A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Landed Over the Festive Season

The Yuletide season present a plethora of pursuits much better than scanning the latest news: opening presents, getting stuffed on holiday treats, and using deep breathing to avoid snapping at relatives. I hope you were able to do all these things and more. Nevertheless, the entertainment world doesn't take a break, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Numerous exciting developments surfaced over the festive period, and just in case you overlooked any, here is a compilation of the juiciest bits.

One-Punch Man Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (By 2027)

Without a doubt the most shocking revelation, the notorious disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to deter further production. Season 3 will be back with a second cour in 2027—such a distant date they easily could have labeled it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be in charge. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the outset, which could be taken as a good sign. However, the promotional image for the new episodes is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This makes me think 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 name for being an elite animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the high caliber of its productions but for the good working conditions of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not produced an anime based on a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, arguably the most famous magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became a huge following when it first appeared in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the creator's health issues. When it came back with a lighter schedule, the series demonstrated it maintained the fans' support and enthusiasm, and now everyone is thrilled about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

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

Kingdom is the top-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only just received an English release, but the anime has been airing for years, and its sixth season was another outstanding entry. As it happens that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been announced as in production, and it will almost certainly air in 2026.

Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia To Anime

A further studio famous for the superior craftsmanship of its work, Science Saru has given us hit shows of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more 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 actual historical person of Fatima, an powerful woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and intriguing visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my list of anticipated shows.

Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Season Two

Shortly after the release of the final episode of the first season, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be getting a second season. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm release date has not been disclosed yet.