeful indicator. But, the main art for the new episodes 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 could be mocking the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a reputation for being an elite animation studio, making its mark not just for the high caliber of its work but for the good working conditions of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had never worked on an anime adapted from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, possibly the most famous magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became a huge following when it debuted in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a extended pause due to the mangaka's health issues. When it returned with a reduced workload, the series showed it maintained the fans' support and enthusiasm, and now the community is thrilled about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel In Production
Kingdom is the top-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only recently got an English localization, but the anime has been going on for a while, and its sixth season was another excellent entry. Apparently that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been confirmed 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 known for the excellent quality of its projects, Science Saru has given us masterpieces of the quality 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 true story of Fatima, an powerful woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and captivating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch 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
Immediately following the airing of episode 24, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be securing a sequel. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has not been disclosed yet.