A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped During the Holidays
The winter break provide a multitude of pursuits far superior than scanning the headlines: unwrapping gifts, getting stuffed on holiday treats, and harnessing meditation skills to refrain from arguing with family members. It is wished you managed to enjoy all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry doesn't go on vacation, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Many noteworthy developments surfaced over the break, and should you didn't see some of them, here is a roundup of the juiciest bits.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Is Set to Continue (By 2027)
Truly the biggest announcement, the widely-criticized controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to deter more episodes. The show will return with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—so far away they could have dubbed it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be in charge. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the start, which could be taken as a good sign. But, the promotional image for the continuation is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This leads one to believe that, at this point, they could be teasing the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a standing for being an elite animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the exceptional quality of its productions but for the ethical practices of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not produced an anime adapted from a manga from Shonen Jump, arguably the most famous magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became 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 returned with a reduced workload, the series proved it still retained the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now fans are overjoyed about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Will Get a Sequel In Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, long-running 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 running for some time, and its sixth season was a further stellar entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been announced as in production, and it will very likely premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
One more studio known for the excellent quality of its productions, Science Saru has brought us critically acclaimed works of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, 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 real historical figure of Fatima, an powerful woman and thinker 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 fascinating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my must-watch list.
The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Second Season
Shortly after the conclusion of the final episode of the first season, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be securing a sequel. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete premiere date has not yet been announced.
