A Heap of Japanese Animation Updates Landed During the Festive Season

The winter break offer a plethora of activities far superior than catching up on the latest news: unwrapping gifts, indulging in festive fare, and employing deep breathing to refrain from arguing with family members. I hope you managed to do all these things and more. Nevertheless, the entertainment world never sleeps, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Many exciting announcements came out over the holidays, and should you didn't see a few, here is a roundup of the juiciest bits.

The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Will Continue (In 2027)

Truly the most surprising piece of news, the much-discussed disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to halt the series' continuation. The show will return with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—such a distant date they easily could have dubbed it season 4. Adding to the surprise, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be leading the project. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the outset, which could be taken as a good sign. However, the main art for the second cour is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This suggests that, at this point, they are probably trolling the fans.

Ruri Dragon Is Set to Be the First 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 superb artistry of its work but for the good working conditions of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not produced an anime stemming from a manga from Shonen Jump, arguably the best-known 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 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 more relaxed pace, the series demonstrated it maintained the fans' support and positive sentiment, and now fans are thrilled about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Season 6 Is Getting a Follow-Up Currently in Production

Kingdom is the top-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only recently got an English release, but the anime has been going on for a while, and season 6 was another stellar entry. It turns out that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in development, and it will probably air in 2026.

Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series

A further studio famous for the excellent quality of its projects, Science Saru has brought us critically acclaimed works of the caliber 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, which is based on the real historical figure 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 evokes Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my watchlist.

Tougen Anki Will Return With a Second Season

Immediately following the conclusion of episode 24, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a follow-up. Adapted from 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 firm release date has not yet been announced.