A Ton of Japanese Animation Updates Arrived During the Holidays

The Yuletide season provide a wealth of pastimes considerably more enjoyable than catching up on the updates: opening presents, feasting on delicious food, and employing deep breathing to not snapping at relatives. I hope you were able to accomplish all these things and more. Nevertheless, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. A slew of noteworthy announcements emerged over the festive period, and if you didn't see a few, here is a compilation of the most exciting bits.

One-Punch Man Its Third Season Will Continue (Come 2027)

Perhaps the most surprising piece of news, the notorious troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to deter the series' continuation. Season 3 will return with a second cour in 2027—so far away they might as well have labeled it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will remain at the helm. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the outset, which could be taken as a good sign. But, the key visual for the continuation is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This suggests that, by now, they must be teasing the fans.

Ruri Dragon Will Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation has forged a standing for being an top-tier animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the exceptional quality of its productions but for the ethical practices of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had never worked on an anime stemming from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became massive popularity when it first appeared in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the author's health issues. When it came back with a more relaxed pace, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' affection and positive sentiment, and now everyone is overjoyed about the impending KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Season 6 Is Getting a Follow-Up 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 recently got an English translation, but the anime has been running for years, and season 6 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

Another studio renowned for the superior craftsmanship of its work, 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 taking on 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 thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and intriguing visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my watchlist.

The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Second Season

Immediately following the release of its twenty-fourth episode, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be getting a follow-up. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific air date has not yet been announced.