A Heap of Japanese Animation Updates Landed During the Holidays
The Yuletide season present a plethora of pastimes far superior than checking the latest news: discovering surprises, indulging in holiday treats, and harnessing patience techniques to refrain from yelling at family members. It is wished you succeeded in do all these things and more. Nevertheless, the showbiz industry doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Many noteworthy news items surfaced during the festive period, and if you missed some of them, here is a summary of the most exciting bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Will Continue (Come 2027)
Without a doubt the most shocking piece of news, the widely-criticized controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to halt further production. The show will be back with a subsequent part in 2027—a date so remote they easily could have dubbed it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will still be leading the project. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the start, which could be taken as a hopeful indicator. However, the main art for the continuation is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This suggests that, at this point, they could be mocking the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Set to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a reputation for being an elite animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the exceptional quality of its output but for the good working conditions of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not adapted an anime stemming from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most famous magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained a huge following when it launched in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the author's health issues. When it returned with a more relaxed pace, the series showed it maintained the fans' support and enthusiasm, and now fans are thrilled about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Will Get a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the top-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English localization, but the anime has been running for a while, and its sixth season was a further stellar entry. Apparently that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been revealed as currently being made, and it will probably air in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
One more studio famous for the artistic merit of its work, Science Saru has given us hit shows 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, based on the true story of Fatima, an prominent woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and captivating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my list of anticipated shows.
Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Second Season
Right after the conclusion of episode 24, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be securing a second season. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm release date has yet to be revealed.