A Heap of Japanese Animation Updates Arrived During the Holidays

The Christmas holidays provide a wealth of pursuits far superior than catching up on the updates: opening presents, feasting on holiday treats, and using deep breathing to refrain from yelling at relatives. I hope you succeeded in do all these things and more. That said, the world of entertainment doesn't take a break, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Many thrilling announcements emerged over the break, and if you didn't see some of them, here is a compilation of the most exciting bits.

One-Punch Man Its Third Season Is Set to Continue (By 2027)

Without a doubt the most surprising revelation, the widely-criticized controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to halt more episodes. The show will return with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—such a distant date they could have dubbed it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will remain leading the project. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the beginning, which is seen as a positive development. Yet, the main art for the new episodes is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This leads one to believe that, by now, they must be trolling the fans.

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

Kyoto Animation has forged a standing for being an elite animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the high caliber of its work but for the good working conditions of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not produced an anime adapted from a manga published in Shonen Jump, perhaps the best-known magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became a huge following when it first appeared in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a lengthy break due to the creator's health issues. When it resumed publication with a more relaxed pace, the series demonstrated it maintained the fans' affection and goodwill, and now everyone is ecstatic about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

Kingdom Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel Now in the Works

Kingdom is the highly popular, long-running Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English translation, but the anime has been airing for years, and season 6 was a further outstanding entry. It turns out that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in development, and it will very likely premiere in 2026.

Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime

One more studio known for the superior craftsmanship of its work, Science Saru has brought us hit shows of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be producing the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, inspired by the actual historical person of Fatima, an influential 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 distinctly fresh and fascinating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my watchlist.

Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Second Season

Right after the conclusion of the final episode of the first season, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be getting a sequel. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific premiere date has not yet been announced.