A Ton of Japanese Animation Updates Arrived During the Festive Season

The Yuletide season provide a multitude of activities much better than catching up on the latest news: unwrapping gifts, getting stuffed on delicious food, and using deep breathing to not yelling at family members. I hope you succeeded in do all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry never sleeps, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Many thrilling developments emerged over the break, and just in case you missed any, here is a summary of the biggest bits.

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

Truly the biggest piece of news, the much-discussed disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to halt the series' continuation. Season 3 will come back with a subsequent part in 2027—so far away they could have labeled it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be at the helm. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the beginning, which could be taken as a positive development. But, the main art for the second cour is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This leads one to believe that, nowadays, they must be mocking the fans.

The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to 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 high caliber of its output but for the good working conditions of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had never worked on an anime stemming from a manga published in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became massive popularity when it first appeared in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the creator's health issues. When it returned with a lighter schedule, the series showed it maintained the fans' support and enthusiasm, and now fans are thrilled about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Season 6 Has a Sequel Now in the Works

Kingdom is the best-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is aside from 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 going on for some time, and season 6 was a further outstanding entry. It turns out that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been revealed as currently being made, and it will very likely debut in 2026.

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

One more studio known for the excellent quality 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, which is based on the real historical figure of Fatima, an powerful woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and fascinating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my watchlist.

Tougen Anki Will Return With a Second Season

Shortly after the airing of the final episode of the first season, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be securing a sequel. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific air date has not yet been announced.