A Heap of Japanese Animation Updates Landed During the Holidays
The Christmas holidays present a multitude of activities far superior than checking the updates: opening presents, indulging in delicious food, and harnessing patience techniques to not arguing with relatives. Hopefully you managed to accomplish all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry doesn't take a break, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. A slew of thrilling developments came out over the break, and should you didn't see some of them, here is a roundup of the most exciting bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Moving Forward (Come 2027)
Truly the biggest piece of news, the much-discussed disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to halt the series' continuation. Season 3 will come back with a subsequent part in 2027—a date so remote they easily could have dubbed it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be in charge. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the outset, which might be a good sign. But, the promotional image for the new episodes is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This leads one to believe that, by now, they must be mocking the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Set to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a standing for being an elite animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the superb artistry of its work but for the good working conditions of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not produced an anime based on a manga from Shonen Jump, arguably the most famous magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became a huge following when it first appeared in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a extended pause due to the creator's health issues. When it returned with a reduced workload, the series demonstrated it maintained the fans' appreciation and positive sentiment, and now fans are overjoyed about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Will Get a Sequel In Production
Kingdom is the top-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 fairly recently obtained an English translation, but the anime has been airing for a while, and season 6 was another excellent entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in development, and it will almost certainly premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
One more studio known for the artistic merit of its projects, Science Saru has brought us hit shows of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, based on the real historical figure of Fatima, an powerful woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and intriguing 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 Second Season
Immediately following the conclusion of the final episode of the first season, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be getting a follow-up. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm air date has not yet been announced.