A Ton of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped During the Holidays

The Christmas holidays present a plethora of pursuits far superior than catching up on the headlines: opening presents, feasting on holiday treats, and using meditation skills to refrain from snapping at relatives. Hopefully you were able to accomplish all these things and more. Nevertheless, the world of entertainment doesn't go on vacation, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Many thrilling news items surfaced over the festive period, and just in case you didn't see any, here is a summary of the juiciest bits.

The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Moving Forward (In 2027)

Truly the most shocking revelation, the widely-criticized disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to deter the series' continuation. Season 3 will be back with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they might as well have called it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain in charge. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the start, which is seen as a positive development. However, the main art for the continuation is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This suggests that, by now, they could be trolling the fans.

Ruri Dragon Is Set to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation has built a standing for being an top-tier animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the superb artistry of its productions but for the good working conditions of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had never worked on an anime stemming from a manga from Shonen Jump, possibly the most famous magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved a huge following when it launched in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a lengthy break due to the creator's health issues. When it returned with a reduced workload, the series demonstrated it hadn't lost the fans' support and enthusiasm, and now everyone is thrilled about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Season 6 Has a Sequel In Production

Kingdom is the top-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only just received an English translation, but the anime has been airing for a while, and its sixth season was yet another excellent entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in development, and it will probably premiere in 2026.

Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime

One more studio known for the artistic merit of its work, Science Saru has given us 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, inspired by the true story of Fatima, an powerful woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and intriguing visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my must-watch list.

Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Second Season

Immediately following the airing of episode 24, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be securing a follow-up. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete premiere date has yet to be revealed.