A Heap of Japanese Animation Updates Landed During the Holidays

The winter break offer a wealth of pursuits considerably more enjoyable than catching up on the updates: discovering surprises, feasting on festive fare, and harnessing meditation skills to avoid yelling 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 notably true for the realm of anime. Numerous thrilling announcements came out over the holidays, and just in case you missed a few, here is a compilation of the biggest bits.

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

Truly the biggest piece of news, the notorious controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to deter more episodes. The show will come back with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they easily could have called it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be leading the project. At least this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the start, which could be taken as a hopeful indicator. But, the promotional image for the continuation is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This makes me think that, at this point, they must be mocking the fans.

Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation has built a standing for being an top-tier animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the exceptional quality of its work but for the fair treatment of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not produced an anime based on a manga published in Shonen Jump, possibly the best-known magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became widespread acclaim when it first appeared in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a lengthy break due to the mangaka's health issues. When it resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series showed it maintained the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now everyone is overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

Kingdom Season 6 Will Get a Sequel In Production

Kingdom is the best-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is not 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 yet another excellent entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been announced as currently being made, and it will very likely premiere in 2026.

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

A further studio renowned for the artistic merit of its productions, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works of the quality 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 actual historical person of Fatima, an prominent woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and fascinating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my list of anticipated shows.

Tougen Anki Will Return With a Second Season

Right after the airing of its twenty-fourth episode, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be receiving 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 delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm premiere date has yet to be revealed.