A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped Over the Holidays

The Christmas holidays provide a wealth of pursuits far superior than checking the headlines: unwrapping gifts, getting stuffed on holiday treats, and harnessing deep breathing to not yelling at relatives. Hopefully you succeeded in enjoy all these things and more. That said, the world of entertainment doesn't take a break, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. A slew of thrilling announcements came out over the break, and should you didn't see any, here is a compilation of the most exciting bits.

One-Punch Man Season 3 Will Continue (Come 2027)

Truly the most surprising announcement, the notorious disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to deter further production. The show will come back with a second cour in 2027—such a distant date they could have called it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be in charge. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the outset, which is seen as a positive development. Yet, the key visual for the continuation is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This makes me think that, at this point, they are probably mocking the fans.

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

Kyoto Animation has built a standing for being an top-tier animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the superb artistry of its work but for the ethical practices of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not produced an anime adapted from a manga from Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved a huge following when it launched in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a extended pause due to the author's health issues. When it resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series showed it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now the community is overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

Kingdom Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up Now in the Works

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 fairly recently obtained an English release, but the anime has been running for years, and its sixth season was a further stellar entry. As it happens that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in development, and it will very likely air in 2026.

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

Another studio famous for the excellent quality of its work, Science Saru has brought us hit shows of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be taking on the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, inspired by the true story 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 distinctly fresh and intriguing visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my list of anticipated shows.

Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Second Season

Immediately following the airing of episode 24, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be getting a sequel. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete air date has not been disclosed yet.