A Ton of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped During the Festive Season

The Christmas holidays provide a multitude of activities far superior than catching up on the updates: unwrapping gifts, feasting on delicious food, and employing meditation skills to avoid snapping at relatives. Hopefully you succeeded in do all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry doesn't take a break, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Many noteworthy news items surfaced during the break, and if you didn't see a few, here is a roundup of the most exciting bits.

The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Set to Continue (In 2027)

Perhaps the most shocking revelation, the much-discussed troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to stop further production. Season 3 will return with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—such a distant date they might as well have dubbed it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be in charge. At least this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the start, which could be taken as a good sign. Yet, the main art for the new episodes is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This leads one to believe that, at this point, they could be mocking the fans.

The Ruri Dragon Series Is Set to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation has built a name for being an elite animation studio, making its mark not just for the superb artistry of its work but for the fair treatment of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not adapted an anime adapted from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, perhaps the best-known magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained widespread acclaim when it debuted in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the author's health issues. When it resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series proved it maintained the fans' appreciation and enthusiasm, and now the community is thrilled about the impending KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Season 6 Has a Sequel Currently in Production

Kingdom is the best-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only recently got an English translation, but the anime has been running for some time, and its sixth season was a further stellar entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in production, and it will probably premiere in 2026.

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

Another studio known for the excellent quality 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 taking on the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, which is based on the actual historical person of Fatima, an powerful woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and fascinating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my list of anticipated shows.

The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Second Season

Right after the conclusion of its twenty-fourth episode, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be securing a second season. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific air date has not been disclosed yet.