A Ton of Japanese Animation Updates Landed During the Festive Season

The Christmas holidays provide a wealth of activities much better than scanning the updates: opening presents, feasting on delicious food, and employing meditation skills to not arguing with loved ones. I hope you managed to enjoy all these things and more. However, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Many thrilling developments came out during the break, and if you missed any, here is a compilation of the most exciting bits.

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

Without a doubt the most shocking announcement, the notorious troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to halt further production. Season 3 will be back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—so far away they might as well have dubbed it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be leading the project. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the start, which is seen as a good sign. But, the promotional image for the continuation is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This leads one to believe that, nowadays, they are probably trolling the fans.

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

Kyoto Animation has established a reputation for being an top-tier animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the exceptional quality of its output but for the good working conditions of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not produced an anime based on a manga from Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained widespread acclaim when it launched 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 lighter schedule, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' support and positive sentiment, and now everyone is ecstatic about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

Kingdom Season 6 Will Get a Sequel Now in the Works

Kingdom is the highly popular, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with 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 outstanding entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been announced as in development, and it will probably debut in 2026.

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

A further studio known for the artistic merit of its projects, Science Saru has delivered hit shows of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be taking on the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, which is based on the actual historical person of Fatima, an prominent woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and intriguing visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my must-watch list.

The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Second Season

Right after the release of episode 24, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be getting a sequel. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm premiere date has not been disclosed yet.