A Ton of Japanese Animation Updates Landed Over the Festive Season

The Christmas holidays offer a wealth of pastimes much better than catching up on the latest news: discovering surprises, indulging in delicious food, and employing meditation skills to avoid arguing with relatives. It is wished you managed to enjoy all these things and more. Nevertheless, the world of entertainment never sleeps, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. A slew of thrilling news items came out during the break, and just in case you didn't see a few, here is a roundup of the most exciting bits.

The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Set to Continue (By 2027)

Perhaps the most surprising announcement, the widely-criticized troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to deter the series' continuation. Season 3 will come back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—so far away they easily could have called it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain at the helm. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the beginning, which might be a hopeful indicator. However, the promotional image for the new episodes is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This leads one to believe that, nowadays, they must be trolling the fans.

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

Kyoto Animation has established a standing for being an elite animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the superb artistry of its productions but for the ethical practices of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not adapted an anime adapted from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became widespread acclaim when it debuted in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the mangaka's health issues. When it came back with a reduced workload, the series demonstrated it maintained the fans' support and enthusiasm, and now fans are thrilled about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.

Kingdom Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel Currently in Production

Kingdom is the highly popular, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only just received an English translation, but the anime has been running for some time, and season 6 was another outstanding entry. It turns out that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been announced as currently being made, and it will very likely premiere in 2026.

Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia To Anime

One more studio renowned for the excellent quality of its productions, Science Saru has brought us critically acclaimed works of the ilk 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, which is based on the real historical figure of Fatima, an influential woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and fascinating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my list of anticipated shows.

The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Season Two

Right after the conclusion of the final episode of the first season, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be receiving 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 adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific air date has not been disclosed yet.