A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped Over the Holidays
The winter break offer a wealth of activities far superior than catching up on the latest news: unwrapping gifts, getting stuffed on holiday treats, and using meditation skills to refrain from snapping at family members. Hopefully you managed 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 exciting developments came out over the break, and if you missed a few, here is a compilation of the juiciest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Will Continue (By 2027)
Perhaps the most shocking revelation, the widely-criticized disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to halt the series' continuation. The show will return with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they might as well have dubbed it season 4. Adding to the surprise, the studio J.C. Staff will remain at the helm. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the beginning, which could be taken as a hopeful indicator. Yet, the promotional image for the second cour is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This suggests that, nowadays, they could be mocking the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a name for being an prestigious animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the exceptional quality of its work 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 published in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became massive popularity when it first appeared in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a lengthy break due to the creator's health issues. When it resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series demonstrated it still retained the fans' affection and enthusiasm, and now everyone is overjoyed about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Has a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the best-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've haven't come across 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. Apparently that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as currently being made, and it will probably premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
Another studio known for the artistic merit of its projects, Science Saru has given us critically acclaimed works of the ilk 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, which is based on the true story of Fatima, an influential woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and intriguing visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my list of anticipated shows.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Season Two
Right after the release of episode 24, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be securing a second season. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete premiere date has yet to be revealed.
