A Heap of Japanese Animation Updates Landed During the Festive Season
The Yuletide season present a multitude of pursuits far superior than scanning the latest news: unwrapping gifts, getting stuffed on festive fare, and employing patience techniques to refrain from arguing with loved ones. I hope you managed to do all these things and more. That said, the world of entertainment never sleeps, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Many exciting news items emerged over the break, and if you missed some of them, here is a compilation of the biggest bits.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Is Moving Forward (In 2027)
Perhaps the most surprising piece of news, the notorious troubled production that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to stop the series' continuation. The show will return with a subsequent part in 2027—so far away they easily could have called it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be in charge. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the start, which is seen as a positive development. Yet, the promotional image for the new episodes is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This suggests that, by now, they are probably teasing the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Set to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a name for being an prestigious animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the superb artistry of its productions but for the ethical practices of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not adapted an anime adapted from a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably the best-known magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved widespread acclaim when it debuted in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the creator's health issues. When it returned with a reduced workload, the series demonstrated it maintained the fans' support and positive sentiment, and now the community is thrilled about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Is Getting a Follow-Up Now in the Works
Kingdom is the best-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is other than 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 running for some time, and its sixth season was yet another excellent entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as currently being made, and it will almost certainly premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
A further studio known for the superior craftsmanship 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 powerful 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 truly original and captivating 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.
Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Second Season
Immediately following the release of the final episode of the first season, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a follow-up. Based on 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 specific premiere date has not been disclosed yet.
