A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Landed During the Holidays

The Yuletide season provide a plethora of pastimes much better than checking the headlines: discovering surprises, indulging in festive fare, and employing deep breathing to avoid yelling at family members. I hope you managed to enjoy all these things and more. However, the showbiz industry never sleeps, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. A slew of exciting developments surfaced over the break, and if you didn't see any, here is a roundup of the most exciting bits.

One-Punch Man Season 3 Will Continue (Come 2027)

Truly the most surprising piece of news, the widely-criticized disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to stop more episodes. The show will come back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—such a distant date they could have called it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will still be at the helm. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the outset, which could be taken as a positive development. But, the promotional image for the continuation is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This suggests that, at this point, they are probably mocking the fans.

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

Kyoto Animation has built a name for being an top-tier animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the superb artistry of its productions but for the good working conditions of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had never worked on an anime stemming from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved a huge following when it launched in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a lengthy break due to the author's health issues. When it resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series proved it maintained the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now fans are thrilled about the impending KyoAni adaptation.

Kingdom Season 6 Will Get a Sequel Now in the Works

Kingdom is the top-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only just received an English release, but the anime has been airing for some time, and season 6 was another excellent entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in production, and it will almost certainly premiere in 2026.

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

Another studio renowned for the excellent quality of its projects, Science Saru has brought us masterpieces of the caliber 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 real historical figure of Fatima, an influential woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and fascinating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my must-watch list.

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

Shortly after the airing of episode 24, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be securing a follow-up. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific air date has not yet been announced.