A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Landed During the Festive Season
The winter break present a plethora of activities far superior than checking the updates: opening presents, indulging in holiday treats, and harnessing patience techniques to refrain from snapping at loved ones. It is wished you managed to do all these things and more. Nevertheless, the entertainment world never sleeps, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Many exciting developments came out over the festive period, and just in case you missed a few, here is a summary of the most exciting bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Moving Forward (Come 2027)
Truly the most surprising revelation, the notorious troubled production that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to halt the series' continuation. Season 3 will be back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—a date so remote they might as well have dubbed it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will still be at the helm. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the outset, which could be taken as a positive development. But, the key visual 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 Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a standing for being an top-tier animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the superb artistry of its productions but for the ethical practices of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not produced an anime based on a manga from Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained 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 resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series showed it hadn't lost the fans' support and positive sentiment, and now the community is overjoyed about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Has a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the highly popular, epic Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English localization, but the anime has been airing for a while, and season 6 was yet another outstanding entry. Apparently that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been revealed as currently being made, and it will almost certainly premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
Another studio renowned for the superior craftsmanship of its productions, Science Saru has delivered masterpieces of the quality 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, inspired by the actual historical person of Fatima, an influential 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 fascinating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my must-watch list.
Tougen Anki Will Return With a Season Two
Shortly after the release of its twenty-fourth episode, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be getting a second season. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm premiere date has yet to be revealed.
