A Ton of Japanese Animation Updates Landed During the Holidays

The Christmas holidays offer a plethora of pastimes much better than catching up on the updates: discovering surprises, indulging in festive fare, and using patience techniques to avoid snapping at family members. It is wished you were able to accomplish all these things and more. Nevertheless, the world of entertainment doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Many thrilling developments came out over the holidays, and should you didn't see any, here is a roundup of the biggest bits.

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

Without a doubt the most surprising piece of news, the much-discussed troubled production that was season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough 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. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain at the helm. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the outset, which might be a positive development. Yet, the promotional image for the continuation is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This makes me think that, at this point, they are probably teasing the fans.

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

Kyoto Animation has established a standing for being an prestigious animation studio, making its mark 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 not produced an anime adapted from a manga from Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved massive popularity when it launched in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a lengthy break due to the author's health issues. When it resumed publication with a more relaxed pace, the series demonstrated it still retained the fans' appreciation and enthusiasm, and now fans are thrilled about the impending KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel In Production

Kingdom is the top-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is aside from 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 airing for some time, and its sixth season was a further outstanding entry. As it happens that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in production, and it will very likely premiere in 2026.

Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia To Anime

A further studio renowned for the superior craftsmanship of its work, Science Saru has brought us masterpieces of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be producing the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, based on the true story of Fatima, an influential woman and thinker 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 is somewhat reminiscent 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

Shortly after the airing of the final episode of the first season, 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 upcoming season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm air date has not been disclosed yet.