A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped During the Festive Season
The Christmas holidays offer a plethora of pastimes considerably more enjoyable than scanning the latest news: discovering surprises, getting stuffed on delicious food, and employing patience techniques to avoid arguing with relatives. It is wished you succeeded in do all these things and more. That said, the world of entertainment doesn't go on vacation, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Numerous noteworthy news items came out over the break, and should you missed some of them, here is a summary of the most exciting bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Set to Continue (In 2027)
Perhaps the biggest piece of news, the much-discussed disaster that was season 3 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 called it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be leading the project. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the outset, which is seen as a hopeful indicator. However, the promotional image for the continuation is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This leads one to believe that, by now, they must be mocking the fans.
Ruri Dragon Will Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a name for being an elite animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the exceptional quality of its work but for the ethical practices of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not adapted an anime stemming from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, perhaps the best-known magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained massive popularity when it debuted in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a lengthy break due to the mangaka's health issues. When it resumed publication with a more relaxed pace, the series showed it still retained the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now everyone is thrilled about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up In Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, epic Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English translation, but the anime has been airing 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 in production, and it will almost certainly air in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
One more studio famous for the excellent quality of its work, Science Saru has brought us hit shows of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be producing the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, which is based on the actual historical person of Fatima, an powerful woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and captivating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my list of anticipated shows.
Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Season Two
Right after the release of episode 24, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a sequel. Adapted from 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 air date has not been disclosed yet.
