A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Arrived During the Holidays

The Yuletide season provide a plethora of pursuits considerably more enjoyable than checking the headlines: discovering surprises, feasting on festive fare, and employing patience techniques to avoid arguing with loved ones. I hope you managed to enjoy all these things and more. That said, the entertainment world never sleeps, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Numerous noteworthy news items surfaced over the festive period, and should you missed any, here is a roundup of the biggest bits.

One-Punch Man Season 3 Is Moving Forward (In 2027)

Truly the biggest announcement, the notorious controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to deter more episodes. The show will be back with a subsequent part in 2027—so far away they easily could have dubbed it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will remain leading the project. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the start, which is seen as a positive development. Yet, the key visual for the second cour is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This suggests that, nowadays, they must be teasing the fans.

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

Kyoto Animation has established a reputation for being an prestigious animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the exceptional quality of its output but for the fair treatment of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, arguably the most famous magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved widespread acclaim when it launched 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 returned with a more relaxed pace, the series showed it maintained the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now the community is ecstatic about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up In Production

Kingdom is the highly popular, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is aside from 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 running for years, and its sixth season was another outstanding entry. Apparently 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 To Anime

A further studio renowned for the superior craftsmanship of its projects, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, inspired by the actual historical person of Fatima, an powerful woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and intriguing visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my must-watch list.

The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Season Two

Right after the release of its twenty-fourth episode, it was revealed 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 yet been announced.