A Ton of Japanese Animation Updates Arrived Over the Holidays

The winter break provide a plethora of pastimes much better than checking the updates: discovering surprises, indulging in festive fare, and using deep breathing to refrain from snapping at family members. I hope you were able to accomplish all these things and more. However, the showbiz industry doesn't take a break, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. A slew of exciting developments surfaced during the holidays, and should you overlooked a few, here is a compilation of the most exciting bits.

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

Without a doubt the most surprising revelation, the notorious controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to deter more episodes. The show will return with a second cour in 2027—so far away they could have labeled it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be leading the project. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the beginning, which could be taken as a good sign. Yet, the key visual for the new episodes is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This makes me think that, at this point, they are probably mocking the fans.

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

Kyoto Animation has forged a standing for being an prestigious animation studio, making its mark 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 stemming from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, possibly the best-known magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved massive popularity when it launched in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a lengthy break due to the creator's health issues. When it resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series showed it hadn't lost the fans' support and goodwill, and now everyone is ecstatic about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

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

Kingdom is the top-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English release, but the anime has been going on for some time, and its sixth season was a further outstanding entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in development, and it will almost certainly premiere in 2026.

Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime

A further studio known for the superior craftsmanship of its work, Science Saru has brought us masterpieces of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be producing the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, 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 truly original and captivating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my list of anticipated shows.

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 receiving a follow-up. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm release date has yet to be revealed.