A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Arrived During the Holidays

The Yuletide season present a wealth of pursuits much better than checking the updates: unwrapping gifts, indulging in festive fare, and employing patience techniques to refrain from arguing with family members. I hope you managed to enjoy all these things and more. Nevertheless, the showbiz industry never sleeps, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. A slew of thrilling developments emerged over the festive period, and just in case you missed some of them, here is a compilation of the most exciting bits.

One-Punch Man Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (By 2027)

Perhaps the biggest announcement, the notorious controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to halt the series' continuation. Season 3 will be back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—so far away they could have labeled it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be at the helm. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the outset, which could be taken as a positive development. But, the promotional image for the second cour is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This leads one to believe that, by now, they are probably teasing the fans.

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

Kyoto Animation has established a standing for being an elite animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the high caliber of its output but for the ethical practices of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not adapted an anime adapted from a manga published in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most famous magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained massive popularity when it debuted in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a lengthy break due to the mangaka's health issues. When it came back with a more relaxed pace, the series demonstrated it still retained the fans' affection and enthusiasm, and now fans are ecstatic about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.

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

Kingdom is the top-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 just received an English translation, but the anime has been airing for some time, and its sixth season was another excellent entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been announced as currently being made, and it will probably debut in 2026.

Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia To Anime

One more studio famous for the excellent quality of its productions, Science Saru has given us masterpieces of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be producing the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, 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 named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and captivating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my list of anticipated shows.

The Tougen Anki Series Will Continue With a Second Season

Shortly after the conclusion of its twenty-fourth episode, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be securing a second season. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific premiere date has not been disclosed yet.