A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped Over the Festive Season

The Christmas holidays offer a plethora of pursuits far superior than checking the latest news: unwrapping gifts, indulging in delicious food, and harnessing meditation skills to avoid yelling at loved ones. It is wished you managed to accomplish all these things and more. Nevertheless, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. A slew of thrilling announcements surfaced during the break, and if you didn't see a few, here is a compilation of the juiciest bits.

The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Moving Forward (Come 2027)

Perhaps the biggest piece of news, the much-discussed troubled production that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to deter the series' continuation. Season 3 will be back with a second cour in 2027—such a distant date they might as well have dubbed it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be leading the project. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the start, which could be taken as a hopeful indicator. Yet, the promotional image for the continuation is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This makes me think that, at this point, they are probably mocking the fans.

Ruri Dragon Will Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation has forged a reputation for being an elite 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. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not adapted an anime adapted from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, perhaps 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 gained a huge following when it debuted in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the creator's health issues. When it resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series showed it maintained the fans' support and goodwill, and now the community is overjoyed about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.

Kingdom Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel In Production

Kingdom is the best-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English release, but the anime has been airing for years, and its sixth season was a further stellar entry. It turns out that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been announced as in development, and it will almost certainly debut in 2026.

Science Saru Will Adapt 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 real historical figure of Fatima, an prominent woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and captivating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my list of anticipated shows.

Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Season Two

Shortly after the conclusion of the final episode of the first season, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be getting a sequel. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has yet to be revealed.