A Ton of Japanese Animation Updates Landed During the Holidays

The Christmas holidays provide a plethora of activities much better than scanning the latest news: opening presents, feasting on festive fare, and using deep breathing to not yelling at family members. It is wished you succeeded in enjoy all these things and more. That said, the world of entertainment doesn't go on vacation, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Numerous thrilling announcements came out during the holidays, and should you overlooked some of them, here is a summary of the biggest bits.

One-Punch Man Its Third Season Will Continue (By 2027)

Truly the biggest revelation, the notorious disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to halt further production. Season 3 will return with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—a date so remote they easily could have labeled it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain in charge. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the start, which could be taken as a positive development. Yet, the promotional image for the new episodes is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This makes me think that, at this point, they could be teasing the fans.

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

Kyoto Animation has built a reputation for being an elite animation studio, making its mark not just for the high caliber of its work but for the good working conditions 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, possibly the most famous magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained a huge following when it launched in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a lengthy break due to the creator's health issues. When it returned with a more relaxed pace, the series demonstrated it still retained the fans' affection and goodwill, and now the community is thrilled about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel In Production

Kingdom is the highly popular, epic Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only just received an English localization, but the anime has been running for years, and season 6 was a further stellar entry. As it happens that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been announced as in development, and it will very likely premiere in 2026.

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

One more studio famous for the artistic merit of its projects, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, inspired by the real historical figure of Fatima, an influential woman and scholar 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 fascinating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my watchlist.

Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Second Season

Shortly after the airing of its twenty-fourth episode, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a sequel. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm premiere date has not been disclosed yet.

Margaret Crane
Margaret Crane

A tech enthusiast and writer passionate about exploring the latest innovations and sharing practical lifestyle advice.