A Heap of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped During the Festive Season

The Yuletide season provide a plethora of activities much better than checking the updates: opening presents, getting stuffed on holiday treats, and using patience techniques to not snapping at loved ones. I hope you managed to accomplish all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry never sleeps, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. A slew of thrilling news items emerged during the festive period, and if you didn't see any, here is a roundup of the juiciest bits.

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

Perhaps the biggest announcement, the much-discussed troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to halt further production. The show will come back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—a date so remote they easily could have dubbed it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will remain at the helm. At least this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the beginning, which is seen as a positive development. But, the promotional image for the new episodes is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This suggests that, nowadays, they must be mocking the fans.

Ruri Dragon Will Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation has established a reputation for being an elite animation studio, setting itself apart 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 not adapted an anime stemming from a manga published in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved widespread acclaim when it debuted in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the mangaka's health issues. When it resumed publication with a more relaxed pace, the series demonstrated it still retained the fans' affection and goodwill, and now the community is overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

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

Kingdom is the best-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only recently got an English release, but the anime has been airing for some time, and season 6 was a further stellar entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in production, and it will probably premiere in 2026.

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

One more studio renowned for the excellent quality of its work, Science Saru has delivered hit shows 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, which is based on the real historical figure of Fatima, an powerful woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and captivating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my list of anticipated shows.

Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Season Two

Immediately following the airing of its twenty-fourth episode, it was revealed 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 upcoming season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm release date has not yet been announced.