A Ton of Japanese Animation Updates Arrived During the Holidays

The Yuletide season present a multitude of activities considerably more enjoyable than scanning the updates: discovering surprises, indulging in holiday treats, and employing deep breathing to avoid arguing with family members. It is wished you managed to accomplish all these things and more. That said, the entertainment world never sleeps, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Numerous noteworthy announcements emerged during the break, and should you missed any, here is a roundup of the juiciest bits.

The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Will Continue (In 2027)

Truly the most shocking announcement, the notorious troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to stop more episodes. The show will be back with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they could have dubbed it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain at the helm. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the start, which is seen as a good sign. Yet, the promotional image for the new episodes is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This makes me think that, by now, they could be teasing the fans.

Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation has established a standing for being an elite animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the superb artistry of its output but for the fair treatment of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not produced an anime based on a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably the best-known magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a great 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 resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series showed it still retained the fans' support and enthusiasm, and now fans are ecstatic about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

Kingdom Season 6 Is Getting a Follow-Up In Production

Kingdom is the top-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only just received an English release, but the anime has been running for a while, and its sixth season was yet another stellar entry. It turns out that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been revealed as currently being made, and it will very likely air in 2026.

Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series

One more studio renowned for the excellent quality of its productions, Science Saru has given us critically acclaimed works of the caliber 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 prominent 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 truly original and captivating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my must-watch list.

Tougen Anki Will Return With a Season Two

Right after the airing of episode 24, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be getting 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 delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has not been disclosed yet.