A Ton of Japanese Animation Updates Landed Over the Festive Season

The Yuletide season provide a wealth of pastimes considerably more enjoyable than scanning the headlines: unwrapping gifts, feasting on festive fare, and using deep breathing to refrain from arguing with family members. It is wished you managed to enjoy all these things and more. That said, the world of entertainment doesn't go on vacation, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Numerous thrilling developments emerged over the holidays, and should you overlooked any, here is a compilation of the most exciting bits.

One-Punch Man Season 3 Is Moving Forward (By 2027)

Without a doubt the most surprising revelation, the widely-criticized disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to deter further production. Season 3 will return with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—a date so remote they might as well have dubbed it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain leading the project. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the outset, which might be a hopeful indicator. Yet, the promotional image for the second cour is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This makes me think that, by now, they could be teasing the fans.

Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation has established a reputation for being an top-tier animation studio, making its mark not just for the exceptional quality of its productions but for the ethical practices of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga from Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became a huge following when it first appeared in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a lengthy break due to the author's health issues. When it came back with a lighter schedule, the series showed it hadn't lost the fans' affection and positive sentiment, and now everyone is ecstatic about the impending KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel Currently in Production

Kingdom is the top-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English localization, but the anime has been airing for years, and its sixth season was another excellent 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 Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series

A further studio renowned for the artistic merit of its productions, Science Saru has brought us hit shows of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, which is based on the true story of Fatima, an powerful woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and captivating 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 Season Two

Immediately following the conclusion of episode 24, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be securing a follow-up. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific air date has not yet been announced.