A Heap of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped Over the Holidays

The Yuletide season present a wealth of pursuits considerably more enjoyable than scanning the updates: discovering surprises, feasting on delicious food, and employing patience techniques to not snapping at family members. It is wished you succeeded in do all these things and more. That said, the world of entertainment never sleeps, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. A slew of exciting announcements came out during the festive period, and just in case you missed a few, here is a summary of the most exciting bits.

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

Truly the biggest announcement, the much-discussed troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to halt more episodes. The show will come back with a subsequent part in 2027—so far away they could have dubbed it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be in charge. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the outset, which is seen as a hopeful indicator. But, the main art for the new episodes is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This suggests that, by now, they are probably trolling the fans.

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

Kyoto Animation has built a name for being an elite animation studio, making its mark not just for the exceptional quality of its productions but for the fair treatment of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not produced an anime based on a manga from Shonen Jump, perhaps the best-known magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved a huge following when it launched in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a extended pause due to the creator's health issues. When it came back with a more relaxed pace, the series demonstrated it hadn't lost the fans' affection and positive sentiment, and now the community is overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up In Production

Kingdom is the top-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only just received an English localization, but the anime has been airing for years, and its sixth season was another outstanding entry. As it happens that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in development, and it will almost certainly premiere in 2026.

Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia To Anime

A further studio renowned for the excellent quality of its work, Science Saru has given us masterpieces of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most 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 true story of Fatima, an influential woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and captivating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my watchlist.

The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Second Season

Shortly after the release of the final episode of the first season, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be securing a second season. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific premiere date has not been disclosed yet.