A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped During the Holidays
The Yuletide season provide a plethora of activities far superior than checking the updates: opening presents, feasting on holiday treats, and employing deep breathing to avoid arguing with family members. Hopefully you were able to enjoy all these things and more. That said, the entertainment world never sleeps, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Many thrilling developments surfaced over the break, and just in case you didn't see any, here is a roundup of the juiciest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Moving Forward (Come 2027)
Truly the most surprising piece of news, the notorious troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to deter further production. Season 3 will be back with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they easily could have labeled it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be at the helm. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the beginning, which might be a good sign. However, the main art for the new episodes is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This leads one to believe that, at this point, they are probably teasing the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Set to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a standing for being an prestigious animation studio, making its mark not just for the exceptional quality of its productions but for the good working conditions of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had never worked on an anime stemming from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained a huge following when it launched in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the creator's health issues. When it resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' affection and enthusiasm, and now the community is thrilled about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up Currently in Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, epic Shueisha manga that is not 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 airing for some time, and season 6 was another outstanding entry. As it happens that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been announced as in development, and it will very likely premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
Another studio renowned for the excellent quality of its productions, Science Saru has given us masterpieces of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be taking on the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, which is based on the real historical figure of Fatima, an influential woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and captivating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my list of anticipated shows.
Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Second Season
Right after the airing of the final episode of the first season, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be getting 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 adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete release date has not been disclosed yet.
