A Ton of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped During the Festive Season
The winter break provide a multitude of activities much better than checking the latest news: opening presents, feasting on holiday treats, and harnessing deep breathing to not yelling at relatives. It is wished you were able to accomplish all these things and more. However, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. A slew of thrilling announcements emerged during the festive period, and if you didn't see any, here is a roundup of the most exciting bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Will Continue (In 2027)
Truly the most shocking revelation, the widely-criticized disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to deter the series' continuation. The show will be back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—a date so remote they easily could have called it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be at the helm. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the outset, which might be a positive development. Yet, the key visual for the continuation is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This leads one to believe that, nowadays, they must be trolling the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Set to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a reputation for being an prestigious animation studio, making its mark not just for the superb artistry of its output but for the good working conditions of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not adapted an anime adapted from a manga from Shonen Jump, perhaps the best-known magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a great 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 came back with a lighter schedule, the series demonstrated it hadn't lost the fans' support and positive sentiment, and now everyone is thrilled about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up In Production
Kingdom is the best-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only recently got an English translation, but the anime has been airing for a while, and its sixth season was another stellar entry. As it happens that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in development, and it will very likely debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
One more studio famous for the superior craftsmanship of its productions, Science Saru has delivered 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, based on the actual historical person of Fatima, an prominent woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and fascinating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my list of anticipated shows.
Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Season Two
Immediately following the airing of its twenty-fourth episode, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a second season. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm air date has yet to be revealed.
