A Ton of Japanese Animation Updates Arrived Over the Festive Season
The Christmas holidays provide a multitude of pursuits much better than checking the updates: opening presents, indulging in holiday treats, and harnessing meditation skills to refrain from snapping at family members. Hopefully you managed to accomplish all these things and more. Nevertheless, the world of entertainment doesn't go on vacation, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Numerous noteworthy developments came out during the break, and should you didn't see some of them, here is a summary of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Moving Forward (In 2027)
Without a doubt the most surprising revelation, the notorious disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to halt more episodes. Season 3 will be back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—such a distant date they might as well have called it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be leading the project. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the beginning, which might be a positive development. However, the main art for the continuation is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This makes me think that, by now, they could be trolling the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Set to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a name for being an prestigious animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the superb artistry of its output but for the good working conditions of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not adapted an anime stemming from a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably the most famous magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved massive popularity when it debuted in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the author's health issues. When it resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series showed it still retained the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now everyone is overjoyed about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel In Production
Kingdom is the top-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only just received an English localization, but the anime has been running for a while, and season 6 was another stellar entry. As it happens that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been announced as in development, and it will almost certainly debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
A further studio known for the excellent quality of its projects, Science Saru has given us masterpieces 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, inspired by the real historical figure of Fatima, an influential woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and intriguing visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my list of anticipated shows.
Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Season Two
Shortly after the release of its twenty-fourth episode, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be receiving a second season. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific premiere date has yet to be revealed.
