A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Arrived Over the Holidays

The Yuletide season provide a multitude of activities considerably more enjoyable than catching up on the updates: unwrapping gifts, indulging in festive fare, and harnessing meditation skills to not yelling at loved ones. It is wished you succeeded in do all these things and more. However, the entertainment world never sleeps, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Numerous thrilling announcements emerged during the holidays, and just in case you didn't see any, here is a summary of the juiciest bits.

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

Perhaps the biggest revelation, the widely-criticized disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to halt more episodes. Season 3 will return with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they might as well have called it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will still be at the helm. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the outset, which might be a positive development. Yet, the promotional image for the second cour 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 could be teasing the fans.

The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation has forged a standing for being an elite animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the high caliber of its work but for the ethical practices of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had never worked on an anime adapted from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, arguably the most famous magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained massive popularity when it debuted in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a extended pause due to the mangaka's health issues. When it resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series demonstrated it maintained the fans' support and positive sentiment, and now the community is overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

Kingdom Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel Now in the Works

Kingdom is the top-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English localization, but the anime has been going on for years, and its sixth season was yet another stellar entry. As it happens that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been announced as in development, and it will almost certainly debut in 2026.

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

One more studio known for the superior craftsmanship of its projects, Science Saru has delivered masterpieces of the quality 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 actual historical person of Fatima, an prominent woman and scholar 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 captivating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my must-watch list.

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

Right after the conclusion of episode 24, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be receiving 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 delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete release date has not yet been announced.