A Heap of Japanese Animation Updates Landed During the Festive Season

The Christmas holidays present a wealth of activities far superior than catching up on the headlines: discovering surprises, feasting on delicious food, and employing meditation skills to not snapping at family members. Hopefully you managed to enjoy all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. A slew of exciting news items came out over the break, and if you missed a few, here is a summary of the biggest bits.

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

Perhaps the most shocking piece of news, the much-discussed controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to deter the series' continuation. Season 3 will return with a subsequent part in 2027—a date so remote they could have called it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain in charge. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the beginning, which could be taken as a good sign. Yet, the promotional image for the continuation is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This makes me think that, at this point, they must be teasing the fans.

The Ruri Dragon Series Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime From 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 productions but for the fair treatment of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not produced an anime adapted from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved a huge following when it first appeared in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a extended pause due to the creator's health issues. When it came back with a reduced workload, the series showed it still retained the fans' appreciation and enthusiasm, and now the community is thrilled about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

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

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 recently got an English translation, but the anime has been going on for years, and season 6 was yet another outstanding entry. Apparently that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in development, and it will very likely premiere in 2026.

Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series

A further studio famous for the artistic merit of its productions, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works of the ilk 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 true story of Fatima, an prominent woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime named 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 watchlist.

The Tougen Anki Series Will Continue With a Second Season

Shortly after the conclusion of episode 24, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be getting a sequel. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has yet to be revealed.