A Ton of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped During the Festive Season

The Christmas holidays offer a multitude of pastimes considerably more enjoyable than scanning the updates: unwrapping gifts, feasting on festive fare, and harnessing meditation skills to refrain from yelling at relatives. It is wished you succeeded in do all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry doesn't go on vacation, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Many noteworthy announcements came out during the holidays, and just in case you overlooked any, here is a compilation of the juiciest bits.

The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Will Continue (In 2027)

Truly the most surprising announcement, the widely-criticized troubled production that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to halt more episodes. Season 3 will return with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—so far away they easily could have dubbed it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be in charge. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the beginning, which might be 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 looking opposite ways. This makes me think that, at this point, they are probably mocking the fans.

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

Kyoto Animation has established a name for being an elite animation studio, making its mark not just for the high caliber of its work but for the ethical practices of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not adapted an anime adapted from a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved a huge following when it launched in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the creator's health issues. When it returned with a more relaxed pace, the series proved it maintained the fans' support and enthusiasm, and now the community is ecstatic about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.

Kingdom Season 6 Will Get a Sequel Now in the Works

Kingdom is the best-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English release, but the anime has been going on for a while, and season 6 was yet another excellent entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as currently being made, and it will very likely air in 2026.

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

One more studio renowned for the artistic merit of its projects, Science Saru has brought us critically acclaimed works of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be taking on the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, inspired by the real historical figure of Fatima, an powerful woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and intriguing visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my watchlist.

Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Second Season

Immediately following the release of its twenty-fourth episode, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a follow-up. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific premiere date has not been disclosed yet.