A Heap of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped Over the Festive Season
The winter break present a plethora of pursuits much better than checking the latest news: discovering surprises, feasting on festive fare, and employing patience techniques to not yelling at family members. It is wished you succeeded in enjoy all these things and more. That said, the world of entertainment doesn't take a break, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Many thrilling developments emerged during the break, and should you overlooked a few, here is a summary of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (In 2027)
Perhaps the most surprising piece of news, the notorious disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to halt further production. Season 3 will return with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they easily could have called it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain at the helm. At least this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the start, which could be taken as a positive development. But, 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 makes me think that, at this point, they could be mocking the fans.
Ruri Dragon Will Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a name for being an top-tier animation studio, making its mark not just for the superb artistry of its work but for the good working conditions of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not produced an anime stemming from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, arguably the best-known magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became widespread acclaim when it launched in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a extended pause due to the author's health issues. When it came back with a reduced workload, the series demonstrated it maintained the fans' appreciation and enthusiasm, and now fans are thrilled about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Is Getting a Follow-Up Currently in Production
Kingdom is the best-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is aside from 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 season 6 was another stellar entry. As it happens that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been revealed as currently being made, and it will almost certainly debut in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
A further studio renowned for the excellent quality of its projects, Science Saru has given us critically acclaimed works of the caliber 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 intellectual 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 evokes Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my must-watch list.
The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Season Two
Right after the airing of its twenty-fourth episode, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be getting a second season. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete release date has yet to be revealed.
