A Ton of Japanese Animation Updates Landed During the Holidays
The winter break provide a multitude of pursuits far superior than scanning the latest news: discovering surprises, indulging in holiday treats, and employing patience techniques to not snapping at loved ones. I hope you managed to accomplish all these things and more. That said, the world of entertainment never sleeps, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Many noteworthy announcements surfaced during the break, and just in case you missed some of them, here is a roundup of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Is Set to Continue (In 2027)
Truly the most surprising piece of news, the notorious disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to halt further production. Season 3 will be back with a subsequent part in 2027—such a distant date they could have labeled it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain in charge. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the outset, which might be a hopeful indicator. Yet, the key visual for the continuation is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This leads one to believe that, at this point, they are probably trolling the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Will Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a reputation for being an prestigious animation studio, making its mark not just for the exceptional quality of its output but for the fair treatment of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not produced an anime stemming from a manga from Shonen Jump, arguably the best-known magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained widespread acclaim when it first appeared in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a lengthy break due to the creator's health issues. When it returned with a lighter schedule, the series proved it maintained the fans' affection and goodwill, and now everyone is overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up Now in the Works
Kingdom is the highly popular, 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 years, and its sixth season was another excellent entry. As it happens that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in development, and it will almost certainly premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
One more studio known for the artistic merit of its projects, Science Saru has brought us hit shows of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling 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 intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from 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. Debuting in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my must-watch list.
Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Season Two
Right after the conclusion of the final episode of the first season, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be getting a second season. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm release date has not been disclosed yet.
