A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Arrived During the Festive Season
The Yuletide season offer a wealth of activities considerably more enjoyable than checking the latest news: opening presents, getting stuffed on delicious food, and using deep breathing to refrain from yelling at loved ones. Hopefully you managed to enjoy all these things and more. However, the world of entertainment never sleeps, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. A slew of thrilling news items came out over the festive period, and just in case you missed a few, here is a summary of the biggest bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (In 2027)
Without a doubt the most surprising piece of news, the much-discussed troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to halt the series' continuation. The show will come back with a second cour in 2027—so far away they easily could have called it season 4. Adding to the surprise, the studio J.C. Staff will still be at the helm. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the outset, which might be a hopeful indicator. However, the key visual for the continuation is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This suggests that, at this point, they must be trolling the fans.
Ruri Dragon Will Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a name for being an elite animation studio, making its mark not just for the exceptional quality of its output but for the ethical practices of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga published in Shonen Jump, possibly the most famous magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved a huge following when it debuted in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a lengthy break due to the creator's health issues. When it returned with a more relaxed pace, the series showed it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and positive sentiment, and now the community is overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Is Getting a Follow-Up In Production
Kingdom is the top-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only recently got an English translation, but the anime has been going on for a while, and its sixth season was a further stellar entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in development, and it will probably air in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
One more studio known for the artistic merit of its productions, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works of the quality 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, based on the true story of Fatima, an prominent woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and captivating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my watchlist.
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 follow-up. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific premiere date has not yet been announced.
