A Heap of Japanese Animation Updates Arrived Over the Festive Season
The winter break offer a multitude of pursuits far superior than catching up on the updates: unwrapping gifts, indulging in festive fare, and using meditation skills to not snapping at relatives. I hope you were able to do all these things and more. However, the showbiz industry doesn't take a break, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. A slew of exciting developments surfaced over the break, and should you overlooked a few, here is a summary of the juiciest bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (Come 2027)
Perhaps the most shocking piece of news, the notorious controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to stop more episodes. The show will come back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—such a distant date they might as well have called it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be at the helm. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the beginning, which is seen as a positive development. Yet, the main art for the new episodes is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This makes me think that, at this point, they are probably mocking the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Set to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged 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 published in Shonen Jump, perhaps the best-known magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a superb 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 creator's health issues. When it resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and positive sentiment, and now the community is thrilled about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, decades-spanning 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 localization, but the anime has been airing for a while, and its sixth season was another excellent entry. It turns out that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in development, and it will almost certainly debut in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
One more studio famous for the superior craftsmanship of its productions, Science Saru has given us masterpieces of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most 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 true story 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. Debuting in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my list of anticipated shows.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Continue With a Season Two
Right after the release of its twenty-fourth episode, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be securing a sequel. Inspired by 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 specific air date has yet to be revealed.
