A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Arrived Over the Holidays

The Yuletide season provide a multitude of activities considerably more enjoyable than checking the headlines: opening presents, indulging in holiday treats, and using meditation skills to not arguing with relatives. Hopefully you succeeded in do all these things and more. Nevertheless, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Numerous noteworthy developments emerged over the holidays, and should you didn't see any, here is a compilation of the juiciest bits.

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

Truly the biggest piece of news, the much-discussed disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to deter more episodes. Season 3 will come back with a subsequent part in 2027—so far away they easily could have labeled it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will remain leading the project. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the start, which could be taken as a hopeful indicator. But, the key visual for the second cour 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, by now, they are probably mocking the fans.

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

Kyoto Animation has forged a reputation for being an elite animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the high caliber of its productions but for the ethical practices of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not adapted an anime based on a manga from Shonen Jump, possibly the most iconic magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a excellent 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 mangaka's health issues. When it returned with a more relaxed pace, the series showed it maintained the fans' appreciation and enthusiasm, and now the community is ecstatic about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

Kingdom Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up Now in the Works

Kingdom is the top-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only just received an English release, but the anime has been airing for a while, and season 6 was a further outstanding entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in development, and it will almost certainly premiere in 2026.

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

Another studio known for the superior craftsmanship of its projects, Science Saru has brought us hit shows 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, based on the real historical figure of Fatima, an influential 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 captivating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my list of anticipated shows.

Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Second Season

Right after the release of the final episode of the first season, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be getting a second season. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has not been disclosed yet.