A Ton of Japanese Animation Updates Arrived During the Holidays

The Yuletide season present a wealth of activities considerably more enjoyable than scanning the updates: opening presents, feasting on festive fare, and harnessing deep breathing to refrain from yelling at relatives. I hope you were able to accomplish all these things and more. That said, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Many noteworthy announcements surfaced over the break, and if you didn't see any, here is a compilation of the juiciest bits.

One-Punch Man Season 3 Is Set to Continue (By 2027)

Perhaps the biggest piece of news, the notorious troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to halt more episodes. Season 3 will return 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. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the beginning, which is seen as a hopeful indicator. But, the key visual for the continuation is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This leads one to believe that, at this point, they must be mocking the fans.

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

Kyoto Animation has forged a name for being an elite animation studio, making its mark not just for the exceptional quality of its work but for the fair treatment of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had never worked on an anime stemming from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, perhaps the best-known magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved massive popularity when it launched in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a extended pause due to the author's health issues. When it came back with a reduced workload, the series showed it maintained the fans' affection and positive sentiment, and now fans are ecstatic about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel Now in the Works

Kingdom is the best-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English release, but the anime has been airing for some time, and its sixth season was another stellar entry. Apparently that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in production, and it will very likely air in 2026.

Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime

Another studio renowned for the artistic merit of its projects, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works of the ilk 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, based on the true story of Fatima, an prominent woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and intriguing 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 conclusion of episode 24, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be getting a follow-up. Adapted from 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.