A Ton of Japanese Animation Updates Arrived Over the Holidays
The Christmas holidays present a wealth of activities considerably more enjoyable than catching up on the updates: unwrapping gifts, getting stuffed on delicious food, and employing meditation skills to avoid arguing with relatives. I hope you managed to accomplish all these things and more. That said, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. A slew of noteworthy developments surfaced over the festive period, and just in case you didn't see a few, here is a summary of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Moving Forward (By 2027)
Without a doubt the most surprising piece of news, the widely-criticized controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to stop the series' continuation. The show will return with a subsequent part in 2027—so far away they could have labeled it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain in charge. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the beginning, which is seen as a positive development. Yet, the promotional image for the new episodes is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This suggests that, nowadays, they must be trolling the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Set to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a standing for being an prestigious animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the superb artistry of its productions but for the fair treatment of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not produced an anime stemming from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, arguably the best-known magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved massive popularity when it first appeared in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a extended pause due to the author's health issues. When it returned with a more relaxed pace, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and positive sentiment, and now fans are thrilled about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only just received an English release, but the anime has been running for some time, and its sixth season was a further stellar entry. It turns out that was just the first half, 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
One more studio renowned for the excellent quality of its work, Science Saru has brought us masterpieces of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, 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 thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and captivating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my watchlist.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Second Season
Right after the release of the final episode of the first season, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be receiving 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 cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific premiere date has yet to be revealed.
