A Ton of Japanese Animation Updates Arrived During the Festive Season
The winter break provide a plethora of pastimes considerably more enjoyable than scanning the latest news: opening presents, getting stuffed on festive fare, and employing patience techniques to refrain from yelling at relatives. I hope you were able to do all these things and more. That said, the entertainment world doesn't take a break, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Numerous noteworthy news items emerged during the holidays, and just in case you overlooked some of them, here is a roundup of the juiciest bits.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Will Continue (By 2027)
Truly the most shocking revelation, the widely-criticized controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to halt the series' continuation. The show will be back with a second cour in 2027—such a distant date they easily could have called it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be leading the project. At least this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the start, which is seen as a positive development. However, the key visual for the second cour is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This leads one to believe that, at this point, they are probably teasing the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a standing for being an top-tier animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the exceptional quality of its productions but for the ethical practices of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably the most famous magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained widespread acclaim when it debuted in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a lengthy break due to the author's health issues. When it resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series showed it hadn't lost the fans' support and positive sentiment, and now fans are ecstatic about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up Currently in Production
Kingdom is the best-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've haven't come across 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 yet another outstanding entry. Apparently that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in development, and it will probably premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
A further studio renowned for the artistic merit of its projects, Science Saru has delivered hit shows 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, based on the true story of Fatima, an powerful woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and intriguing visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my list of anticipated shows.
Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Second Season
Shortly after the airing of the final episode of the first season, 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 second season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has not yet been announced.
