A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Landed During the Festive Season
The winter break offer a multitude of pastimes far superior than catching up on the latest news: opening presents, feasting on delicious food, and using deep breathing to refrain from yelling at relatives. I hope you were able to accomplish all these things and more. Nevertheless, the world of entertainment doesn't go on vacation, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. A slew of exciting developments came out over the break, and if you missed any, here is a compilation of the most exciting bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (Come 2027)
Truly the most surprising piece of news, the widely-criticized troubled production that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to halt further production. Season 3 will be back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—a date so remote they easily could have called it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will still be at the helm. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the beginning, which could be taken as a hopeful indicator. However, the main art for the new episodes is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This makes me think that, nowadays, they must be trolling the fans.
Ruri Dragon Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a standing for being an prestigious animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the exceptional quality of its productions but for the good working conditions of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not produced an anime based on a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, arguably the best-known magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained a huge following when it first appeared in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the mangaka's health issues. When it resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now everyone is overjoyed about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Will Get a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, epic Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only just received an English localization, but the anime has been running for years, and its sixth season was yet another outstanding entry. Apparently that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been announced as in production, and it will almost certainly debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
A further studio renowned for the excellent quality of its projects, Science Saru has brought us hit shows of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more 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 prominent woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and captivating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my list of anticipated shows.
Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Season Two
Right after the release of the final episode of the first season, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be getting a sequel. Adapted from 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 specific premiere date has not yet been announced.
